December 2019 / January 2020 • Volume 14 • Issue 8 • Kislev / Tevet / Shevat 5780

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December 2019 / January 2020 • Volume 14 • Issue 8 • Kislev / Tevet / Shevat 5780

PLAGIARISM ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST ACCLAIMED ARCHITECT MOSHE SAFDIE ects spread over 5 continents.

Jewel Changi Airport Development

By Staff Writer and Agencies Improvement works to enhance the international airport in Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup have generated a media storm, bringing to light suspicions that renowned Israeli/Canadian architect Moshe Safdie and Singapore Changi Airport itself have stolen designs for Project Jewel, the bio dome at the airport.

The eye-catching Rain Vortex at Singapore’s Changi Airport

At a recent press briefing, Akbar Al Baker, the head of Qatar Airways, alleged that “somebody” had copied Qatar’s scheme for enhancements at the Hamad International Airport (DOH) located south of Doha.

He didn’t name Singapore or Safdie in his announcement, but the criticism was clear.

Work done ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will include the build-out of a large waterfall and an interior gardennot unlike those found at the popular new shopping palace in Changi Airport.

Stephen Kelly. Courtesy Safdie Architects

Completed earlier this year, the 1.25 billion SGD entertainment and retail complex boasts

Moshe Safdie

Jewel Changi Airport Development

Upcoming work at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, closely resembles existing structures seen at Singapore’s recently opened airport shopping complex.

Safdie architects designed the glass Air Hub at the airport (aerial view)

the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, spanning seven stories across the 1.4-million-squarefeet structure.

The 131-foot-tall Rain Vortex is the Changi Jewel’s most prominent feature and immediately presents itself to visitors

Singapore’s English-language daily newspaper, The Straits Times, reported that Safdie’s concept was initially created exclusively for Changi Airport Group (the airport’s operator and manager) in 2013, and therefore couldn’t be a copy of the 2019 Doha project.

Safdie issued the following statement to the paper:

“We have been pursuing the concept of gardens as a focal point for the public realm for many decades. We have also explored the concept of harvesting the rain into internal rainfalls at Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) and Marina Bay Sands. The success of these explorations have

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further inspired and led us to create a new icon in the Jewel that we see today—a new kind of urban place that celebrates the elements of nature and urban life. We are delighted that Jewel’s uniqueness and originality has been well-recognised by the international community and resulted in many wanting to emulate it.”

This isn’t the first time a piece of airport infrastructure has been the centre of plagiarism accusations. Hamad International Airport itself, which opened to the public in 2014, was first criticised for looking too much like the Ben Gurion Airport in Israel; the airport’s Terminal 3 expansion (its international gate) was designed and completed in 2004 by Safdie and Skidmore, Owings & Merill.

Safdie is well known in Singapore and the around the world for fusing the realms of nature and architecture in his 85 proj-

At the Canada World Fair in 1967, Safdie broke ground with his Habitat 67 project, which was also his master’s thesis, reinventing the apartment building to make each unit feel like a separate home.

Safdie has also constructed the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem (Israel), the United Institute of Peace (Washington D.C.), and the Skirball Cultural Center (Los Angeles).

Safdie was also responsible for the design and the construction of the Marina Bay and Sands Casino complex in Singapore, which was opened in 2011.

IN THIS ISSUE Regional News Thai band member pays respects at Auschwitz

3-8

Business News Hong Kong-based Baring Private Equity acquires Lumenis

9-12

Art • Culture • Music Israeli and Chinese TV broadcasters collaborate

14-17

Festival Chanukah

18

Jewish communities in Asia Candle-lighting and the month’s Parshas

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

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Thai band member pays respects at Auschwitz

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Last month, a member of Thailand’s most popular allgirl band, BNK48, posted photos of her visit to Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland- where at least 1.1 million Jews were murdered.

The social media post

by BNK48 member Jennis Oprasert earned praise from key members of Israel’s diplomatic mission to Thailand, who offered thanks to her “admirable” actions, months after the same band drew worldwide ridicule and criticism for allowing one of its members to wear a Nazi Swastika shirt onstage.

Fellow bandmember Pichayapa “Namsai” Natha wore a shirt portraying Nazi Germany’s state flag, their take of the Swastika emblazoned across her body during a televised rehearsal on 27 January.

The deputy chief of mission of the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok took to Twitter to express “shock and dismay” at the outfit. The 19-year-old singer later apologised onstage during a concert. She later claimed full responsibility for her ignorance in an apology posted on her official Facebook page.

Of her trip, Jennis wrote: “I went to Auschwitz concentration camp. It was very sad.

There’s a lot of historical information inside, but I couldn’t

Jennis Oprasert visiting Auschwitz

read it all in just one day.” She also published photos of her visit at Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum and said she would write more about the place.

Deputy Chief of Mission of Israel in Thailand, Smadar Shapira, said she admired Jennis’ effort to learn about the Holocaust. Her tweet was followed by a statement from Israeli ambassador Meir Shlomo, who thanked Jennis for bringing attention to the history of deadly persecution against Jews. “Not many Thai people have had the opportunity to visit the extermination camps, and therefore I am very much impressed by Jennis’ decision to visit Auschwitz and thank her for sharing her thoughts and photos,” Shlomo wrote.

In May, members of the band – performed at the Israeli Independence Day celebration at a Bangkok hotel.

Images of Hitler, Swastikas, and other Nazi regalia are commonly spotted on T-shirts and memorabilia in Thailand, a phe-

nomenon blamed on a lack of historical understanding rather than their political leanings. For many years now, Jewish Times Asia has reported numerous similar incidents.

In 2013, Bangkok’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University was forced to apologise after its students created a mural depicting Hitler during graduation celebrations; similarly, leaders and students of a Catholic school were left red-faced in 2011 after students dressed up in Nazi uniforms for a sports-day parade.

Bakery breaks world record for longest challah Australian Jewish News/Facebook via JTA

Philip Jay

Jennis BNK48 / Facebook

Publisher & Founder

The world’s longest challah

A kosher bakery in Sydney, Australia, has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest challah bread.

Grandma Moses Bakery, in partnership with the Jewish National Fund chapter in New South Wales, broke the record on 14 November, according to a Facebook post from the group. The record-setting challah clocked in at more

than 32 feet long, and required over 150 pounds of dough and ten hours to bake. The event was organised by the international Shabbat Project, which organises programmes including challah bakes in more than 1,600 cities and 105 countries worldwide.

The previous record, set in Brooklyn in 2015, was a 20foot challah.

Hitler’s birth house to become police station in Austria After years of debate, the building where Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was born in Austria will be turned into a police station, officials have announced.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Peschorn said it would be an “unmistakable signal” that the property did not commemorate Nazism and prevent it from becoming a pligrimage site for neo-Nazis and sympathisers.

It was once a daycare centre for disabled people, but this ended when owner Gerlinde Pommer objected to plans to make it more wheelchairfriendly and then refused all

Hitler’s birth house

government offers to buy it or carry out renovations. A plan to turn it into a centre for refugees in 2014 also came to nothing.

The government took possession of the house in 2016 under a compulsory purchase order, for a price of 810,000 euros (US$897,000).

There has been widespread debate and disagreement in

Austria over the fate of the building. Some have called for it to be torn down, while others argued it should be used for charity work or as a house of reconciliation. In his statement on 19 November, Peschorn said the house’s “future use by the police should send an unmistakable signal that this building will never again evoke the memory of National Socialism”.

Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, where his father had been posted for work, on 20 April 1889. The family stayed in an apartment in the building for a few weeks after his birth before moving to another address in the area. They left the town for good when Hitler was three years old. He returned briefly in 1938, on his way to Vienna, after he annexed Austria to Nazi Germany.

Under Hitler’s rule (193345), Nazi Germany began WWII, pursuing a genocidal policy that resulted in the deaths of some six million Jews, and 11 million of other civilians and combatants.

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Regional News

Israel immigration crackdown on Indian nationals Israeli authorities arrested a family of Indian nationals residing last month as part of the Population Immigration and Border Authority’s crackdown on foreign workers who overstay their work visas.

against the arrest of the Indian mother of a sixth-grade student at Gabrieli Carmel School, the student himself born in Israel, (as well as) the arrests of a thirdgrade student at HaGalil School alongside with his Nigerian mother, and the arrests of an Indian couple and their Israeliborn daughters, aged one and seven,” the report said.

According to various media reports, Tina and Minin Lopez and their Israeli-born children – Eliana (7-years-old) and a oneyear-old infant – were taken to the Beit Dagan detention facility in central Israel.

“Sources at the Indian mission said that the family were taken to the hospital for medical check-up and then presented in a court for hearing. The court decided that the family would be deported to India after completing documentation,” Indian magazine Outlook reported.

Children seen among demonstrators, petitioning immigrant rights

A PTI report claims that the family were released that same night, and are likely to be deported soon after related formalities are completed.

“This is a scandal. The Immigration Authority has not begun implementing the instructions of the Justice Ministry and the appellate court. It isn’t authorised at all to arrest children, and isn’t allowed to put out arrest warrants. We will contact the attorney general and demand that he immediately reins in the authority,” he told Haaretz.

The family’s attorney, David Tadmor, has termed the immigration authority’s action as “bullying”.

The instructions Tadmor refers to relate to the Justice Ministry regulations which state that minors under the age of 12 should receive a hearing before a decision is made to deport them.

The couple reportedly came to Israel from Karnataka 12 years ago to work as caregivers.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry confers medal on Don Shapiro

Don Shapiro (right) receiving a Friendship Medal from Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu presented journalist Don Shapiro with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Friendship Medal of Diplomacy on 8 November.

Shapiro, a long-time resident of Taiwan, is currently Senior Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei and Editor-in-chief of its Taiwan Business TOPICS publication.

He also reported for the New York Times in the 1970s, and Time magazine in the 1980-90s.

Wu praised Shapiro’s re-

According to the same report, foreign women workers who become pregnant must send their children to their home country as a condition for visa renewal.

porting on Taiwan’s democratic reforms and economic development and thanked him for his “remarkable contributions over the years to strengthening relations between Taiwan and the US.” Shapiro, a native of Buffalo, New York, has lived in Taiwan since arriving on October 1969 under a Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

For many years, he served as president of the Taiwan Jewish Community.

The arrests are part of a wider crackdown across Israel against migrant workers.

On 8 November, Times of Israel reported on anti-deportation protests conducted by hundreds of parents and students.

“The

protesters

rallied

However, the report claims that many fail to do so and stay in the country illegally, doing menial jobs to give their children a better life.

Of around 60,000 foreign caregivers in Israel, 10% are from India.

Jewish Times Asia Sep-

tember 2019 issue reported on Filipino domestic worker Rosemary Perez and her 14 year-old son, who were forced to depart from Israel on immigration permissions.

She had lived in Israel since 2002.

Attorneys for Perez made a last-ditch effort in Appeals Court to stay the deportation order, but the appeal was rejected.

According to United Children of Israel (UCI)- a nonprofit organisation that was established by Filipino mothers- hundreds of other families could now also face expulsion.

Of the 29,000 Filipinos in Israel, some 25,000 have a temporary visa, according to the Philippines consul general, with their visas being contingent upon their not starting a family in the country- with few exceptions.

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

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Regional News

India’s special minister for water makes official visit to Israel India’s mission to ensure functional running water to every Indian household by 2024 will need Israel’ expertise, it has been asserted.

During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Independence Day address, he specifically mentioned a pledge to increase spending in the coming years, under the ‘Jal Jeevan

Israel has made water recycling an integral part of daily life. More than 80% of household water waste is recycled, amounting to 400 million cubic metres a year. That ratio is four times higher than in any other country, according to Israel’s water authority.

India’s Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is responsible for water resources, and embarked on a three-day visit to Israel between 17-19 November.

He met with Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Energywho is also responsible for natural resources Israel, including water systems- alongside other leading experts in the field of water management.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Five key areas have been identified for in-depth discus-

Israel to rebuild a new monument to honour Chiune Sugihara

Local media reports in Israel have indicated that a new monument will be erected to honour Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who helped saved many thousands of Jews fleeing Lithaunia during WWII.

While working at the Japanese consulate in Lithuania during the war, Chiune Sugihara issued transit visas for Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Nazi Germany.

His actions saved as many as 6,000 lives.

To commemorate this, Israel planted trees and built a monument near Jerusalem in 1985; however, one such tree has since been cut down by mistake earlier this year in Beit Shemesh, central Israel.

A related stone monument had also gone missing prior during preparation works for housing construction.

Sources say the Israeli government-affiliated organisation, the Jewish National Fund, has

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Delhi.

Mission’, to bring piped water to all households by 2024.

proposed an idea to rebuild the memorial at an alternate site nearby.

The new location would be in a forest that was planted to remember the victims of Holocaust.

The organisation plans to proceed with the reconstruction after receiving Sugihara’s son’s approval, and hold a ceremony to mark the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day next January.

Other memorial homages have been in place in Israel for many years including a street named after Sugihara in Netanya in 2016.

Similarly, this year a special tree-planting ceremony was held on 3 May to honour the late diplomat, held at a junior and senior high school in Beit Shemesh. The event was organised by teachers of the school, who were shocked to learn the news that trees planted to commemorate Sugihara’s achievement have been destroyed.

Accompanying them were Indian businessmen, who separately explored opportunities of collaboration with potential Israeli partners.

Attendees at WATEC event in Tel-Aviv

sion during the Indian minister’s visit, which included his personal participation in many of the presentations.

These five areas are: waste water treatment, recycle, and reuse; water use efficiency; water – assessment, measurement and management with focus on technology to monitor ‘functionality’ of tap connection; ground water assessment and recharge; drinking water; and desalination.

Shekhawat co-chaired the India-Israel Strategic Partnership on Water Dialogue, organised by the Indian Embassy in partnership with the Israeli Ministries of Energy and Foreign Affairs, on 18 November.

The Minister was also invited to be the keynote speaker for the prestigious biennial WATEC event held in Tel-Aviv.

He was accompanied by a large delegation from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,

“Israel is glad to continue this important bilateral dialogue, to share with India its experience and innovation related to water management challenges, inspired by the vision of both Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Modi”, the Israeli ministeries said in a statement.

“We are glad for this opportunity to strengthen our ties, sharing knowledge and standing by each other solving common challenges for the benefit of our peoples. Water is a source of life. Every human being has the right for access to water, and we are partners in promoting this goal,” they said.

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Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park in Lithuania

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Regional News

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives AJC ‘Light Unto Nations Award’ American Jewish Committee (AJC) honoured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 12 November with its ‘Light Unto the Nations Award’.

It is the global Jewish advocacy organisation’s highest honour bestowed on world leaders who exhibit leadership in the defense of democratic values and friendship with the Jewish people.

“Steadfast defence of democratic values and unwavering commitment to friendship with the US and Israel are hallmarks of your leadership, and models for other nations to emulate,” said AJC CEO David Harris, who presented the award to the Prime Minister in Tokyo.

“Japan is a democratic powerhouse in Asia, an essential ally and partner of the US, a close friend of Israel, and an anchor of stability in a vital part of the world.”

Upon receiving the award, Prime Minister Abe said that “It is my great honour to receive AJC’s Light Unto the Nations Award, a great and historic award. As CEO David Harris

ists, and corporate executives at the prestigious Japan Institute for International Affairs (JIIA), as well as speak to graduate students at the renowned National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS).

AJC CEO David Harris Presents ‘Light Unto the Nations Award’ to Prime Minister Abe

rightly mentioned, my cabinet, since its inception, has developed great relations with the US, the Jewish community, and Israel. In order to further build our ties with Israel and the Jewish community, I would like to thank AJC and the delegation for its support. Moving forward, I would also like to continue to advance the strong bond with the US and our mutual support for human dignity and shared values.”

Previous recipients of AJC’s ‘Light Unto the Nations Award’ include former US President Bill Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis,

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

During their visit to Tokyo to meet Prime Minister Abe, an 18-person delegation from the AJC had the opportunity to meet separately with Defence Minister Kono Taro and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Motegi Toshimitsu.

Key issues discussed included US-Japan bilateral relations, regional developments in East Asia, and challenges and opportunities in the Middle East.

The delegation also had the opportunity to address an audience of diplomats, scholars, journal-

AJC, founded in 1906 and headquartered in New York, maintains 22 regional offices across the US, 12 overseas posts, and 37 international association agreements with Jewish communities.

Vietnam’s cultural shows promoted in Israel Vietnam’s Embassy in Israel and Vietravel tour operator co-hosted cultural shows, entitled Vietnam Night, in Tel-Aviv on 11-12 November, promoting Vietnamese cultural beauty.

The two shows- one held at Crowne Plaza Hotel, the other at the embassy- featured Vietnamese traditional music performances by artists from Ho Chi Minh City and screening of videos on Vietnamese popular destinations, such as Hanoi, Hoi An Ancient Town, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and Ha Giang.

Speaking at the events, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung said he expects the two shows will give local

audience a glance into Vietnamese culture, encouraging more Israeli visitors to learn more about Vietnam.

“Tourism has become one of the key economic sectors in Vietnam,” Hung said. Last year, the country welcomed about 25,000 Israeli tourist arrivals, which are likely to reach 36,000 at the end of 2019, he added.

The embassy has prioritised accelerating person-toperson exchanges, cultural cooperation, and tourism connectivity between the Vietnam and Israel, the diplomat noted, including the addition of more flights between the two countries.

Wishing the community a Happy and Joyous chanukah and a special Lechaim for the new year

From Philippa and Marvin Carsley

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

7

Regional News

Eran Zahavi sets single season scoring record for Chinese soccer

Iran pulls out of deaf futsal event to avoid facing Israel

Israeli soccer player Eran Zahavi set a record last month for scoring the most goals in a single season in the Chinese soccer league.

In yet another sporting incident relating to Iranian atheletes refusing to compete against Israel, this time Iran has boycotted the World Deaf Futsal Championships as it was in the same qualifying group as Israel.

In November, Zahavi, who plays as a striker and midfielder, scored his 29th goal of the season for Guangzhou R&F in a game against Beijing Renhe.

He will receive a US$1 million bonus for the feat, according to Walla news site, after his team ended up winning the Chinese Super League game 4-1.

Zahavi, having broken a record previously held by Brazilian-born Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso, adds to his aggregate score of 301 goals in his professional career, being a mere 38 goals behind Alon Mizrahi- Israel’s all-time leading scorer.

This benchmark comes on the heels of his being named the most valuable player of the

Eran Zahavi playing for Guangzhou R&F

Chinese league, after finishing the 2017 season as its top goal scorer. He scored 27 goals that season, and Zahavi now has a US$7 million contract with the club until 2020.

Prior to his stint in China, Zahavi spent most of his career in Israel aside from an unsuccessful spell in Palermo, Italy, where he scored only twice in

Fashion house removes outfit that resembles concentration camp uniform A luxury fashion house based in Spain recently removed an outfit that closely resembled concentration camp uniforms from the Holocaust.

The striped pantsuit was removed from the Loewe website and the company issued an apology. The outfit, which was being sold for US$1,840, was part of a capsule collection inspired by the tile drawings of the 19th-century British ceramicist William De Morgan.

Diet Prada, a fashion industry watchdog account on Instagram, called out Loewe for the outfit and called for a response.

“Unable to see anything but concentration camp uniforms in this US$1,840 ensemble from @loewe’s William De Morgan capsule, a collection meant to ‘capture a freedom of imagination,’ …

There’s not actually much left to the imagination when the resulting look is so uncannily disturbing.”

Loewe outfits removed

In its statement, Loewe said: “It was brought to our attention that one of our looks featured in a magazine and part of our Arts and Crafts ceramicist William De Morgan could be misconstrued as referring to one of the most odious moments in the history of mankind. It was absolutely never our intention and we apologise to anyone who might feel we were insensitive to sacred memories. The products featured have been removed from our commercial offering.”

The international clothing chain Zara recently removed several pieces of clothing over complaints from the Jewish community over recent years, including a skirt with an image resembling the “alt-right” hate symbol Pepe the Frog (which has since been co-opted and reclaimed by democratic protest movements in Hong Kong), a shirt for toddlers that resembled a Holocaust concentration camp inmate’s uniform, and a handbag with embroidered Swastikas.

two years before moving to Maccabi Tel-Aviv in 2013.

Zahavi was also the captain of Israel’s national soccer team; he announced his resignation from the squad hours after he was given a 12-month suspension as punishment for tearing off his captain’s armband during a vital qualifying World Cup game, which Israel had lost.

The Iranians said they wouldn’t show up to the tournament in Switzerland unless they were moved to a different group, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster reported. When that didn’t happen, they withdrew from the competition entirely.

Israel and Iran were placed in the same group, along with Argentina and Sweden. The Iranian team had won the Asia Pacific Deaf Futsal Championships in February, an indoor sport similar to soccer with five players per side on a small court.

As Iran does not recognise

the State of Israel as a legitimate country, Iranian sports teams have for several decades had a policy of not competing against Israelis.

Last month, the International Judo Federation (IJF) banned Iran from competition indefinitely over the country’s refusal to face Israeli competitors.

The federation issued a provisional ban in September while investigating a report that Iran had ordered a judoka to lose deliberately at the world championships to avoid facing Israeli competitor Sagi Muki in the subsequent round.

Jewish Times Asia November 2019 issue reported on two Iranians refusing to play their games against fellow opponents from Israel at the World Junior Chess Championships, which recently took place in Mumbai and Delhi in October.

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Regional News

Last month a visiting delegation of five Chinese officials representing the Communist Party of China were in Israel for the Sino-Israel Global Network and Academic Leadership’s (SIGNAL) Annual Policy Conference, including high-level policy talks.

This year marks the 4th Annual Policy Conference, and the third time it is being coorganised with the World Jewish Congress’ Israel Council on Foreign Relations.

The talks represent a unique concerted effort to establish significant, long-term alliances between China and Israel for mutually beneficial and broadbased cooperation between the two nations.

China’s Ambassador to Israel, Zhan Yongxin commented: “We [China and Israel] see [the potential to form] long term opportunities in innovation from various sectors [...] There is still a great deal to do to unleash its full potential.”

Israel’s blossoming cooperation with China in the face

Ambassador Zhan Yongxin delivered the keynote speech at the SIGNAL conference

of the increasingly tense ChinaUS relationship requires Israel to seek new ways to navigate these narrow straits. As former Mossad director Efraim Halevy noted, “SIGNAL’s Annual Policy Conference presents a rare opportunity for a candid conversation between Chinese, Israeli, and American officials around these imminent matters.”

As such, SIGNAL’s talks covered topics addressing how other countries are understanding US-China competition and what Israel and others can do to navigate this uncertain reality.

The conference revealed one fundamental truth: should Israel need to decide between the US and China, it will un-

doubtedly side with the former.

“Our conference on Israel’s China policy indicates that small and medium countries like Israel, Germany, and South Korea, with representatives at the events are all feeling the challenge of the US - China rivalry. At the same time, there is a consensus among Israelis that if compelled to decide, it is no contest – the US is Israel’s ally,” SIGNAL Executive Director Carice Witte, said.

During the conference, discussions ranged from diverse perspectives on the potential disentanglement of the world’s two largest economies, as well as the potential for US-China cooperation in the Middle East.

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Prague to return pieces of Jewish gravestones used as cobblestones Pieces of Jewish gravestones used to pave sidewalks in the Czech Republic’s capital Prague will be given to the Jewish community to return to the city’s Old Jewish Cemetery.

Headstones from the 19thcentury cemetery were cut into cobblestones during roadwork ahead of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Czechoslovakia in 1987, Radio Prague International reported. The cemetery is no longer used for burials.

The Czech Jewish community has called for the removal and return of the stones for years.

Stones uncovered during future excavation work will be returned under the memorandum

signed by Prague City Hall, according to Radio Prague International.

A majority of the stones, made from gravestones that were cut into squares, are situated at the base of Wenceslas Square, one of Prague’s main squares, and on Na Prikope, a popular shopping street.

A project entitled ‘Finding the Lost Face of Jewish Cemeteries’ will try to help identify the fragments, the station reported. The Czech Republic’s Jewish population was about 350,000 before WWII (then called Czechoslovakia), but that number dwindled to about 50,000 by 1946.

By the late 1980s, the country’s Jewish population barely reached 8,000.

BBC

Chinese officials attend SIGNAL annual conference

The cobblestones are made of Jewish gravestones cut into squares

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

9

Business Regional News News

Israel’s REE unveils new chassis concept in Japan

Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) recently announced that its affiliated funds have agreed to acquire Israel-based Lumenis Ltd. – a maker of minimally-invasive clinical devices for aesthetics, urology, and ophthalmology – from XIO Group.

Israeli innovation was on display at this year’s 46th Tokyo Motor Show, which was held from 24 October to 4 November, as Israel’s REE unveiled its flat-chassis technology inside Hino Motors’ new FlatFormer modular chassis concept.

In 2015, Lumenis was acquired for some US$510 million by XIO Group, which delisted the firm’s shares from the Nasdaq exchange.

Lumenis has developed and commercialised innovative energy-based technologies, including lasers such as intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF).

Some 30 years ago the firm developed the world’s first holmium surgical laser to blast urinary stones located in the kidneys, bladder, or in between.

It recently developed new technology called “Moses”, that the Israeli company says is even more effective than its original urology lasers, and is considered a ‘game changer’, in the treatment of urinary stones.

Zvika Tishler

Hong Kong-based Baring Private Equity acquires Lumenis

Lumenis CEO Tzipi Ozer-Armon

The deal values Lumenis at over US$1 billion, the two companies said in a statement.

Founded in 1973, the company has a presence in over 100 countries and close to 1,500 employees worldwide.

The Asia Pacific region is its largest market, though the firm has a “strong presence” in North America, Europe, and the Middle East as well, the statement said.

“In recent years, we have developed and introduced multiple ground-breaking technological solutions that have redefined our industry and opened entirely new market segments,” said Tzipi Ozer-Armon, CEO of Lumenis, who said the acquisition is a “tremendous vote of

confidence”.

The partnership with Baring will help the firm “continue developing and delivering to the world better technology for better patient care.”

“Lumenis has built a market-leading position by creating some of the most innovative technologies in the industry,” said Yan Jiao, managing director at BPEA in the statement.

Hino Motors, the Toyota Group’s representative in the global market for heavy-duty trucks and buses, is REE’s first Japanese partner in the commercial market. “REE is on a mission toward widespread sustainable and modular electrified mobility,” said Daniel Barel, cofounder and CEO of REE. “REE’s technology supports any size electric vehicle and significantly simplifies and expedites model development cycles,” he added.

“It is a clear leader worldwide, especially in Asia which recently emerged as the largest market for medical and aesthetics treatments.”

The transaction remains subject to the customary regulatory approval process, and is expected to be completed in early 2020.

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The partnership with Hino Motors was facilitated by Million Steps, a business development firm that extends the reach of Israeli companies throughout Japan. FlatFormer is based on REE’s unique technology, which puts all the drive components within the wheel-housing.

Using REE’s novel electric solution enabled Hino to maximize space, flexibility and energy efficiency in its FlatFormer design for electric trucks.

“REE and Hino share the same vision of creating a sustainable and vividly prosperous future and reinventing the concept of mobility to deliver new value,” said Akira Yamaguchi, general manager of the design division at Hino Motors.

The Hino FlatFormer truck chassis uses Israeli REE technology

10

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Business Regional News News

Israel’s Gilat and China Satcom partner for future Chinese satellite services

A delegation of the Hanoi People’s Committee visits Israel

Announced on 29 October, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology- is joining forces with China Satellite Communications (China Satcom).

A delegation of Hanoi People’s Committee, led by its Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, paid working visits to Israel and the UK in November to seek ways to enhance cooperation between the Vietnamese capital and the two countries’ cities, partners, and businesses.

China Satcom is a licensed telecommunications service provider in China which also owns and operates the most capable, extensive Ka-band spot beam satellite system in China: the only Ka-band system currently available for IFC service in the country.

“The agreement with China Satcom is a significant step towards realising the latest efficient and high-performance satellite communication technology across China, well positioning China Satcom to deliver excellent customer experience to the end user,” said Yuan Si, China Country Manager for Gilat.

“This project is one more milestone in our years-long partnership with China Satcom,

During their trip to Israel, a stop on their way to the UK, the delegation had a meeting with Tel-Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.

and our commitment to provide the innovation needed to best position China Satcom to provide Aero, Land and Maritime connectivity in the region, as well as to create the foundation for future satellite expansion with China Satcom’s next HTS and VHTS satellites.”

China Satcom is the only satellite operational enterprise in China that offers self-controllable commercial communication, as well as broadcast satellite resources.

It is one of the major forces supporting command-and-control communication systems under the direct supervision of national communication authorities.

The two sides shared experience and discussed the possibility of cooperation in the fields of start-up, innovation, and technology for smart city building.

Huldai said the Tel-Aviv administration is ready to work with Hanoi and other Vietnamese localities to share experience in investment, trade, tourism, urban management, technology transfer, agriculture, and

As part of the roadshow, Viewbix senior officers met with leading companies across Japan. “We are honoured to have been selected as a premier Israeli technology company by the IEICI. It is a fantastic organisation that has been the basis of some significant deals with Israeli companies,” commented

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Hanoi promotes cooperation with Israeli businesses on building smart cities

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“As part of the IEICI’s initiative, we work to identify leading companies incubated in Israel and assist them in developing partnerships to expand their businesses across global markets. The proprietary video analytics platforms Viewbix has developed is vitally important in assisting companies to best maximise their digital media, whilst reaching a wide audience. We believe the company is in the ideal position for our network of leading global companies and hosting them for our Japan roadshow,” stated Noa Avrahmi, Digital Media Sector Manager of the Israel Export Institute.

They also met with Chairman of the Board of Blenheim Properties Group, Igal Ahouvi, as well as engaging in a working session with the Clariter clean-tech company to boost ties in waste treatment.

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Viewbix given premium status at Japanese roadshow A leading provider of state-ofthe-art video analytics platforms, Viewbix was selected to participate in the Israel Foreign Trade and Export and International Cooperation Institute’s (IEICI) Japan roadshow, which recently took place from 12-14 November.

Meeting with Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities of Israel Haim Bibas, committee leader Chung mentioned the difficulties and challenges facing Hanoi during its development process, expressing his hope that through meetings with officials of Tel-Aviv and other cities of Israel, the two sides can engage in synergetic improvements.

The Hanoi delegation also held meetings with leaders of the Simbionix company, the Rabin Medical Centre (and its Belison Hospital), and the Insightec company to promote cooperation in health care.

Minh Quang

In a move to strengthen already meaningful ties, Gilat and China Satcom will work in partnership to enable and deploy Gilat’s DVB-S2X technologies throughout China, whilst supporting all business verticals.

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

11

Business Regional News News

Israeli smart mobility research gives rise to historical award

Thailand’s navy purchases Israeli counter-drone system

Dr Tali Dekel received the prestigious Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels and Smart Mobility - the first lady to earn it since the award’s inception in 2013 in Israel.

Thailand’s navy has recently acquired a counter-drone system from Israel-based Skylock Systems; although financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, according to Calcalist the deal could be valued at US$4.29 million.

Dr Dekel – a senior research scientist for tech giant Google in Cambridge, Massachusettsis one of four award recipients this year who will be sharing US$1 million, which stands as the world’s largest monetary award in their fields.

She received the prize under the new category of Researcher Recruitment, which is given to leading global researchers who will be committed to becoming full faculty members in the Israeli academia for at least four years; Dr Dekel has been recruited to join the mathematics and computer science department at the Weizmann Institute of Israel next year.

The other recipient of the prize under the same category is Professor Leonard J. Shulman, who will be taking his knowledge of algorithms, coding, and

Peled has been recognised as the inventor of the Solid-Electrolyte-Interphase (SEI) in batteries- something which has become crucial for electric vehicle developers.

Tali Dekel

quantum computation to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Both recipients are expected in the coming years to contribute to research in the areas of smart mobility and alternative fuels, two such fields considered important to Israel’s growth.

Dr Dekal and Professor Schulman join two other scientists this year to be given the Samson-Prime Minister’s Prize; distinguished professor Lee Sang-yup, a South Korean researcher, has been recognised for his contribution to the development of renewable bio-mass, and Israeli professor Emanuel

The Samson-Prime Minister’s Prize is awarded by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and fund-raising organisation Keren Hayesod.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video clip played at the same event: “Our vision is a world free of its dependence on fossil fuels, with clean, efficient means of transportation. Our mission is to establish Israel as the centre of knowledge and industry in the field of smart mobility.”

He also brought up how one of the 2019 Nobel Laureates in chemistry, Professor John Goodenough, had been a recipient of the Samson-Prime Minister’s Prize in 2015. “We realised his breakthrough and contribution back then, and today we’re proud that he is receiving a Nobel Prize,” said Netanyahu.

The Thai Navy will receive the counter-drone system within the next eight months, dictates the agreement.

Skylock, founded in 2018 by the Avnon Group and based in central Israeli town of Petah Tikva, enables security teams to locate and capture unauthor-

The specific system acquired by the Thai navy is designed to protect naval ports and has an operating range of 10 kilometres.

This is not the first time Thailand has turned to Israel for counter-drone systems; in January 2018, Calcalist reported that a short-range drone defence system developed by Israeli arms manufacturer IMI Systems Ltd. (Israeli Military Industries) was used for the first time by the Thai Air Force.

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Business News

Technion students develop artificial honey A team of Israeli students from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology won a gold medal in a prestigious, international science competition in Boston, US, for their development of bee-free honey.

Established in 2003 by MIT, the contest gives students the opportunity to experiment with aspects of scientific and applied research in synthetic biology.

One of the requirements of the competition is to develop a scientific-technological idea alongside a real business enterprise. The team’s synthetic honey is made with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which “learns” to mimic the honey following reprogramming in the lab, the Technion said.

Also known as hay bacillus or grass bacillus, Bacillus

Zeinat Awwad

The Technion team has been working on the honey for the past year, according to the University, and won a gold medal for its efforts at the iGem competition (International Genetically Engineered Machine).

process of making the synthetic honey. If the artificial honey becomes available commercially, it will have tapped into a vegan food market worth over US$20 billion worldwide by 2026.

The bee-free honey on the left, and the Israeli team

subtilis is found in soil and vegetation and is also present in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans.

“The bacteria can independently control the production of enzymes, eventually achieving a product with the same sugar profile as real honey- and the same health benefits,” the team’s entry on the competition’s website explains.

The development, Technion says, is important within the context of the sharp decline in bee populations in many parts of the world. It provides a starting point for potential future en-

deavours of manufacturers, allowing them to determine practical factors including how it would taste. The product would be considered vegan, as no animals will have been used in the

“The winnings in the competition are definitely exciting, but equally important is the intellectual property created around the project,” said Prof.

Roee Amit, head of the Synthetic Biology Laboratory for the Decipherment of Genomic Codes in the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, who led the team.

Technion said student groups from the University have been participating in the iGem

competition since 2012 under the initiative of Prof. Amit and Lab Director Dr. Orna Atar.

A total of 163 gold medals were handed out during the competition, as well as 77 silver medals, and 57 bronze medals.

This year’s grand prizes went to a team from Taiwan for developing a comprehensive approach to chronic kidney disease; a team for Switzerland for introducing a field-deployable test, which enables farmers to detect plant diseases and save crop loss while reducing pesticide use; and a team from China for a biosynthesis of coloured spider silk.

Israel-China exports showing mixed returns A report released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows Israeli-Chinese exports rose by 14.3% in the third quarter of 2019, a sizeable surge when compared to third-quarter growth in 2018.

According to the data, Israeli exports to China totaled

US$2.32 billion in July-September period this year, compared to US$2.03 billion in the same period in 2018. However, Israel’s overall exports to China from the beginning of 2019 fell by 15.3% year on year, from US$7.14 billion in January-September 2018

to US$6.05 billion in those months in 2019.

Conversely, Israeli imports from China during January-September 2019 totaled US$6.59 billion- a decrease of 2.4% granted import values of US$6.75 billion in the first 9 months of 2018.

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

13

Education Planning

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A classic intervention For students needing support in English, BartyED tutors zero in on the fundamentals of writing (i.e. grammar, syntax) and the acquisition of academic skills. We provide analytical models for students who struggle to produce authentic work, reviewing material in engaging discussions until students consolidate key concepts.

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Accelerated development for gifted children We have made a name for ourselves providing holistic support and mentoring for students with learning differences and high-performing learners

undergraduate level, as the IB examiners are very exacting for a 7.

alike. For instance, 10 year-olds with the vocabulary of a talented undergraduate student tend to be on ‘the spectrum’: they need a role model whom they can look up to, confide in, and respect, especially when managing socialemotional outbursts. In concert with parents and school staff, our expert tutors help learners with these profiles excel.

IB achievers Although much of our work consists in providing structured support for students struggling in their final years, we also work closely with result-oriented students focussed on the grade they need for their desired study.

Last year, one of our students earned a perfect score of 45 in the IB Diploma Programme. This requires a private tutor with in-depth knowledge of the curriculum.

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Students must have something meaningful to say, and must say it well; this contrasts with the traditional classroom approach, which aims at bringing all learners up to a less-exacting standard.

Young learners with learning differences

Finally, we are proud of our interventions with younger learners who present symptoms of ADHD, dysgraphia, and other processing issues. Empathy is crucial here; for many students, it is the first time an educator has taken a personal interest in their success, and the relationships we build with our students provides a meaningful structure to address the skills they need for a confident academic life.

As mentors, students leave our lessons with actionable structures and techniques for self-directed improvement. Dependency is a misnomer; we prefer symbiotic relationships.

BartyED’s qualified staff provide admissions consulting and SAT/ACT prep as well as expert tuition in IB and other international curricula. For more information contact enquiries@bartyed.com

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Art • Culture • Music

Israeli and Chinese TV broadcasters collaborate

History bites back: 40,000 yearold human teeth unearthed

Israeli-based Armoza Formats has inked a co-development deal with major Chinese broadcaster, Hunan TV.

Israeli researchers found six human teeth dated to 40,000 years ago, according to TelAviv University (TAU).

The new Chinese programme recently debuted with some of the highest ratings for a televised dance competition in the past two years. Lester Hu, Hunan TV’s head of formats and international business, said his firm was “happy to have found the right partner.”

For

Dance

Smash,

the

A performer appearing in Dance Smash (Canada)

broadcaster’s in-house producers “worked heavily on its redevelopment to [make it] the perfect fit for China,” making changes to certain aspects such as the casting process.

Armoza Formats CEO Avi Armoza said he was “thrilled” that the Chinese show was airing, and saw its launch as “a strong start to many future collaborations with Hunan TV.” Yann Paquet, the vice president of Quebecor Content, said

‘Charming Beijing’ promotion held in Tel-Aviv

Lion dance at the Beijing promotion event

Held at the Dizengoff Centre shopping mall a promotion event titled “Charming Beijing” was held in October.

Organised by the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, the event strove to teach Israelis of Beijing’s historical background and tourism features in a bid to attract further interest in the city as a holiday hotspot.

“Beijing is a fascinating tourism destination rich in traditional culture and modern civilization,” commented Ju Qiang, deputy director of the Bureau’s Festival and Events Organising Department.

During the event, a photo exhibition presented audiences with a both traditional and modern Beijing.

A series of interactive cultural activities further attracted many participants, many of them showing an interest in try-

ing Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting, and other crafts such as painting lanterns and opera masks.

Delighted by the activities, many of the visitors expressed wishes to visit Beijing and other places of China.

Diskin Etty, 70, was excited when she won the first prize in a lucky draw: a round-trip ticket between Tel-Aviv and Beijing.

This is to be her second visit, having vacationed there five years ago to climb the Great Wall with family.

She said they were deeply impressed by Chinese cuisine and Chinese people’s hospitality.

Mike Dove, a 51-year-old father, wrote “happy birthday” in Chinese with calligraphy brushes on red paper, saying it will be a special gift for his soon-to-be 18 year old daughter.

his firm was “excited about the growing international interest” in their Dance Revolution format.

Established in 2005, Armoza Formats became part of ITV Studios earlier this year, staunch creators and distributors with more than 100 programmes under its belt.

A study, led by TAU researchers and published in the Journal of Human Evolution, examined the teeth that were found in a cave in the Galilee region of northern Israel. With dental research, the team determined that the teeth belonged to modern humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals.

The teeth were found in archeological layers belonging to the rich and developed Auri-

The discovered teeth point to are the first anthropological evidence of a population that emigrated from Europe to ancient Israel, supposedly to stay away from extreme climatic conditions during the last glacial period. One of the teeth showed a combination of Neanderthal and Homo sapien features, which, to date, had only been found in European populations from the late stone age.

Prof. Israel Hershkovitz

It places performers in the middle of a circle of cameras that provide a real-time 360-degree view of their moves, allowing judges to analyse and critique their performance from all angles as they compete for a cash prize.

Armoza

The first show to come out of the partnership is dance competition Dance Smash, which began airing in China last month. The show is based on Quebecor Content and FairPlay’s format as seen in Dance Revolution, which originally aired on Canada’s TVA.

gnacian culture- which first appeared in Europe some 43,000 years ago- and is associated with the end of the Neanderthal era in Europe.

The Manot cave; the red square marks the area is where some of the teeth were found

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

15

Art • Culture • Music

Israel’s Consulate in Hong Kong organises an event Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival celebrating to mark ‘forgotten refugees’ from Arab lands 30 years Israel’s Consulate in Hong Kong recently organised for the first time two events marking the departure and expulsion of Jews from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century.

This month the Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival will take place from 18-20 December at the TelAviv Museum of Art. It is one of the most respected and prominent jazz events in Israel, having earned a prestigious reputation over the past decades.

November 30 is the official Memorial Day, based on a law passed by the Israel’s Parliament the Knesset in 2014.

The Consulate marked this special day with an event at Elsa High School and an exhibition at the Jewish Community Centre.

At Elsa, on 22 November, Yael Lenga Ben-Hur, Consul of Israel in Hong Kong, joined with schoolteachers to present the background and personal accounts of these “forgotten ref-

Yael Lenga Ben-Hur, Consul of Israel in HK, speaking at Elsa High School

Elsa High school students hearing the accounts of the refugees

ugees” who were forced to flee from their homes and to leave the countries where they had lived for millennia.

Jews had lived in the Arab lands for thousands of years; however, in the 20th century, with the rise of Arab nationalism and the conflict in Palestine, the new Arab regimes began a campaign of massive violations of the rights of their Jewish citizens, effectively denouncing and expelling many of them from their homes in retaliation to burgeoning conflict. Current research estimates that the number of Jews living in Arab countries in the North African region (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya) and in the

Middle East (Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Iran) totaled more than 850,000 at the time of Israel’s independence.

Their stories were not well known and never received recognition from the international community, let alone compensation for their great losses or any other humanitarian aid.

While planning for the event, the schoolteachers discovered the story of Ada Moran, who had lost her father before escaping from Syria. This testimony was added to the exhibition: The Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries which was recently on display for a week at the Jewish Community Centre.

Over the three-day festival, dozens of artists from Israel and abroad will celebrate new original works, including live performances, tribute shows, and music that aims to break the boundaries of genre.

Marking its 30th birthday, a strong lineup of artists are billed too make an appearance, including seasoned American

Hammond organ player Joey DeFrancesco, and French accordionist extraordinaire Richard Galliano.

Long-serving artistic director Barak Weiss has drawn on a wide sweep of styles, genres, and disciplines, suited to universal tastes.

Also in attendance shall be ethnic-leaning rocker Beri Sacharoff, high energy GermanAustria collective Jazzanova – which fuses jazz with chillout, funk and hip hop-, Ethiopian ethnojazz pioneer Mulato Astatke, and jazz reedman Daniel Zamir joining forces with veteran pop keyboardist-vocalist-composer Yoni Rechter.

Joey DeFrancesco

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Art • Culture • Music

An exhibition featuring the Mogao Grottoes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China’s Gansu Province, opened at the China Cultural Center in Tel-Aviv last month.

A Filipino film on the late President Manuel L. Quezon’s heroic deeds toward Jews during the Nazi regime was premiered in Israel.

The exhibition includes two parts: the digital Dunhuang exhibition entitled The Pearl of the Silk Road Living in Digitised Eternity, and a Chinese painting exhibition entitled Pilgrimage Dunhuang.

The Mogao Grottoes are home to collections of Buddhist artwork — more than 2,000 coloured sculptures and 45,000 square metres of murals - in 735 caves carved along a cliff.

Nowadays, the site is an important tourist attraction and the subject of archeological studies.

It was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1987.

Wearing virtual reality (VR) glasses, visitors could experience the famous caves individually, as well as sculptures and paintings.

“Dunhuang is a famous historical and cultural site in China and is an important city along the ancient Silk Road, a bustling trade route linking China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe,” said Tao Chen, the director of the China Cultural Center in Tel- Aviv, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition event.

“Among all Dunhuang attractions, the Mogao Grottoes

Mogao Grottoes Cave 420

Mogao Grottoes Cave 107

A researcher from the Dunhuang Academy works on a replica of the mural in Cave 254

is undoubtedly the most prestigious around the world. It is also world-renowned for its Buddhist murals, sculptures, and impressive library, and it is one of the three greatest Buddhist sculptural sites in China,” Tao added.

“Gansu is located at the important crossroads for the ancient cultural exchanges between the East and West and the ancient silk road as well, and Mogao Grottoes are the unique arts treasure for China and for the whole world,” noted Wang Chunsheng, deputy director general of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Gansu Province.

Wang headed a cultural delegation to the exhibition, which comprised of specialists and artists from Dunhuang Academy and Gansu Arts Institute to bring the exhibition before Israeli audience.

The exhibition was sponsored by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Gansu Province and the China Cultural Center in Tel-Aviv, co-organised by Dunhuang Academy and Gansu Arts Institute.

Philippines Embassy in Israel

Quezon’s Game premieres in Tel-Aviv Sun Zhijun / China Daily

Mogao Grottoes and other Chinese treasures exhibited

The film entitled Quezon’s Game was showcased at Cinematheque, Tel-Aviv, on 27 October.

Two hundred guests, including Israeli government officials, attended the special screening of the movie.

The film depicted Quezon’s kindness for thousands of Jews escaping the Holocaust in Ger-

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial (second from left) and other embassy officers and staff at the premiere screening

many and Austria, also featuring the former President’s difficulties when bringing Jewish refugees into the Philippines.

The movie was initially aired in the international film festival circuit in December 2018 where it took home 23 awards, including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Foreign Film.

Raymond Bagatsing as President Manuel L. Quezon in Quezon's Game

In a speech during the special screening, Foreign Affairs

Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the Philippines’ friendship with the Jewish people continues to bloom even after 80 years since the late President opened their doors to shelter the Jews.

Gilad Cohen, Deputy Director General for Asia (Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs) complimented the film, saying it was “not [of] the kindness of one man, but of the entire Filipino nation.”

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

17

Art • Culture • Music

Lithuania to issue first-ever euro coin featuring Hebrew inscription

The National Library of Israel announced that it is working with Google to digitise 120,000 books from its extensive collection of Jewish texts and upload them to the internet for public use.

The Bank of Lithuania has recently announced it is planning to issue a new collectable €10 coin to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of leading 18th century Jewish rabbi, the Vilna Gaon.

Yaakov Naumi/Flash90

Israel’s National Library looking to digitise

The library said in a statement this week that its contribution will significantly increase the percentage of Hebrew texts available on Google Books.

The National Library has already begun transporting 50,000 books to Google’s digitisation centre in Germany, using climate-controlled shipping containers.

Another 20,000 will be scanned in-house due to their rare or fragile nature.

The texts undergoing this process vary in subject matter; items include a Hebrew book for school children with Yiddish translation, an Italian translation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and a news article from Berlin on the history of the Jews in Cochin, India.

Roughly half of the texts, which date from the 18th to

Books on a shelf in the National Library of Israel

20th centuries, are in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino, while the rest are in Latin, English, German, French, Arabic, and Russian.

The whole process is expected to take around two years, after which all out-of-copyright Hebrew books will be available online and free to the public.

The original books will be returned to the library in Jerusalem.

“As the national library for both the State of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide, we see it as a central element of our

mission- especially now in the digital age- to open, free, universal access to as many Jewish and Hebrew texts as possible, to be used and enjoyed by diverse audiences across the globe,” said Dr. Yoel Finkelman, curator at the National Library of Israel.

This collaboration is part of the library’s 450 Years of Hebrew Printing project, which aims to digitise its extensive collection of maps, manuscripts, photographs, historic press, and books. The undertaking is sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage and other donors.

Jewish Communities in Asia?

We want to hear from you

Born in 1720 as Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, the Vilna Gaon was a prominent Jewish adjudicator and the foremost leader of the Misnagdim, a countermovement to the Chasidic movement in eastern Europe. Through his commentary on the Talmud and other texts, he became one of the most familiar and influential figures in rabbinical study since the Middle Ages.

The coin is set to be released in the second quarter of 2020 and will be the continental currency’s first mintage to feature an inscription in Hebrew

the community’s identification as citizens since the 14th century reign of Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

The coin is encircled with the inscription “The Year of the Vilna Gaon and the History of the Jews of Lithuania” in Lithuanian and Hebrew, as well as the number 5780: the year in the Jewish calendar that corresponds to 2020.

Israeli Ambassador to Lithuania, Yossi Avni-Levy, praised the Lithuanian Mint’s gesture.

“This is a very beautiful tribute on behalf of the Lithuanian government to the glorious Jewish heritage of Vilnius on the 300th anniversary of the Gaon’s birth,” said Avni-Levy.

The obverse of the coin bears the symbol of Lithuanian Jews (Litvaks) – a stylized menorah representing

The €10 coin

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Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

Chanukah

T

The Festival of Miracles

he Festival of Chanukah is celebrated for eight days during the Jewish month of Kislev. It is also commonly known as the Festival of Lights.

It is the first non-biblical holiday to be incorporated into the Jewish calendar and finds its roots in real historical events occurring in the Graeco-Syrian Empire around 175 B.C.E. The story of Chanukah The main theme of the festival is to celebrate a miracle. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication.” Led by Matitiyahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, and a small band of pi-

Children playing with Dreidals

instead of burning for one day, the Menorah stayed lit for eight days.

children the opportunity also to give tzedakah (charity).

We are forbidden to use the Chanukah lights for any purpose other than “viewing”. The main requirement is that the candles must burn for at least 30 minutes after nightfall.

During the prayer services we also add Hallel and Al HaNissim to offer praise and thanksgiving to G-d for “delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few... the wicked into the hands of the righteous.”

Lighting the Menorah During the eight day holiday we are obligated to light our own menorah, one candle for each night of the festival.

One additional candle is added, known as the Shamash which is used to light the candles.

Lighting the Menorah

ous Jews led a guerrilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek army.

The Syrian Greek empire led

by Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the

rebellion, but after three years against incredible odds the Maccabees won, miraculously succeeding in driving the foreigners from their land. Judah the Maccabee and his fighters entered Jerusalem and found the Holy Temple in shambles and desecrated with idols. The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th of Kislev. When they recaptured the Holy Temple from the Greeks, the first thing they did was light the golden Menorah.

They had only enough oil to last for one day, and new oil would take seven days to prepare. But a miracle happened,

Customs Since the Chanukah miracle involved oil, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil. The Eastern-European classic is the potato latke (pancake) garnished with applesauce or sour cream, and the reigning Israeli favourite is the jelly-filled sufganya (doughnut).

The giving of Chanukah gelt (coins) to children gifts of money, rewarding positive behaviour and devotion to Torah study, the cash gifts give the

It is also customary for families to spin the dreidel. This is a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter’s on each side. The letters are: nun, gimmel, hey, shin the first letters of Nes Gadol Haya Sham (a great miracle happened there). In Israel, the last letter is a pey (here).

Jelly -filled doughnuts

Chanukah Sameach to all communities in Asia From www.jewishtimesasia.org

Celebrating 13 years of Jewish news in Asia

Jewish Times Asia December 2019 / January 2020

19

December / January Parashas 7 December 2019 / 9 Kislev 5780: VAYETZE Jacob escapes the wrath of his brother Esau and goes to Mount Moriah and has a dream of a ladder going up to heaven and angels going up and down. In the dream G-d gives him the promise of giving the land on which Jacob is lying will be given to him and to his future generations. Jacob works for his uncle Laban. Laban agrees to give him Rachel his daughter but deceives him and gives his other daughter Leah instead. Jacob marries both and also their respective handmaidens. Jacob has 11 sons and a daughter.

14 December 2019 / 16 Kislev 5780: VAYISHLACH Jacob sends angels to assess whether his brother Esau is still hostile towards him. He prepares to meet Esau with gifts, a prayer and if need be to fight. Jacob separates his entourage into two parts. He wrestles with an angel. Unable to free himself from Jacob’s grip the angel dislocates Jacob’s sciatic nerve. The angel blesses Jacob and tells him his name will become Israel: “for you have striven with the Divine and with man and overcome.” Also in this week’s parsha, Jacob is about to die and wants to bless Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Menashe. Jacob says, “The Jewish people will use you as a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe’” (Genesis 48:20). Until today, it is the custom every Friday night to bless our sons with this blessing.

21 December 2019 / 23 Kislev 5780: VAYESHEV We read the famous chapter about Joseph when he was 17 years old and Jacob presented him with the multi-coloured coat. Joseph also related his two dreams to his brothers.The brothers conspired to kill Joseph, but Reuven intervened. He suggested throwing Joseph into a pit to buy time. During Reuven’s absence, Judah suggested selling Joseph into slavery. The brothers presented Jacob with contrived evidence of Joseph’s death, and he was inconsolable. Joseph had been purchased by Potiphar. His wife attempted to seduce Joseph, but Joseph withstood temptation and fled his mistress’s presence. He was thrown into the royal prison and was soon chosen by the warden to run the prison.

HOLIDAYS/ FASTS/ ROSH CHODESH/ SPECIAL DAYS Chanukah: (First night candle-lighting) 22 December 2019 23 December 2019 (25 Kislev 5780) — 29 December 2019 (1 Tevet 5780) Rosh Chodesh: 28 December 2019 (30 Kislev 5780) — 29 December 2019 (1 Tevet 5780)

Fast of 10 B’Tevet: 7 January 2020 (10 Tevet 5780) Rosh Chodesh: 27 January 2020 (1 Shevat 5780)

28 December 2019 / 30 Kislev 5780: MIKETZ SHABBAT MEVARECHIM Pharaoh dreams of years of plenty and famine. The butler finally remembers Joseph, and Joseph correctly interprets the dreams. Joseph advises Pharaoh on what to do and is appointed viceroy of Egypt and implements the plan. The famine affects Canaan and Jacob sends his sons except for Benjamin to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognises his brothers but they do not. He accuses them of being spies and locks them up. He demands that they go back to Canaan and bring their youngest to Egypt. G-d appears to Jacob and tells him G-d will be with them and he will also cause Israel to come out of Egypt.

4 January 2020 / 7 Tevet 5780: VAYIGASH Judah confronts Joseph and tells him if Benjamin does not go back, it will kill his father Jacob. Joseph finally reveals his true identity and asks after his father. He sends his brothers to tell Jacob he is alive and that he and his household should come down to Egypt. G-d appears to Jacob and tells him G-d will be with them and he will also cause Israel to come out of Egypt.

11 January 2020 / 14 Tevet 5780: VAYECHI Jacob makes Joseph promise that he will not be buried in Egypt but in the burial place of his fathers in the Cave of Machpelah. Joseph is told his father is ill and takes his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to be blessed. Jacob blesses Ephraim with his right hand even though he is the younger of the two, and Manasseh with his left hand. Jacob calls all his sons to his death bed to bless them before he dies. Joseph and his brothers comply with his father’s wishes and takes him to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah. After the mourning period Joseph assures his brothers that he has no intention of taking revenge against them.

18 January 2020 / 21 Tevet 5780: SHEMOT Seventy souls from Jacob came down to Egypt and they increased. A new Pharaoh arose he feared the Israelites were a threat and placed them under bondage. Pharaoh decreed that all male babies were to be killed, but Shifrah and Puah saved them. The birth of Moses from the house of Levi. He is placed in basket among the reeds and is saved by Bityah, Pharaoh’s daughter, and Moses is brought up in Pharaoh’s palace. Moses sees the suffering of his people and kills a taskmaster. Moses escaped to Midian where he marries Tziporah. G-d reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush, and tells him to go and lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt.

25 January 2020 / 28 Tevet 5780: VA’ERA G-d appears to Moses and commands him to tell the Israelites that G-d will bring them out of Egypt.

G-d commands Moses to go to Pharaoh to tell him let His People go. Moses first proves that he is a master magician worthy of being listened to by Pharaoh. Moses warns each time of calamity befalling Pharaoh if he does heed his warnings before sending seven of the ten Plagues – blood, frogs, lice, swarms of wild beasts, epidemic, boils, hail.

Candle Lighting Times for December & January Cities Bangkok Beijing Guangzhou Hong Kong Kathmandu Kobe Manila Mumbai Perth Shanghai Singapore Seoul Taipei Tokyo

6-December

13-December

20-December

27-December

3-January

10-January

17-January

24-January

31-January

5:31 4:31 5:23 5:21 4:51 4:31 5:08 5:42 6:54 4:33 6:39 4:56 4:46 4:09

5:34 4:32 5:25 5:23 4:52 4:32 5:10 5:44 6:59 4:34 6:42 4:56 4:48 4:10

5:37 4:34 5:28 5:26 4:55 4:34 5:13 5:47 7:03 4:37 6:45 4:59 4:50 4:13

5:40 4:38 5:31 5:29 4:58 4:38 5:17 5:51 7:06 4:41 6:49 5:02 4:54 4:16

5:44 4:43 5:36 5:34 5:03 4:43 5:21 5:55 7:08 4:45 6:52 5:07 4:59 4:21

5:48 4:49 5:40 5:38 5:08 4:49 5:25 6:00 7:09 4:51 6:55 5:14 5:03 4:27

5:52 4:57 5:45 5:43 5:14 4:55 5:29 6:04 7:08 4:57 6:58 5:21 5:09 4:34

5:56 5:05 5:50 5:48 5:19 5:02 5:33 6:08 7:05 5:03 7:00 5:28 5:14 4:41

5:59 5:13 5:55 5:53 5:25 5:09 5:36 6:13 7:01 5:09 7:02 5:36 5:19 4:48

Candlelighting times are taken from Chabad.org.

JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN ASIA CAMBODIA

Chabad Jewish Center House # 32, Street 228, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855) 85 807 205 www.jewishcambodia.com

CHINA

HONG KONG

PHILIPPINES

Chabad of Hong Kong: 1/F Hoover Court, 7-9 Macdonell Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2523 9770 www.chabadhk.org

SINGAPORE

Jewish Community Centre: One Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2801 5440 www.jcc.org.hk

Beijing Chabad House and Community centre: Fang Yuan Xi Lu, next to the south gate of Si De Park, Beijing, PR China Tel: (8610) 8470 8238 ext. 210, (86) 13910740109 www.chabadbeijing.com

Ohel Leah Synagogue: 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2589 2621 www.ohelleah.org

Chabad of Ya Bao Lu: Jian Guo Men Diplomatic Bldg, Building 3, 2/F, 223 Chaoyangmennei Street, Beijing, PR China TeL: (86) 1352 2016 427 Email: rabbaimendy08@gmail.com

The Israeli Chamber Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong: c/o The Jewish Community Centre, One Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2312 1111 email: icochk@biznetvigator.com

United Jewish Congregation (Reform): Jewish Community Centre, One Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2523 2985 www.ujc.org.hk

Kehillat Beijing (Reform): Capital Club Athletic Center, 3/F., Ballroom, Capital Mansion, 6 Xinyuan Nanlu Chaoyang District, Beijing, PR China Tel: (86) 10 6467 2225 www.sinogogue.org

Kowloon Kehilat Zion (Orthodox): Unit 105, 1/F, Wing on Plaza, 62 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon Tel: (852) 2368 0061 www.kehilat-zion.org

Guangzhou Guangzhou Chabad: 31 He Ping Lu, Overseas Village, Guangzhou, China Tel: (86) 137 1050 5049 www.chabadgz.org

Chabad of Kowloon: Oriental Centre 1/F Unit D, 67-71 Chatham Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tel: (852) 2366 5770 Email: kowloon@chabadhk.org

Shanghai Shanghai Chabad (Shanghai Jewish Center): Shang-Mira Garden Villa #1, 1720 Hong Qiao Road, Shanghai, 200336, PR China Tel: (86) 21 6278 0225 www.chinajewish.org

Magen David Synagogue: 340 Sir J.J. Rd, Byculla, Mumbai Tel: (91) 22 23006675

Chabad of Pudong: Vila # 69, 2255 Luoshan Road, Shanghai, 200135, PR China Tel: (86) 21 5878 2008 www.chinajewish.org Sephardi Shanghai Center: Building B. Apt. 3 (Room 103), 1000 Gubei Road, Shanghai, PR China 201103 Tel: (86) 21 6208 8327 Mobile: (86) 15900808733 Email: sscshanghai10@gmail.com, ssc_shanghai@walla.com Kehilat Shanghai (Reform): XinTianDi – Lakeville 2 Regency Club, 168 ShunChang Lu, Shanghai, China Tel: (86) 13817825201 www.kehilatshanghai.org Email: info@kehilatshanghai.org, Facebook: facebook.com/KehilatShanghai Shenzhen Shenzhen Chabad: No.4, Block A, Guishan Xiaozhu Yanshan Road, Industrial Area, Shekou Nanshan District, Shenzhen, PR China Tel: (86) 755 8207 0712 www.chabadshenzhen.org

INDIA (MUMBAI)

Kenesseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, 43 Dr V.B. Gandhi Marg, Fort, Mumbai Tel: (91) 22 22831502 / 22839617 Kurla Bene Israel: 275 C.S.T. Rd, Jewish Colony, Kurla (W) Mumbai, India Tel: (91) 22 511-2132

JAPAN

Kobe Ohel Shelomoh Synagogue and Community Center: 4-12-12, Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650, Japan Tel: (81) 78 221 7236 www.jcckobe.org Tokyo Tokyo Chabad: 1-5-23 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan 108-0073 Tel: (813) 5789 2846 www.chabad.jp JCC Japan: Tokyo Jewish Community Centre, 8-8 Hiroo 3-Chome, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150 0012, Japan Tel: (813) 3400 2559 www.jccjapan.or.jp

NEPAL

Chabad House: GHA-2-516-4 Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (977) 980 324 1294 chabadnepal@hotmail.com

Beth Yaacov Synagogue: 110 H.V. de la Costa cnr, Tordesillas West, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Metro Manila 1227, The Philippines Tel: (632) 815 0265 www.jewishphilippines.org Chesed-El Synagogue: 2 Oxley Rise, Singapore 238693 Tel: (65) 6732 8862, (65) 9740 8109 Jacob Ballas Community Centre & Maghain Aboth Synagogue: 24-26 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187950 Tel: (65) 6337 2189 www.singaporejews.org United Hebrew Congregation (Reform): email: info@uhcsingapore.org

SOUTH KOREA Chabad: 744-18 Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul 140-893, South Korea Tel: (82) 107 730 3770 www.jewishkorea.com

TAIWAN

Taipei Jewish Center: No. 12, Lane 46, Anju St, Daan District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan Tel: (886) 9 2392 3770 email: Rabbi@jewish.tw Taipei Jewish Community: 16 Min Tsu East Road, Second Floor, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Tel: (886) 2 2591 3565 email:einhorn912@xuite.net Taipei Jewish Community Synagogue Services: 11F, 54 Minsheng East Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan email: thetjc@yahoo.com

THAILAND

Bangkok Jewish Association of Thailand: 121 Soi Sai Nam Thip 2, Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok, Thailand Tel: (662) 663 0244 www.jewishthailand.com Chabad of Thailand: 96 Rambutttri St. Banglamphu, 102000 Bangkok, Thailand Tel: (662) 629 2770 www.chabadthailand.com Bet Sefer Chabad: 221 Sukhumvit Soi 20, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand Tel: (662) 258 3434 Chabad of Phuket 52/32 Ratch U-thit Song Roy Pee Rd. (opposite Patong Post Office), Second row of town houses, Patong, Katu District, Phuket 83150 Chiang Mai 189/15 Chang-Clan Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand, On street of Night Bazaar, 100 Meters before The Empress hotel Tel: (66) 81 870 2249

VIETNAM

Chabad: 5A (villa) Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Dakao ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Tel: (84) 90 9166770 www.JewishVietnam.com

Thank you for the past 13 years Help Us Secure a Jewish Voice in Asia Jewish Times Asia -April 2019 issue Who can ever predict the future with 100 per cent certainty? What started off in April 2006 as a work in progress to report on Jewish news in the region, and to uncover stories about Jewish ancestry and history, has now reached a very significant milestone as we celebrate 13 year’s – you could say that it is our Bar Mitzvah.

Philip Jay, the Publisher & Founder of Jewish Times Asia, said: “Our primary objective, ever since we launched, has been to secure a Jewish voice in Asia, and for 13 years our editorial vision has not changed.”

Perhaps the only thing that has changed is the delivery platform. “We now have a soft-copy digital version as well as a hard-copy print version. We are open to both, but as people are bombarded with news online, perhaps our community readers find it refreshing to receive a simply formatted hard-copy newspaper in their letter box at home,” said Jay. A strong Jewish voice in the region “For Jewish Times Asia, providing an excellent platform and developing an even stronger Jewish voice in the region is our goal for future years,” explained Jay. “In April 2006, the very first edition of our newspaper was printed. It was an exciting time to be the region’s primary platform for news-gathering about Jewish issues.

Now, in our 13th year, we want to continue to provide a positive news spin for the state of Israel and its foreign affairs activities in the region. We also want to report on political and historical ignorance, especially relating to Israel and other Jewish issues.”

He added that reporting on community news is still the most rewarding part of the publication’s work.

“Over the years, we have been delighted to publish news about the much closer diplomatic ties between Israel and nearly all Asian countries in the region, not just in terms of trade and business relations but also in terms of cultural and educational activities.”

Jewish Times Asia offers an independent resource to educate people in Asia about Jewish values, the Holocaust and Jewish heritage. Nowadays, noted Jay, almost all countries in the region observe UN Holocaust Remembrance Day, and embassies and consulates co-host Holocaust talks and lectures and invite Holocaust survivors to visit schools and universities.

“We are grateful that most Asian countries have nothing but positive things to say about Jewish people. They have very few anti-Semitic attitudes,” he commented.

Jewish Times Asia publishes a hard-copy newspaper, an online resource of content on its website, and an online flipbook version that caters to departing Jewish expatriates and others who want to stay abreast of Jewish news in (or affecting) Asia.

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP FUND JEWISH TIMES ASIA If you are interested in helping us please contact me directly by email: jewishtimesasia@gmail.com Philip Jay, Publisher & Founder Jewish Times Asia