Top Tweets for #ChineseJews

4 months ago

#ChineseJews The Jews of Kaifeng are considered China’s only native Jewish Community. Jews have lived in Kaifeng, a city in central China’s Henan province, for over 1,000 years. This makes the Kaifeng Jews the oldest Jewish community in China. The exact time Jews arrived in Kaifeng is not entirely certain. Most scholars believe that Jews first arrived during the Song Dynasty (960-1127 C.E.), from India or Persia (present day Iran), stops on the Silk Road. During this period, the Chinese people called the Jews “Tiaojinjiao” (the religion that removes the tendon) because Jewish dietary law (kashrut) forbids the consumption of the sciatic nerve. A bit later, during the Ming Dynasty, the emperor assigned Jews one of eight last names because he found Hebrew names confusing. To this day Kaifeng Jews can be recognized by their last names: Ai, Shi, Gao, Gan, Jin, Li, Zhang or Zhao. Much like Jews outside of China, for centuries, Kaifeng Jews centered their Jewish practices around the synagogue: observing Shabbat and other Jewish holidays, holding circumcisions for sons and giving their children Hebrew names in addition to Chinese names. At its peak, the community had around 5,000 members. Today, 500-1000 Jews still live in Kaifeng but many have made aliyah (return) to Israel in recent years, but proving their Jewishness is complex. Chinese descent is patrilineal, which means that descent is calculated through male links only. Traditionally, Jews use matrilineal descent to determine if a person is Jewish. Influenced by Chinese practices, Kaifeng Jews trace Jewish lineage through the patrilineal line. This practice produces extra challenges for Kaifeng Jews who wish to be accepted as Jewish by the larger Jewish community — especially those seeking to move to Israel. Since Kaifeng Jews don’t fit the criteria of Israel’s Law of Return, they are required to go through a yearlong conversion process in order to become Israeli citizens. Although communist China has never recognized Judaism as an authorized religion, for years Judaism has been unofficially tolerated all over the country. However, China is cracking down on all non-government approved religions due to concerns that minority religious groups could lead to social and political instability.

BarefootJewess's tweet photo. #ChineseJews
The Jews of Kaifeng are considered China’s only native Jewish Community.

Jews have lived in Kaifeng, a city in central China’s Henan province, for over 1,000 years. This makes the Kaifeng Jews the oldest Jewish community in China. The exact time Jews arrived in Kaifeng is not entirely certain. Most scholars believe that Jews first arrived during the Song Dynasty (960-1127 C.E.), from India or Persia (present day Iran), stops on the Silk Road. During this period, the Chinese people called the Jews “Tiaojinjiao” (the religion that removes the tendon) because Jewish dietary law (kashrut) forbids the consumption of the sciatic nerve. A bit later, during the Ming Dynasty, the emperor assigned Jews one of eight last names because he found Hebrew names confusing. To this day Kaifeng Jews can be recognized by their last names: Ai, Shi, Gao, Gan, Jin, Li, Zhang or Zhao.

Much like Jews outside of China, for centuries, Kaifeng Jews centered their Jewish practices around the synagogue: observing Shabbat and other Jewish holidays, holding circumcisions for sons and giving their children Hebrew names in addition to Chinese names.

At its peak, the community had around 5,000 members. Today, 500-1000 Jews still live in Kaifeng but many have made aliyah (return) to Israel in recent years, but proving their Jewishness is complex. Chinese descent is patrilineal, which means that descent is calculated through male links only. Traditionally, Jews use matrilineal descent to determine if a person is Jewish. Influenced by Chinese practices, Kaifeng Jews trace Jewish lineage through the patrilineal line. This practice produces extra challenges for Kaifeng Jews who wish to be accepted as Jewish by the larger Jewish community — especially those seeking to move to Israel. Since Kaifeng Jews don’t fit the criteria of Israel’s Law of Return, they are required to go through a yearlong conversion process in order to become Israeli citizens.

Although communist China has never recognized Judaism as an authorized religion, for years Judaism has been unofficially tolerated all over the country. However, China is cracking down on all non-government approved religions due to concerns that minority religious groups could lead to social and political instability.

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JMI - Jewish Music Institute @jewishmusicUK

over 6 years ago

Podcast: Dr Alex Knapp: The Jews of China. (You Tai Ren) These Ethnically #ChineseJews thrived in their peak in 12th century #Kaifeng, with some scholarly research citing them as being present in #Chinese society as early early as the 2nd temple period. https://t.co/wULxqEzYHf

UMiamiHistory @UMiamiHistory

almost 7 years ago

UMiamiHistory congratulates Prof. Stephen Halsey for his recent Nahmad lecture "The Silk Road and the Sephardic Jews of Kaifeng." #UMiamiHistory #SilkRoad #ChineseJews #ChineseHistory #Kaifeng

UMiamiHistory's tweet photo. UMiamiHistory congratulates Prof. Stephen Halsey for his recent Nahmad lecture "The Silk Road and the Sephardic Jews of Kaifeng." #UMiamiHistory #SilkRoad #ChineseJews #ChineseHistory #Kaifeng https://t.co/WocnZAhuUW

Kristie Hang @KristieHang

over 7 years ago

Happy 4th Birthday 🎂 to my second nephew! Took him to school today, brought his class kosher cookies, then hightailed it out of Boston before Passover to avoid the traffic! #chews #chinesejews 😝

Esther Haldane @ESTHERHaldane

over 8 years ago

@NewsCoverUp @_PatJohnson_ @_sweetmissy_ @realDonaldTrump #Genetics confirm Jewish ethnicity. That's y #aliyah = #Jews returning to #Jerusalem who r #BlackJews, #IndianJews, #ChineseJews ETC. So even if SOME JEWS say ppl there not Jews, that's DECEPTION. #Hitler caused massive spread of #AntiSemitism but BLOOD doesnt lie! #Pray 4 #Peace

Jewish Multiracial Network @JewishDiversity

almost 10 years ago

#ChineseJews #JewishDiversity #JewishDiversityAwareness #JewsComeinAllColors #JewsofColor #multiracialJews... https://t.co/MOWG7p8WLE

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

almost 10 years ago

#IsraeltheRegion #JewishTimes #ChineseJews #Kaifeng #China Chinese authorities crack down on tiny Jewish community https://t.co/975rfIHZ6e

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

over 10 years ago

#JewishTimes #Hanukkah #DiasporaJews #ShaveiIsrael #ChineseJews Hanukkah celebrations from around the world https://t.co/Bh28xfwYsx

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

over 10 years ago

#JewishTimes #ChineseJews #Kaifeng #Hanukkah #China Chinese descendants of Jews celebrate Hanukkah https://t.co/iVNcO6wjKk

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

almost 11 years ago

#JewishTimes #China #ChineseJews #Holocaust Shanghai showcases role in saving Jews during Holocaust http://t.co/hw5eH9zt6x

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

about 11 years ago

#JewishTimes #comedians #China #ChineseJews #BrandeisUniversity Nice Jewish boy goes to China, becomes stand-up… http://t.co/R3o3a4AvyZ

Israel News @IsraelNewsNow

over 12 years ago

#JewishTimes #Kaifeng #ChineseJews #ShaveiIsrael #MichaelFreund Chinese descendants of Jews return to roots with... http://t.co/Ye6vLCwSqx

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