Shalom and Peace:
Continuing our peek at exotic Jewish communities, let's visit Kaifeng, eastern China. Jews survived by assimilating into Chinese society while preserving Jewish traditions. Most Jews arrived in Kaifeng via the Silk Road from Persia and India, circa 618 CE. Their synagogue, "Temple of Purity and Truth," was built in 1163 in Chinese Pagoda architecture, and rebuilt 9 times, all on Earth Market Street.
Using seven Chinese surnames, still used today, e.g. Gao, Zhang, and Zhao, Kaifeng Jews were unknown to Europeans until 1605, when Beijing's Priest Matteo Ricci, was visited by Kaifeng's Jewish Ai Tian. Tian said he worshipped one God. Seeing the church's image of Mary with Jesus, he assumed it was Rebecca with Jacob, as he didn't know about Christianity. Tian said Kaifeng had a synagogue with a Torah.
In 1608 Ricci sent a Jesuit to copy the Kaifeng Torah. Ricci verified that it was identical to European Torahs. This lay to rest the European canard that Moses' Torah had specific verses about Jesus as the Messiah, with European rabbis deleting them. Ricci and the Kaifeng Rabbi corresponded. The old rabbi, with no successor, offered Ricci his position if Ricci converted to Judaism. Ricci didn't accept the offer.
Kaifeng Jews preserved Judaism for centuries. Intermarriage between Jews and Chinese increased but with Chinese women converting to Judaism. The 1860 synagogue's destruction led to demise. Indistinguishable in appearance from Chinese, they dressed alike, wore pigtails, bound girls' feet, spoke the local dialect, practiced Chinese patrilineal descent, and honored ancestors, biblical figures, and Confucius (as a moral teacher) by burning incense with kosher food offerings. Kaifeng Jewish soldiers were "Boundlessly loyal to China," and the Emperor's picture was hung in their synagogue. But they studied Torah, taught their children Hebrew, circumcised their sons, wore blue skull caps, had Hebrew and Chinese names, and kept Kosher. Kosher rules require removing muscles from the hip sockets of animals (Gen. 32:33). The Chinese called them "The Sect that Plucks Out Sinews.''
Today 1,000 residents have Jewish ancestry. Fifty are active Jews. Many are returning to their Jewish roots. Because they didn't practice matrilineal descent, Orthodox Israel, requires conversions. Many have 'converted'. One is studying for the Rabbinate in Israel to return to Kaifeng.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com .
PALMETTO BLUFF RESORT JEWISH DESTINATION WEDDINGS: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL
HILTON HEAD DESTINATION JEWISH WEDDINGS ; RABBI ARTHUR SEGALRABBI ARTHUR SEGAL RABBIASEGAL@AOL.COMRABBI DR ARTHUR SEGAL
REBBETZIN ELLEN SEGALwww.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
