1. Some historians claim that a Jewish community was founded in Kaifeng (the capital of the Honan province in central China) in 200 CE or perhaps even earlier, but most evidence supports a Jewish migration to Kaifeng from Persia starting in 960 CE. 2. Jews who came to Kaifeng between 960– 1127 practiced Judaism freely and continued to give their children Hebrew names for eight to nine generations, and, at the same time, immersed themselves in Chinese culture and society. 3. During the Mongol rule of Kaifeng, Jewish and Muslim ritual slaughter was banned because the Emperor was angered by the idea that his subjects believed the meat the Emperor was eating wasn’t good enough for them. 4. In 1663, 241 members of the approximately 5,000 member Jewish community passed government exams and became Chinese officials, including 21 community officials and 38 civil, military, academic, and medical officials. 5. Although it is difficult to trace the Jewish roots of the people living in Kaifeng today, there are some families who continue to practice Jewish rituals such as lighting Shabbos candles and not eating pork.
July 12, 2017 / THE MONSEY VIEW / 121 www.themonseyview.com / 845.600.8484