June 2019 • Volume 14 • Issue 3 • Iyar / Sivan 5779 by Jewish Times Asia Limited

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June 2019 • Volume 14 • Issue 3 • Iyar / Sivan 5779

VIETNAM AND ISRAEL LOOKING AT MORE EXPANDED INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Diplomatic relations have grown steadily since Israel’s President Reuvan Rivlin made a state visit to Vietnam in March 2017. The latest initiative was a joint roundtable conference on business and investment opportunities in Vietnam, which was held in Tel-Aviv on 22 May. A total of 30 companies participated. Sabine Segal, Deputy Director General for International Business Affairs at the Israel Export Institute, said the conference was an initiative of the Vietnamese embassy. It is intended as an effort to help Israeli firms study the Vietnamese market and its opportunities. Highlighting the growth of the

IN THIS ISSUE Regional News Royal Thai King’s Guard spotted 3-8

carrying Israeli rifles

Business News India looking to acquire SPICE bombs 9-11

By Staff Writer and Agencies

surplus worth US$77.47 million.

VNA

The already prosperous economic ties between Vietnam and Israel seem to be strengthening, with both governments confirming that a bilateral free-trade agreement is under negotiation and could raise the two-way trade deal to an estimated worth of US$3 billion.

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Roundtable conference discussing investment opportunities

two countries’ economic trade and investment relations, she stressed the importance for yet more bilateral, multifaceted collaborations. At the conference, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Israel, Do Minh Hung, delivered an overview on Vietnam’s economic development and integration, as well as its foreign investment attractions. He pointed to cooperation pillars of the two countries, including trade, agriculture, tourism, investment, and science-technology. Vietnamese trade counsellor at the embassy Le Thai Hoa also gave a presentation on business

climate in the Southeast Asian nation. Hoa also introduced a number of legal frameworks for Vietnam/Israel ties, Israeli investment in Vietnam, as well as the current situation and prospects of trade ties between the two countries. He encouraged Israeli firms to seize opportunities offered by the Vietnamese market, which could be a gateway for them to reach a wider market of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Vietnam’s imports from Israel are mostly in the farming agriculture sectors, including but not limited to fertiliser, machines and farm produce. Israel also provides defence and military contracts. Vietnam accepted a delivery of a second batch of Israeli-made surfaceto-air missiles, and is upgrading its helicopters. The value of these contracts is estimated at US$130 million. Last year, the two countries held various activities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Art • Culture • Music 64th Eurovision held in Tel-Aviv goes off with little fuss

14-17

Festival Shavuot

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

According to the Vietnam Trade office in Israel, two-way trade between Vietnam and Israel hit US$131.29 million in the first two months of 2019, with Vietnam enjoying a trade

Israel’s population soars past 9 million on Independence Day Israel’s population has surpassed 9 million individuals, as reported last month by the Central Bureau of Statistics on the eve of the nation’s 71st Day of Independence. At the time of printing, Israel reportedly houses 9,021,000 citizens, more than ten times its population of 806,000 at the time of the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. Around 45% of World Jewry currently reside in Israel. The population has grown by an exponential 2% (or 177,000)

since Independence Day 2018. Over the past year, 188,000 babies were born, 31,000 people immigrated to Israel, and 47,000 people have died. The Central Bureau of Statistics projects that Israel’s population will reach 10 million by 2024, 15 million by 2048, and 20 million by 2065. Statistically, 6,697,000 of the Israeli population are Jewish (74.3%), with 1,890,000 (20.9%) identifying as Israeli Arab, and the remaining 434,000 (4.8%) belong to other religions and communities.

Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, retains its spot as the city with the greatest population density, home to some 883,000 residents. This figure accounts for almost 10% of the national populace. When the State was established, only one city had more than 100,000 residents; today this city, Tel-Aviv-Yafo, is joined by 13 other cities in this statistic. Eight of these citiesnamely Jerusalem, Tel-AvivYafo, Haifa, Rishon Letzion, Petah Tikvah, Ashdod, Netanya, and Be’er Sheva – are home to over 200,000 residents.

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Royal Thai King’s Guard spotted carrying Israeli rifles

Strong turnout for Pro-Palestinian march

During the official coronation ceremony of the appointment of Thailand’s new King Maha Vajiralongkorn in May, soldiers of the Royal Thai King’s Guard were carrying goldenplated and painted Israeli Tavor bullpup rifles.

According to the Israel Defense, the rifles appear to be the older Tavor 21 IDF models, which may have been sold to Thailand at a discount after the later-generation Tavor models entered the market. The Tavor TAR-21s produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), were spraypainted gold in the “old tradition of the Royal Police,” ac-

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists marched through central London for the National Demonstration for Palestine. The marchers demonstrating on 12 May called to “free Palestine,” demanding for a “right of return” for Palestinians, and for the end to “unprecedented attacks on Palestinians by Israel”.

Royal Thai King’s Guards carrying Israeli riffles

cording to The Jerusalem Post. Thailand purchased TAR-21 bullpup assault rifles to replace its M16-A1 assault rifles as the standard issue rifle of the Thai Royal Army and, according to local Thai reports, has around 76,000 TAR-21 rifles in use.

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn was crowned on the first of three days of coronation rites from the fourth to the sixth of May. King Vajiralongkorn inherited the throne in 2016 when his long-reigning father Bhumibol Adulyadej died.

Genesis Prize Foundation grants US$1 million toward Spacecraft Beresheet 2 crash, SpaceIL chairman Morris Kahn announced the launch of the Beresheet 2 project. The South African-born billionaire donated much of the funding for the first effort.

The Genesis Prize Foundation has granted US$1 million toward Beresheet 2, a second attempt to land an Israeli spacecraft on the moon. The first Beresheet mission crashlanded on the surface of the moon on 11 April. “This grant deviates from our traditional philanthropy, which focuses on one initiative each year in partnership with our laureates. But in its essence, support of Beresheet 2 is exactly why we established our foundation: to inspire the Jewish people, to strengthen the bond between Israel and the Diaspora, and to instill a sense of pride in Israel’s achievements,” said Stan Polovets, co-founder

Beresheet spacecraft that crash landed

and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation. Beresheet had cost nearly US$100 million, mostly funded by donors, and the results of an investigation into the crash will be published later this month. Less than 48 hours after the

The spacecraft was developed in response to the Google Lunar X Prize competition, which challenged nongovernmental groups to land a spacecraft on the moon. That challenge finished last year without a winner of the US$30 million prize. However, the prize committee decided days after the crash that it would award SpaceIL a US$1 million “Moonshot Award” for its achievements.

The event, which marks the 71st anniversary of the Nakba – or catastrophe, referring to the formation of the state of Israel – was organised by the Palestine Campaign. They are supported by and affiliated with the support of Stop the War Coalition, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, and the Muslim Association of Britain, as well as several trade unions and the Momentum faction of the Labour Party. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, offered his support to the demonstrators in a statement that he also posted on Facebook. The march was led by Ahed Tamimi, an activist teen who became a Palestinian national symbol after being jailed in Israel under charges including aggravated assault, hindering a soldier in the line of duty, incitement, threatening a soldier’s life, and rock throwing. A small counter-protest was held by pro-Israel activists, according to the UK Campaign Against Anti-Semitism.

Newly elected Ukrainian President has Jewish roots

office reportedly on a copy of the country’s constitution, and a 16th-century manuscript of the New Testament.

Volodymyr Zelensky, a Jewish actor and comedian, was sworn in as the country’s sixth president on 20 May. Zelensky announced at the inauguration that he would dissolve the parliament and call early elections, which had been scheduled for October. In turn, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, also a fellow Jew, announced that he would resign. Zelensky took the oath of

“We must become Icelandic in football, Israelis in defending our native land, and Japanese in technology,” he said at the swearing-in, the BBC reported.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky, who on his primetime television show plays a teacher thrust into the presidency through an unlikely chain of events, was elected last month

with 73% of the vote, defeating incumbent Petro Poroshenko, who had been in power since 2014. Born in Kryvyi Rih, near Dnipro, to a Jewish family of scientists, Zelensky rarely speaks of his Jewish ancestry in interviews. But unlike some Ukrainian politicians widely believed to have Jewish roots, Zelensky during his campaign neither disputed his Jewish ancestry nor attempted to camouflage it.

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Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Regional News

Record number of Muslim tourist visited Israel last year

According to figures provided by the Population and Immigration Authority, 72,109 citizens of Egypt and Jordan (the only Arab countries with which Israel has full diplomatic ties), Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia visited Israel in 2018. These numbers mark an in-

In 2018, 12,363 Jordanians and 4,947 Egyptians came to Israel, along with 54,799 citizens of the remaining countries that do not have formal relations with Israel. A significant number of 37,555 Indonesians visited Israel last year, marking a 5% increase from 2017. Last October, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the world’s most populous Muslim nation was “very important” to Israel. Two months

Redbubble decries its accidental Auschwitz apparel

Throw pillows with Auschwitz image on Redbubble site

Due to public outcry, online marketplace Redbubble has removed items featuring an image of Auschwitz from its for-sale pages. The site, whose kitsch centres upon the user’s ability to customise items, sold clothing and household goods, cushions, tote bags, and miniskirts emblazoned with images of Auschwitz. The items, priced between US$20-50 were branded “nauseating” and “disgusting” by the official Auschwitz Memorial charity, which reported the seller to company officials.

Auschwitz Memorial tweeted: “Do you really think that selling such products as pillows, miniskirts or tote bags with the images of Auschwitz – a place of enormous human tragedy where over 1.1 million people were murdered – is acceptable?” Redbubble, whose HQ is in Australia, responded with an apology. “Redbubble takes a strong stance against racism and violence, including the atrocities committed in Nazi concentration camps.” It added: “We have onsite reporting functions in place should community members discover works that breach

compassion for the Palestinian plight.” Nearly 14,000 Malaysian nationals came to Israel in 2018 — 4,000 more than the previous year.

crease of 15% from the previous year, when 62,658 tourists from the aforementioned countries travelled to the Jewish state.

these guidelines that have not yet been removed by our team.” “We are grateful when any such material on the site is brought to our attention.” In recent years, there has been a rising trend in the sale and acquisition of Nazi or Holocaust paraphernalia, especially in the fashion retail clothing sector. In 2014, Spanish fashion chain ZARA were found to have sold striped T-shirts bearing the Star of David. These pieces appeared an obvious replication of the striped pajamas worn by concentration camp inmates, paired with the yellow stars which were ascribed to individuals as a means to easily distinguish them as Jews. Just two years before, in 2012, Urban Outfitters stocked a similar striped T-shirt design, a pattern which also featured the emblematic pink triangle once used to identify homosexual prisoners. In 2017, PRADA sister company Miu-Miu featured a US$2000 denim jacket which sported a yellow star-shaped patch, only removing the item from its website after representatives of the World Jewish Congress personally called to express discomfort and disgust.

Olivier Fitoussi

A record number of visitors from Muslim countries came to Israel last year, including nearly 55,000 from countries that have no diplomatic relations with the country.

Indonesian tourists in Jerusalem

later, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem expressed its “most profound sympathies” to victims of a devastating tsunami that killed 280 people in Indonesia. Perhaps surprisingly, the second-largest contingent from countries that don’t have ties with Israel came from Malaysia, a non-Arab Muslim-major-

ity nation that made headlines earlier this year for banning Israelis from a Paralympic swimming tournament. After Israel slammed the move as “shameful,” Malaysia lost the right to host the competition, but defiantly said it would not compromise on its decision “on the ground of humanity and

Residents of Arab countries visit Israel in significantly lower numbers. Only 2,108 Moroccans, 949 Tunisians, 81 Qataris, 56 Omanis, 36 Algerians, 34 Kuwaitis, 25 Emiratis and six Saudis made their way to the Jewish state last year. Upon entering the country, tourists from Muslim countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel — most of whom are thought to focus their trips on visits to religious sites — can ask Population and Immigration Authority officials not to stamp their passports for fear of potential reprisals when they return home. Instead, the Israeli officials stamp a separate slip of paper which the visitors can throw out when they leave.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Regional News

Nepalese Ambassador tours South Korean Christian delegation ask for forgiveness as they visit concentration camp Gush Etzion settlements

“We write this letter to say sorry and ask you to forgive us,” their open letter said. “We visited Yad Vashem and Auschwitz […] all these sufferings experienced for 1,700 years in the Christian world are our fault. […] We are truly sorry for what Christians have done to you.” The visit coincided with both the Holocaust Remembrance Day as well as the annual March of the Living. More than 10,000 Jewish and nonJewish youth from 40 countries, together with dozens of Holocaust survivors and dignitaries

JNS.org

A sombre crowd of dozens of South Koreans made pilgrimage to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps in Poland last month. Their visitation is a gesture of peace, an apologetic act to ‘ask for forgiveness for centuries of Christian anti-Semitism’.

South Korean Christians visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps

from around the globe, participated in the 31st annual event. This almost-two-mile march from Auschwitz to Birkenau is intended to pay tribute to all victims of the Holocaust, as well as a call for an end to antiSemitism. “We know the tragic history of Israel; we thought that is not [what] God wants. We came here to bless the Jewish people to show our true love for

NHK

A new tree planted in Israel for Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara

Students participating with a song at the ceremony

It was held at a junior and senior high school in Beit Shemesh, central Israel. The event was organised by teachers of the school, who were shocked to learn the news in February that pine and other trees planted near Beit Shemesh in 1985 to commemorate Sugihara’s achievement have been removed. A related stone monument had also gone missing 15 years prior during preparation works for housing construction. Vice consul of Lithuania at the time, Sugihara issued transit visas to thousands of Jewish people to help them escape Nazi persecution during WWII. The visas later came to be known as “visas for life.” Soon after that, an oak tree was planted in the presence of students of the school, as well as a commemorative monument being

installed. Participants in the ceremony included Yo Osumi, minister at the Japanese Embassy in Israel. The story about Sugihara has been kept in people’s hearts, and the latest tree-planting represented the minimum action required to correct the mistake that has been committed, the teacher said. A 91-year-old Holocaust survivor, who also witnessed the 1985 event where some 400 trees were planted, attended and praised the tree-planting event as important; he hopes Sugihara’s achievement will be remembered forever.

Jiji Press, Ltd

A special tree-planting ceremony was held on 3 May to honor the late diplomat Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), who saved the lives of many thousands of Jews during WWII.

Planting a tree

Israel,” a member of the Korean delegation told the Jewish News Syndicate. He then said that his group recognises how their faith stems from that of the Jewish people, and as such, he feels a spiritual kinship. “We belong to special group of Christians in Korea,” he mused. “We know the faith we have is from Israel. The faith we have is from the patriarch Abraham. We believe we belong to the greater Israel.”

Ambassador Dr. Anjan Shakya receiving a gift of wine from Mayor Shlomo Ne’eman

In April, Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Anjan Shakya, paid a visit to the Judean mountain community and settlements of Gush Etzion. The tour started with a visit to the community of Gevaot, where the ambassador learned about the area and how Gevaot serves as a model for inclusion. Gevaot hosts the “Sadna” communal village, a sanctuary for young adults with disabilities. Afterwards she met with Gush Etzion Regional Council Head and Mayor, Shlomo

Ne’eman, in his office. There she learned about the heritage of Gush Etzion. Ambassador Shakya explained that she decided to visit in order to learn about the Gush and return her findings to Nepal. Mayor Ne’eman explained that a blessing given to a portion of the tribe of Judah (hence the eponymous Judean Mountains) is that the area is able to produce high-quality wines. He presented the ambassador with several bottles of Gush wine as a gift. The ambassador invited the Mayor to visit Nepal.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Regional News

Yom Hashoah 2019: Seventy Years of Remembrance Remembering those who perished in the Holocaust, Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Memorial Day – is observed every year. It is a day of commemoration of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust as a result of actions carried out by Nazi Germany in WWII. The day was inaugurated in Israel in 1949 and takes place on 27 Nisan, a week before Israel’s Independence Day. In Israel, flags are flown at half mast and a state ceremony is held at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, home to the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Authority. At 10 am, air-raid sirens are sounded for two minutes and all activity comes to a halt.

evenings programmes.

The lighting of the Six Memorial Candles

troductions were read by Alexander Floersheim, HKHTC Director. The evening’s programme started with a musical interlude a Duo for violin and cello (1941) by Gideon Klein, performed by Melody Wang (violin) and Vincent Lu (cello). Ahuva Spieler, ConsulGeneral to Israel in Hong Kong, also gave an address at the

Outside of the country, the day is marked with ceremonies and programmes that include the lighting of memorial candles. Jewish communities get together and solemnly observe and remember the millions of Jews who were murdered. Countries in Asia with which Israel has diplomatic ties and embassies organise local commemoration ceremonies.

A special reading of a prayer for Yom Hashoah, “Remember” by Rabbi Lord Sacks, was read by Ephraim Zion. The ceremony also included a film on the Ringelblum archives, an invaluable source about life in the ghetto and German policy towards the Jews of Poland. Emanuel Ringelblum was a Warsaw-based historian, political activist, and a welfare worker. He founded an organisation in the Warsaw Ghetto to provide accurate records of events.

Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon reciting Kel Maleh Rachamim

Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon, Director of Chabad, led the recitation of the Memorial Prayer Kel Maleh Rachamim, and students from ELSA High School, together with community members, lit the six memorial candles and read dedications. At the conclusion of the evening’s ceremony, Israel’s national anthem, Hatikva, was sung.

Ahuva Spieler, Consul General of Israel to Hong Kong, giving an address

Musical interludes

Orthodox sleepaway camp in Israel for children entering 5th–10th grades Rabbi Asher Oser reading one of the Candle Dedications Alexander Floersheim gave the opening and concluding remarks

Ephraim Zion reciting a reading from Rabbi Lord Sacks

In Hong Kong, the Jewish community held its Holocaust Remembrance Day on 2 May at the Jewish Community Centre. The event was organised by the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC). Well over 250 people attended, including many local Hong Kong residents and students, as well as many from the local Jewish community. In addition, representatives from many consulates joined the evening’s gathering. Opening remarks and in-

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Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Regional News

Visit of the National Defense College Group to Hong Kong Senior participants from the Israel National Defense College (INDC) visited Hong Kong on 16 May. This was part of their two-stop tour after being in Beijing, having met with local Chinese government officials in various interdisciplinary operations. Kong the with govincluding Transport, the Hong

A special dinner was held in honour of their visit to Hong Kong at the Jewish Community Centre, organised by the Israel Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (ICOCHK). In special attendance was Israel’s Consul General to Hong Kong, Mrs Ahuva Spieler, along with many other Hong Kong community members. Dr. Rafael Aharoni, Chairman of the ICOCHK, gave a welcoming address to the 18 participants at the dinner. The INDC is the highest learning school within the framework of the IDF for the training of senior officers. Most

Some of the visiting participants from INDC with Dr. Rafael Aharoni (first left), Consul General Ahuva Spieler (centred) with community member Michael Hartmann (third from left)

they are divided into three groups and sent to China, Russia, and India. The group comprise varied skill sets and disciplines. Their factions range those of combat officers, paratroopers, the navy, the airforce, a logistics division, legal departments, to prison officers and more. Amongst the participants of the Asia visit was the commandant of the INDC, MG Itai Veruv.

Philippine care helper receives recognition for bravery in Israel The Philippine Embassy in Israel in April lauded a Filipina caregiver for her bravery and quick action that helped save her employer, a Holocaust survivor, from being run over by a wayward vehicle. Charmaine Fernandez received a special citation from Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Neal Imperial, for protecting her 95-year-old employer, Missa Schindler. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that according

to Missa’s son, Dr. Abraham Schindler, Fernandez was walking on a pedestrian lane with his mother when a speeding vehicle came toward them. Fernandez quickly shielded her employer with her own body, protecting her from harm. The driver managed to bring the car to a halt within inches of the two women, crushing Mrs Schindler’s walker. He was later detained by the police. “Dr. Schindler later contacted the embassy to report the incident and [to] convey his

gratitude. He shared that Ms Fernandez’s instinct to protect his mother had brought back memories of his own touching encounter with Filipinos, this time as a recipient of urgent care from Filipino medical personnel when he was attacked by a mob in Libya in the 1960s,” the DFA said. Ambassador Imperial commended Fernandez’s “selfless display of courage beyond the call of duty,” saying her example “has elevated the dignity of Filipino caregivers in Israel and

has given honour to all Filipino workers in the world.”

Philippine Embassy in Israel

While in Hong delegation also met ernment officials the Departments of Infrastructure, and Kong Police Force.

of the IDF officers participating in the INDC are Colonels marked for promotion to Brigadier General. The uniqueness of the college is that it hosts not only military officers but other senior government officials as well. The INDC’s programme includes three tours abroad, two of which are for the entire group: Europe (Brussels - the headquarters of NATO and the Euro Union) and the US (Washington / New York). In the third,

From left: Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial, Missa Schindler and Charmaine Fernandez

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Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Regional News

Israel’s National Library buys a Korean Haggadah As the owner of the world’s largest collection of Haggadahs, the National Library of Israel is no stranger to unusual versions of the text that is read on the Festival of Passover.

It is considered “extremely rare,” the Library Museum explained in a statement, although the price of the 32-page booklet has not been disclosed. According to scholars, only three copies exist in public hands worldwide. Printed in Korea for the use of US military personnel during the War, the Haggadah was first used in a traditional Passover Seder which was organised by two Jewish chaplains.

Library Judaica expert Channa Lockshin-Bob.

National Library Of Israel

The library has purchased some ten thousand Haggadahs, with some of the oldest dating back to the fifteenth century. An especially unusual version of the document has been made their latest addition as of this past April. Dubbed ‘The Korean War Haggadah’, this artefact from 1952 was recently acquired by the library, appraised for its unique value.

Consul General to Shanghai gives a talk at international school

The Korean War Haggadah cover

These two personnel were also responsible for producing the document. “The Korean War Haggadah combines traditional texts with elements unique to American soldiers serving in Korea. The Haggadah, and the incredible Seder at which it was used, reminds us how meaningful Passover can be for so many different people, in so many different places and circumstances,” commented National

During the War, Jewish soldiers from across Korea were given furloughs and transported to the Seder for this precise occasion. These soldiers have been immortalised on the Haggadah cover itself, which is decorated with hand-drawn insignias of the main military units. It even includes the two members of the Jewish chaplaincy, who are featured in the centre of the cover. The booklet provides us with a glimpse into the goings on at this historical Seder, with the menu included in its pages. It lists “Gefuelte Fish,” “Chicken Soup aux Kneidlach”, and three types of wine, including “Manischewitz California State” amongst the dinner offerings. One page includes upsidedown Hebrew text, perhaps demonstrating the challenges of working with printers who were unfamiliar with Hebrew writing and further rooting this Haggadah in its distinctive contextual landscape.

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Dr. Eyal Propper, second from left, with teachers at Shanghai High School

In May, Dr. Eyal Propper, Consul General of Israel in Shanghai, visited Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID). Ninth grade students attended a lecture on the cultural, social, and historical condition of the State of Israel delivered by Dr. Eyal Propper in the Xian Mian Annex auditorium. Dr. Eyal Propper has been the Consul-General of Israel in Shanghai since August 2017, and was the first Academic and Press Officer after the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Israel and China in 1992. He returned to China in 2002 as Minister, Deputy Head of Mission, and Head of the Political Department. Consul General Propper also

met with Feng Zhigang, Principal of Shanghai High School and Ma Feng, High School Principal of SHSID. The three shared a friendly discussion regarding ideas of education in China and Israel. During the lecture, Dr. Eyal Propper also described the historical links between the Jewish and Chinese people. He also told some stories based on his own experiences of working in China, which reflected his profound friendship with China and the Chinese people. The lecture provided a rare opportunity for the students to learn more about the current status of Jewish people in the state of Israel and the ongoing relationship between the two countries.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Business News Regional News

India looking to acquire SPICE bombs According to local media, the Indian Air Force is looking to acquire an advanced version of the SPICE-2000 bombs from Israel to strengthen its arsenal. SPICE stands for ‘smart, precise-impact and cost-effective’ and is manufactured by the Israeli defence technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “The Air Force is looking to buy an advanced version of the SPICE-2000 bombs which can destroy bunkers,” sources told India Today TV.

had estimated that close to 300 Jaish cadres were hiding one day before the airstrike, which took place in the early hours of 26 February. The airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balakot were conducted days after JeM carried out a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. The Indian Air Force is also planning to equip the fleet of its Sukhoi 30 fighter aircraft with the SPICE-2000 bombs to give them more teeth during aerial conflicts with enemy forces. The bombs had hit targets in

Israel receives three bidders for huge desalination plant

Pakistan with an accuracy of up to one metre, and government sources have claimed that large scale destruction was caused there. According to local media, the aquisition is likely to be done through government emergency funded powers of up to Rs300 crore granted to the Indian Air Forces. The Rafael SPICE bomb has been in service in Israel since 2003, used by the Israel Air Force when it was first operational in F-16 squadrons.

The bombs acquired would be able to destroy buildings using the explosive warhead. The earlier version was capable of penetrating and then bursting inside buildings. The penetration warheads, SPICE-2000s, were used by the Indian Air Force in Balakot airstrikes, during which Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) terrorists hiding inside the building were killed. The bombs created holes and then entered the terrorists hideout where intelligence agencies

As reported by Reuters, Israel has received bids from three groups interested in building and operating a desalination plant that will supply more than a fifth of the country’s household water, and help battle shortages that could arise from climate change. Israel issued the tender last November when it said five years of low rainfall had overtaxed its system. The head of Israel’s water authority said the addition will help ensure Israel’s “ability to supply water in light of climate changes that are impacting our region.” The facility will produce about 200 million cubic metres of water a year in the area of Sorek, central Israel. IDE Technologies currently operates a desalination plant in the area. Once online, 85% of total household and municipal water will come from desalination. The plant will be the biggest in the world to use reverse osmosis technology, Israel’s Finance Ministry said on 16 May, and will join an unrivaled array of five desalination plants that

A SPICE-2000 bomb

Sorek Desalination Plant

already dot the country’s Mediterranean coast. Bids were received from Israel’s IDE Technology, Hutchison Water, whose main investor is Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings, and a partnership of Afcon, Acciona and Allied Investments. The European Investment Bank has already said it would provide up to 150 million euros to help finance the project, the Finance Ministry said. The tender also includes the option to build a private 150 MW power plant. The Finance Ministry did not say when a final choice would be made, but it expects construction to begin in 2020 and take three years. The tender was to finance, build, and operate the plant for 25 years.

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With our up to date guidance about allowable expenses many clients can make considerable tax savings

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Business Regional News News

IsCham opens a Tel-Aviv Office

Airline traffic surge on ChinaIsrael flights

Israel Chamber of Commerce in China (IsCham), a nonprofit organisation launched in 2008 in Beijing to promote trade relations between China and Israel, has established an office in Israel.

The number of passengers passing through Israel’s BenGurion International Airport on flights from China to Israel and vice versa rose in the first quarter of 2019 by 30.3% compared to the first quarter of 2018, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) reported.

Ariel Briskin, the General Manager of IsCham, spoke at the inauguration ceremony in Tel-Aviv in April. The two countries had established diplomatic and trade relations 25 years ago, including mutual investments, infrastructure projects, and export and import agreements. However, the relationship holds greater potential, he said. “The opening of the TelAviv office represents a new dawn for the relationship between China and Israel,” Nechemia Peres claimed at the event, a co-founding partner at Israel-based venture capital firm Pitango Venture Capital. His father, the late Israeli President Shimon Peres, launched IsCham over a decade ago in an effort to nurture the academic and commercial col-

The ribbon-cutting ceremony

laborations between the countries, Peres said. “Israelis tend to think of the US as the main market for growth,” said Tal Badt, former director of business development for startup incubator X-Lab, operated by Tsinghua University in Beijing. “However, it is vital for Israeli companies, especially those dealing with artificial intelligence and medtech, to consider China as a potential market,” she added. “With the increase in income of China’s immense population comes a

broader market and a thirst for new solutions to local problems.” “Companies must be present in China in order to succeed in the local market,” said Zvi Shalgo, founder and chairman of PTL Group, a Shanghai-headquartered management company that helps clients establish a local presence in China. “The ability to communicate the technology and business model, and to get immediate feedback, is crucial, especially when planning joint investments with local partners,” he explained.

According to the IAA report, 122,162 passengers flew between the two nations in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 93,772 in the same period last year. Last March, there were 47,519 passengers on flights between Israel and China, an increase of 25.6% compared with 37,842 in March 2018. Of the passengers flying between Israel and China in both directions, 39,191 flew with China’s Hainan Airlines in the

first quarter, up 36.3% from the same period last year (28,747 passengers). In March, 14,695 passengers travelled in the route with Hainan Airlines, up 25.9% from March 2018 (11,676 passengers). A total of 4.49 million international flight passengers travelled through Ben Gurion Airport in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 5.58% compared to the same period last year. China Southern Airlines recently launched Tel-Aviv – Guangzhou flights in April and is now the fourth Chinese airline to fly to and from Israel, joining Hainan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Sichuan Airlines. China Southern Airlines is Asia’s largest airline and the world’s sixthlargest airline.

A Hainan Airlines airplane

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Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Business News

Aleph Farms secures funding led by Singapore’s VVNP Israeli slaughter-free meat start-up Aleph Farms Ltd announced on 14 May that it has raised US$12 million in Series A investments. These are led by Singapore’s VisVires New Protein (VVNP), Cargill Protein, and M-Industry – the industrial group of Migros. Existing investors included the Strauss Group, Peregrine Ventures, CPT Capital, Jesselson investments, New Crop Capital, and Technion Investment Opportunity Fund. Aleph Farms, previously Meat-the-Future, was co-founded in 2017 by Israeli food-tech incubator The Kitchen, a part of the Strauss Group, and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The start-up produces real meat from cow cells, “providing the same meat – same experience, same taste – but without killing animals, without using antibiotics, and potentially causing less foodborne illness risk.” In December, the company unveiled the first prototype of lab-grown steak in the world. The company said it will use the new funds to “accelerate product development of its slaughter-free meat” and to transform its prototype into a commercial product. Its cultured meat will

The Indian Navy has conducted for the first time a successful live firing test of a medium-range Surface to Air Missile (SAM), which has been developed with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI).

Slaughter-free meat on the menu

grow in large, bio-farm facilities. Key concerns of the meat industry and regulators include sustainability of meat production, antibiotics resistance, and food-borne illnesses. Aleph Farms and other cell-based meat startups are providing new tools to address those challenges, and to feed the growing world population without harming any animals. “We will be part of the longterm solution,” declares Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. “We intend to lead an open dialogue between farmers and food/feed producers. In addition, we continue to work closely with the regulators to ensure our products will be completely safe, healthy, and properly labelled. We welcome the collaboration with the USDA and FDA as an oppor-

AIMA delegation to visit Israel A delegation of CEOs from the All India Management Association (AIMA) will visit Israel from 14-18 July to experience first-hand the country’s high-technology innovation ecosystem, and to understand the factors that earned it the ‘Start-up Nation’ tag. The delegation, the first of its kind visiting Israel, would comprise about 20 members. Amongst the prospective attendees are Sunil Kant Munjal (The Hero Enterprise), TV Mohandas Pai (Manipal Global Education Services) and Preetha Reddy (Apollo Hospitals Enterprise). “In recent years, the AIMA has been taking CEO delegations to the hotbeds of technological innovation in the US (Silicon Valley) and China. This year, plans are afoot to organise the fourth edition of the delegation to Silicon Valley from 30 September to 3 October,” said AIMA president Hahsharvardhan Neotia. Regarding policy changes needed to develop similar tech

Indian navy successfully tests live fire missile developed by IAI

Harshavardhan Neotia

hubs in India, Neotia said the country already has a large tech foothold in Bengaluru and other smaller ones in Delhi NCR, Chennai, and Pune. However, Indian tech hubs are more focussed on the application of technology rather than being involved in radical innovation. “Creating an innovation hub in India requires a policy of sandboxing innovations so that the innovators are not constrained by the existing rules and regulations,” said Neotia.

tunity to promote transparency and build trust with all stakeholders.” VisVires New Protein founder and managing partner, Matthieu Vermersch, states: “This is a vote of confidence in Aleph Farms’ leading 3D technology and its capabilities for growing real beef steaks. […] Strategic partners from the food industry are important because we need to build a sustainable ecosystem for cultured meat.”

The Indian Navy said that it had “achieved a significant milestone in enhancing its anti-air warfare capability with the maiden cooperative engagement firing of the SAM. The firing was undertaken last month on the Western Seaboard by Indian Naval ships Kochi and Chennai, wherein the missiles of both ships were controlled by one ship to intercept different aerial targets at extended ranges.” The SAM system is based on IAI’s Barak 8, an operational advanced missile defense system used by Israel’s navy

as well as by India’s navy, air, and land forces. It provides broad aerial and point-defense against a wide range of threats to the marine arena from the air, sea, or land. The system integrates several advanced state-of-the-art systems, such as digital radar, command and control, launchers, and system-wide connectivity. The trial was carried out by the Indian Navy, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization, and IAI, which supply many of the missile’s systems together with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. IAI signed a US$777 million deal last year to provide long-range missile defense systems to the Indian Navy, and added on a US$93 million deal in January to provide medium-range missiles.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Education Planning

How should my children prepare for standardised tests?

2. How to fix the style in this sentence? A couch, for example, is seven inches long, and that is based on a seven-foot-long couch. 3. Is the comma placed correctly?

Supplied by

Jerome Barty-Taylor Barty Education and Development

Every year, thousands of students take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) which determine a students’ entry chances to top American universities. As students are often confused about the importance of these tests, here we try to clarify key information and help parents assist their children through a stressful part of the admissions process. Which test should my child take? The SAT and ACT are equally accepted by US universities and measure students’ academic skills in Mathematics and English. Students usually sit two to three times but may retake them as many times as they wish. Many students avoid the ACT

as it contains a Science section which the SAT omits. However, many ACT students find it to be their strongest section since it mainly tests data interpretation.

The first generation of test prep centres appeared in New York in the 1940s, many of which were founded by Jewish entrepreneurs.

The best way for a student to decide is to experiment with each test during their Sophomore Year (Grade 10/Year 11). We recommend that students sit the tests as early as possible in their Junior Year (Grade 11/ Year 12), allowing for resits as required.

These pioneers proved that revision can and always does improve scores. Beyond consistent self-study, targeted one-toone support will help students excel in these tests and lay a firm foundation for college success.

BartyED runs regular assessments to help students discern which test will suit them best. Does my child need to prepare for it? In a word, yes. Reasoning and grammar are rarely taught in international schools so students must self-study and practise to improve. Like all tests, exam technique and test-taking strategy help enhance performance.

Don’t they cover this material in school? In a word, no. Many international curricula encourage students to be reflective learners and critical thinkers. While this will certainly aid in college essays, it is a far cry from the SAT and ACT which test test specific grammar rules, stylistic conventions, vocabulary and broad reading skills in a rigid format designed to fluster the uninitiated.

If your child goes to an international school, there is no guarantee they will have the language awareness and skill set needed to excel in the ACT and SAT. Our key advice here is to start preparation early before stresses mount in the final two years. Do I need to do something about it this summer? Of course, delighted to welcome more students to BartyED’s acclaimed summer programmes. But at risk of putting the cart before the horse, why not try our quick diagnostic with your child listed below. 1. Where should you put commas in the following sentence? On one hand I couldn’t wait to view painter Georges Seurat’s 10-foot-wide ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’.

I ordered a cup of tea, she ordered a cup of coffee. If explaining how to reach the correct answer is a struggle for your child, then there is definitely preparatory work required. This summer should not be spent entirely unplugged from academic work; time reserved for self-study and perhaps external support will help your child excel in standardised tests. Answers: 1. Only 1 comma after “and”. 2. A couch, for example, is seven inches long, which is based on a seven-foot-long couch. 3. No, it’s a comma splice of two independent clauses and should be best rendered: “I ordered a cup of tea; she ordered a cup of coffee.”

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

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Tax Planning

Selling a UK property? Non-residents with UK property are not exempt from Capital Gains Tax! Supplied by

Niresh Ramachandran, MD NEXES HK Limited

The UK tax loophole, which allowed non-resident investors to be exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the sale of their investment property, closed on April 2015. Many overseas investors have been misinformed, and still believe they are not liable for UK tax. Don’t be one of those who are now being pursued by HM Revenue & Customs for overdue tax! If you are a non-UK resident owning a UK property, it’s important to understand the current CGT rules and the range of options which could reduce your exposure to all of UK taxation, now and in the future. Non-residents became liable to the same rules as UK residents as of 6 April 2015. If you are reading this and think-

ing that you are exempt from CGT as you own non-residential property, you may have to think again. From April 2019, UK legislation was extended to cover sales of non-residential land and commercial property also! In the UK, Capital Gains occurs when the sale of an investment property is sold for more than it costs. Tax is chargeable on this gain at two different rates, either 18% or 28%, dependent on whether the gain is above or below the UK income tax basic rate band (currently £34,000). For non-residential property there are different rates and allowances that apply. All sales of UK residential property by non-residents must be reported to the HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of completion. If you are on the HMRC’s Self-Assessment filing system already then we can assist you in deferring the

payment of CGT due. Calculating Capital Gains on the sale of an investment property The detailed calculation of the taxable Capital Gain arising on the sale of an investment property can be complex. Here at NEXES HK we can assist with your individual circumstances. This typically involves: • Calculating sale proceeds as being the main price less the agent’s fees, legal fees, stamp duty, and survey fees. • ‍ Ensuring appropriate improvement costs have been added to the cost of the asset. • Assisting with the most appropriate calculation and apportion of the gain deemed to have accrued over the period of ownership. • Evaluating whether other reliefs may be available such as Private Residence Relief or

Letting Relief. • Ensuring the Capital Gains tax-free allowance is deducted. • ‍ Supporting clients to claim appropriate losses that may be set off against gains of the same year. HMRC Penalties HMRC late penalties can quickly accrue for individuals who do not file their CGT forms on time, including: • Up to 6 months late – a penalty of £100 • Over 12 months late – an additional penalty of £300 or 5% of any tax due, whichever is greater. Penalties for late payment of Capital Gains Tax: • Not paid by 31 January of the year of sale – 5% of tax due Let us help you make sure

that you are not caught out. CGT maybe be payable on gifted and inherited property Frequently, non-resident property owners wish to leave their UK homes in their will to family members who now reside either in the UK or abroad. Sometimes, people would like to gift their property to their children before they pass away. The taxation rules around the Inheritance Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax that may apply in these circumstances are complex, as there are different variables and factors to be considered. During such sensitive times, it’s important to find a tax consultant that you can trust to help evaluate the correct amount of tax to be paid. If you’re seeking further advice on Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, or Inheritance Tax, in addition to guidance regarding your specific individual needs, do get in touch with us to discuss on how we can help. Hong Kong-based tax consultancy firm NEXES HK specialises in advising clients about income and capital gains tax from UK-based property. Enquiries: info@nexes-hk.com www.nexes-hk.com

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Art • Culture • Music

64th Eurovision Song Contest held in Tel-Aviv goes off with little fuss of human rights wherever in the world they may be.”

Despite protests from groups across the political spectrum who promised disturbance and heavy campaigning, the Eurovision Song Contest stood mostly unaffected.

The extravaganza unfolded largely politics-free, though two incidents drew attention away from the songs and toward Israel’s conflict with the Palestinian government. The Eurovision organisers take great care to note that the event, viewed by millions globally, is intended to be apolitical. However, local media showed images of two of Madonna’s dancers walking hand in hand, side-by-side, revealing Israeli

Andres Putting

As the winners of last year’s contest, this year’s finale gave Israel a chance to showcase its credentials as a culturally progressive nation. The Netherlands won the 64th iteration of the Contest, held at the Tel-Aviv Expo from 14 to 18 May, which featured a performance from Madonna, plenty of glitz, and some political controversy as pro-Palestinian activists called for a boycott.

Israel won the right to host the annual competition, thanks to last year’s victory by Israeli singer Netta Barzilai. She performed her winning song, Toy, on opening night of the show on Saturday.

After performances by all 26 finalists, Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands took the top prize with the stirring power ballad Arcade. Italy finished second, and Russia placed third in the results that combined votes from participating juries as well as at-home viewers around the world.

Duncan Laurence 2019 Eurovision Song Contest winner

and Palestinian flags displayed across their backs during her performance- an apparent call for unity between the two sides. Icelandic punk band Hatari, meanwhile, held scarves with Palestinian flags aloft whilst their results were being announced. Madonna stole much of the limelight with her two-song performance, including her 1989 hit, Like A Prayer. She had earlier said she was determined to perform at the finals, but her participation brought protests

from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS has for years been pushing for investors and artists to shun Israel over its decadeslong occupation of Palestinian territories, and led calls for a boycott of this year’s Eurovision. In a statement carried by US media ahead of the finals, Madonna said: “I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda, nor will I stop speaking out against violations

Madonna performing at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest

Iceland’s Hatari holds up Palestinian flags during the competition

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Art • Culture • Music

Gil Shaham to play Dvořák with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra as part of Asian tour One of the most admired classical violinists of the modern era, American-Israeli artist Gil Shaham will be making a special trip to Hong Kong in June to perform for two nights with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO).

from the AmericaIsrael Cultural Foundation.

One of the most anticipated highlights of the monthly calendar, Shaham will be playing pieces from Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák. The conductor of this unique recital will be Shanghai-born Yu Long, a highly acclaimed conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Musical Director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the principal guest conductor of the HKPO. The Hong Kong programme Gil Shaham Plays Dvo ák will include the Czech composers Violin Concerto, Othello Overture and Taras Bulba an orchestral work from another Czech composer Leos Janacek. Ticketing enquiries website http://www.hkphil. org/eng/concerts_and_ticket/concerts/concertdetail.jsp?id=695

Gil Shaham

A free pre-concert talk is to be organised before the performances, which will take place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 21-22 June. Shaham was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, in 1971. He later moved with his parents to Israel, where he began violin studies with Samuel Bernstein of the Rubin Academy of Music at the age of seven. His talent was clear, and soon he was receiving annual scholarships

In 1981, he made debuts with the Jerusalem Symphony and the Israel Philharmonic. The following year, he went on to win first prize in Israel’s Claremont Competition. He was then awarded a scholarship to prestigious American performing arts school, Juilliard, and went on to continue his studies at Columbia University. The Grammy Awardwinner, also named Musical America’s ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’, is coveted around the world for concerto appearances alongside leading orchestras and conductors, and regularly gives recitals or appears in ensembles at the most prestigious festivals. Highlights of recent years include his well-renowned recording and live performances of J.S. Bach’s Complete Sona-

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

tas and Partitas for Solo Violin. In addition to championing these solo works over the coming seasons, in he will be joining his long-time duet partner, pianist Akira Eguchi, in recitals across North America, Europe, and Asia. Shaham has more than two dozen concerto and solo CDs to his name. This expansive discography has earned him 11 Grammy nominations, one Grammy award, a Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, and a Gramophone Editor’s Choice award. His most re-

cent recording is the Grammynominated series 1930s Violin Concertos Vol. 2, including Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto and Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2. While in Asia, Gil will also be performing in Tokyo with the Berg Violin Concerto and NHK Symphony on 14-15 June. He will embark upon a threestop trip to China after departing Hong Kong, beginning in Guangzhou on 23 June, Shanghai on 28 June, and ending in Beijing on 30 June.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Art • Culture • Music

Cameri Theatre performs Requiem in Shanghai

Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival

ne of Israel’s leading drama O groups, the Tel-Aviv based Israeli Cameri Theatre toured to Shanghai from 3-5 May to perform Requiem at the Shanghai Majestic Theatre.

The Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival is taking place this month in Abu Gosh, Israel, from 7-9 June.

val takes place biannually in the titular Arabic village, situated in the Jerusalem Hills just a few kilometres west of Jerusalem.

The festival was established since 1992, and is known across Israel as an important festival for choral music. The musical concerts are held inside two churches in Abu Gosh: the Crusader-Benedictine Church and the Kiryat Ye’arim Church.

The village, famed for its hummus restaurants, is brought to life by the festival, which is one of Israel’s largest vocal music celebrations. It takes place coincidentally to the festivals of Sukkot (in Fall-time) and Shavuot (in Spring-time).

Requiem was directed and written by Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin, having first toured outside of the country in May 2000. It draws upon three short stories by prolific Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov. The play is also being adapted into a first Chinese language presentation to be peformed in Beijing this summer. The play introduces audiences to a variety of characters. There is the ailing, aging couple who retire to a remote village where they lament their life choices. A young mother is also featured, desperately seeking a cure for her dying baby and yet ultimately failing. A bereaved wagoner has no one to talk to except for his horse. Complicating notions of mortality, it is a text about life as much as it is about death. Levin wrote and directed the play knowing his days were num-

A Requeim actor with Dr. Eyal Propper, second from left, Ms Bao Yingjing and Zhu Weimin at the reception

bered. He was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1999, and died later that year aged 56. He left a legacy of 56 plays, 34 of which were staged, and many directed by him during his lifetime. Israel’s Consulate General in Shanghai held a reception on 3 May to celebrate the premiere of Requiem in Shanghai. In attendance was Dr. Eyal Propper, Consul General of Israel in Shanghai, Ms. Bao Yingjing, Deputy District Mayor of Jing’an District, Zhu Weimin, Deputy Director of Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, Ni Dahong, artist and president of SMG Performing Arts Group and any other distinguished guests. Ms. Yingjing delivered a

speech and gifted a commemorative performance certificate from the Shanghai-Jing’an Modern Drama Valley to a representative of Cameri Theatre. Cameri Theatre was the first Israeli theatre group to perform in China in 2004 at the National Theatre, Beijing. They subsequently performed there again in 2006, and at the Egg Theatre in 2012 to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and China. The Cameri Theatre is a municipal company founded in 1944. Every year, the theatre troupe stage up to 12 new productions, interspersing these with reprised pieces from their theatrical back catalogue.

Hanna Tzur has resided as the Musical Director of the Abu Gosh Festival since 1995, and has served as conductor and Musical Director of the RamatGan Chamber Choir for 19 years. The Abu Gosh Music Festi-

Vocal music performance at the festival

The most visited multi-sensory experience in the world Address 1/F, FTLife Tower, 18 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Opening Times 6 April – 7 July 2019 Monday to Thursday: 10:00 – 21:00 Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays: 10:00 – 22:00

Tickets available at VANGOGHALIVE.HK

The festival attracts music lovers of all kinds due to its innovative artistic programme, which includes numerous choirs from the host country as well as those from the rest of the world, all flocking to enjoy the clear acoustics and great view.

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Art • Culture • Music

Joyce Carol Oates receives the 2019 Jerusalem Prize

Oates, born 1938, has written many works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, essays, and plays, with the Jerusalem Prize being but the latest addition to her collection of awards. She is most widely known for bestselling titles including We Were the Mulvaneys (selected by the Oprah Winfrey Book Club), Blonde (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award), and American gothic novel The Accursed. Jerusalem Prize jury members Dr. Omri Herzog, Professor Shimon Adaf, and Dr. Tamar Hess announced in a joint statement: “Over the course of more than five decades, Joyce Carol Oates has created a rich body of literary work. Her creative work dictates new creative horizons and denotes a continuous breach of boundaries. Although her work is characterised by an

Porter Anderson

American author Joyce Carol Oates, one of the most important writers of her generation, received the prestigious Jerusalem Prize on 12 May, granted to her by the city’s Mayor Moshe Lion.

Joyce Carol Oates makes an address on receiving the 2019 Jerusalem Prize

unmistakable voice, she continues to surprise her many readers with the elaborate narratives she creates, as well as the thematic variations of her works. With a deep and profound psychological understanding, she confronts her heroes – as well as her readers – with the ways in which people deal with internal or external demons, and their struggle defines the boundaries of the human being. But this confrontation, even in its wildest manifestations, attracts a constant line of grace and compassion.” In her acceptance speech,

Oates noted that “The Jerusalem prize crystallises […] obligations for me even as it celebrates the enduring art of literature: to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves; those who have been silenced, out of poverty, fear, intimidation; those who have lost their birthrights, and perhaps their lives, through no fault of their own. Those who have been, in the lottery of our lives, losers and not winners – those who have not had luck. For it is solely luck that distinguishes us from one another: the luck of birthright. This obligation - and this celebration – is the essence of “bearing witness” of all possibilities of art, the most urgent, in honouring, as the Jerusalem Prize reminds us, the precious freedom of the individual.” The Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society is an award given to international writers whose works have dealt with themes of human freedom in society. The highly esteemed prize, which was first awarded in 1963, includes a monetary prize sum of US$10,000. The 2017 Jerusa-

lem Prize laureate was Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard, with previous winners including Bertrand Russell (in the inaugural year of 1963), Mario Vargas Llosa, Milan Kundera,

Simone de Beauvoir, Arthur Miller, Ian McKewan, and Susan Sontag. This year’s Festival was held from 12-16 May, 2019.

Jaffa Fest 2019 In the heart of bustling Jaffa, the Jaffa International Theatre Festival will take place this year from 13-30 June. Among trendy cafés, the flea market, the clock tower, and the port, Gesher Theatre will stage one of the largest international theatre festivals in Israel known as Jaffa Fest. Jaffa Fest 2019 serves to foster the ties between Jaffa’s cultural institutions by showcasing ground-breaking, challenging theatrical works to an Israeli and international audience. Throughout the festival, various events are held at many venues including, Gesher Theatre, Jaffa Theatre HaTeiva concert studio, and The Avni Institute of Art and Design.

A total of 10 international theatre companies shall be performing, hailing from countries including the US, Poland, Hungary, and Russia. The festival also showcases international programmes, premieres, master classes, and workshops. As part of the event, Art Jaffa will host an art exhibition curated by students of the Avni Institute, who shall present the city of Jaffa from their perspective.

Ballet Győr from Hungary one of the international programmes

Jewish Times Asia June 2019

Shavuot

Shavuot – a festival dictated by a set time

he Festival of Shavuot falls exactly on the day after we finish counting the Omer for 49 days which began the second day of the Festival of Pesach. The festival also has many names. It is also known as the Festival of Weeks, the Festival of First Fruits, the Festival of the Harvest and the Festival of the Giving of the Torah. Yet this is a holiday without a set date, measured only by a count and a holiday with few Jewish laws to govern its practice.

The counting of the Omer, from Pesach, reminds us of the link between the two holidays, one marking freedom from the bondage of slavery and the

other freedom from a spiritual bondage. The generation of Jews with the mindset of slaves was no longer present, after the forty years in the desert, and the future as a people with a direct relationship with G-d was now realised. Symbolically the Festival of Shavuot is the time when G-d gave us the Torah and The Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. There are a number of traditions that surround the observance of the holiday, many reflecting the diversity of Judaism in terms of nationality, practice, traditional foods and liturgy. Eating dairy food A central custom is the eating of dairy dishes. Most follow the practice of eating a main meal of dairy on the first day, and a meat meal the second. There are a number of reasons cited for this practice. The Song of Songs, recited during Shavuot, uses milk and honey to describe the Land of Israel and as a representation of the Torah. Many tie it in with Exodus 23:19, that states that one must

tural roots. On a deeper level, the acceptance of Ruth of the laws of the Jewish people is reflective of the acceptance of the Jewish people of the Torah. Both the Hallel prayer is recited and the Yizkor memorial service, is observed on the two Yom Tov holidays where no work is permitted. Synagogue decorations not eat a kid in its mother’s milk. Eating milk on day one and meat on day two is a symbolic representation of this basic law of Kashrut. Other reasons include that eating a dairy meal will force us not to focus on the Golden Calf and the use of gematria to conclude that chalav (milk) corresponds with the number forty, the number of days Moshe spent on Mount Sinai. Additionally, there is the explanation that once the Jewish people were given the Torah, they first became aware of the dietary laws. As there was no kosher meat available, the Jews ate a dairy meal while pre-

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paring later meals in accordance to the new laws. People customarily eat blintzes, kreplach, rugalah, and cheesecake. Other food-based rituals include the preparation of two loaves of challah, specially shaped. The two loaves are representative of the two loaf temple offering that was required to be made on Shavuot as well as the two meals, meat and dairy. Reading the Book of Ruth Other distinctive practices include the reading of the Book of Ruth, one of the five scrolls or megillot. On a practical level, Ruth is read because the story connects Shavuot to its agricul-

As far as other public observances, there is the custom of planting new flowers around the synagogue just prior to the holiday as a reminder of the harvest and the festival’s agricultural roots. Night time Learning There is also a tradition of staying up for all or night to study Jewish texts called Tikkun Leyl Shavuot. There is a set liturgy for this study and it is often followed by an early morning service. The Festival is a time of great happiness as its core is the giving of the Torah. Once the law was received we were truly free from bondage and ready to accept the covenant as a people.

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June Parashas 1 June 2019 / 27 Iyar 5779: BECHUKOTAI Parasha Bechukotai, contains a vivid description of the rewards for observing G‑d’s commandments and the series of punishments that will befall us if we choose to disregard them. The Torah then discusses different types of gifts given to the Temple, and the animal tithe. We read the Tochacha – the Rebuke. It is a lengthy description of the terrible punishments awaiting the nation, if they do not follow the Torah. It is customary for the Baal Koreh (the one reading the Torah) and to read it faster and more quietly than the rest of the Parasha.

22 June 2019 / 19 Sivan 5779: BEHA’ ALOTCHA

8 June 2019 / 5 Sivan 5779: BAMIDBAR A census of the Israelites in undertaken in the wilderness, by way of the counting of the half Shekel. Each Israelite was counted according to the tribe to whom he belonged, which was determined through his father. This is one of the sources of the teaching that we should follow the traditions of our fathers, whereas our religious identity is determined through our mother. Each tribal leader had to vouch for their members. The Levites were counted separately. The formation of the Israelite camp and how they travelled in the wilderness is described. The Tabernacle was at the centre and surrounded on each of the four corners by three of the twelve tribes, each with their own banner and insignia. The Levites are appointed to carry the different parts of the tabernacle and to assist the Kohanim.

15 June 2019 / 12 Sivan 5779: NASO Parasha Naso is the longest single portion in the Torah, containing 176 verses. The reading starts with a continuation of the Levite census and a discussion regarding their Tabernacle duties. The laws of the sotah woman and the Nazirite follow. The portion concludes with the Priestly Blessing and the offerings which the Tribal leaders brought in honour of the Taber-

HOLIDAYS/ FASTS/ ROSH CHODESH/ SPECIAL DAYS Yom Yerushalayim: 2 June 2019 (28 Iyar 5779) Rosh Chodesh: 4 June 2019 (1 Sivan 5779)

nacle inauguration. Each of the Levite families was given specific tasks in the carrying of the Mishkan through the wilderness, and also their involvement with the Temple services. They were to serve from the age of 30 till the age of 50. Only those who had been purified could enter the Temple. In addition to confessing a sin, restitution needs to be to the one who has been wronged. The ritual of the Sotah – the wayward wife is explained. The Laws of the Nazir are explained – he or she is forbidden to eat or drink grapes or grape products, having any contact with the dead, or cutting his or her hair.

Shavuot: Shavuot Eve: 8 June 2019 (5 Sivan 5779) 9 June 2019 (6 Sivan 5779) 10 June 2019 (7 Sivan 5779)

The Parsha includes the commandment of lighting the Menorah in the Mishkan by the Kohen Gadol. The Levites are consecrated – each were lifted as an offering by Aaron. The institution of Pesach Sheni, the second Pesach to be observed on 14th Iyar by those who were contaminated or far away when Pesach should have been observed in Nisan. The description of how the Tabernacle should be set up and taken down during the journeying of the Israelites. Moses is commanded to make for himself two silver trumpets with which to call the Israelites to start and stop on their journey. They were also a call to arms, and also to announce the Festivals. Moses invites Yitro, here called Hobab, to accompany them on their journey to the Promised Land. The people complain about the Manna. The establishment of the Sanhedrin. Miriam challenges Moses. Continuing the theme of providing and dependency, we are commanded to provide for our impoverished brethren. Just as G-d provides for us, we must provide for each other. The freeing of all Jewish slaves is detailed and redeeming a Jewish slave from a non-Jewish owner, and the formula for how much to pay.

29 June 2019 / 26 Sivan 5779: SHELACH LECHAH SHABBAT MEVARECHIM The Twelve spies, representing each of the 12 Tribes, are sent to search out the Promised Land. Ten bring back a negative report, two – Joshua and Caleb present a contrary report that they can overcome the inhabitants of the land. The people are alarmed by the negative report. Moses and Aaron are unable to placate them. G-d decrees that the Israelites will journey in the wilderness for 40 years, until those who are present will not enter the land (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb). The laws of the meal-offering and libations are described.

Candle Lighting Times for June Cities

7-June

14-June

21-June

28-June

Bangkok Beijing Guangzhou Hong Kong Kathmandu Kobe Manila Mumbai Perth Shanghai Singapore Seoul Taipei Tokyo

6:26 7:22 6:53 6:48 6:40 6:52 6:06 6:57 5:01 6:38 6:51 7:33 6:24 6:36

6:28 7:26 6:55 6:50 6:42 6:55 6:08 6:59 5:01 6:41 6:53 7:36 6:27 6:40

6:30 7:28 6:57 6:52 6:44 6:57 6:09 7:01 5:02 6:43 6:54 7:39 6:28 6:42

6:31 7:29 6:58 6:53 6:45 6:58 6:11 7:02 5:04 6:44 6:56 7:39 6:30 6:43

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

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