GAO YICHEN (“WEIWEI”), YUE TING, LI JING, LI YUAN, AND LI CHENGJIN (“LULU”) (SHAVEI ISRAEL/FACEBOOK)
Five Chinese women, who are descended from the centuries-old Jewish community of Kaifeng, journeyed to Israel on Monday, launching the first phase of their immigration to the country. The Israeli publication Ynet News reports that Gao Yichen, Yue Ting, Li Jing, Li Yuan, and Li Chengjin will live at Midreshet Nishmat: The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, as they prepare for their official conversion. The women had been studying Hebrew and learning about the Jewish religion in advance of the move.
The Jewish community of Kaifeng is thought to have been founded by Iraqi or Persian merchants in the 8th or 9th century. Its population may have grown to about 5,000 during the Ming Dynasty, but has dwindled to fewer than 1,000 due to assimilation and intermarriage. The community’s remaining members have shown increased interest in reconnecting to their heritage, according to Michael Freund, chairman of Shavei Israel, an organization that facilitated the women’s move to Israel. “[T]hey are still identifiable as descendants of Jews even if some of them have nothing to do with Judaism,” Freund said.
In advance of her arrival, Li Jing expressed her excitement, saying that she had been praying to make a home in Israel. “Now, my prayer has been answered,” she said.
Chinese women with Jewish roots to make aliyah The 5 women have studied Hebrew and Judaism in preparation for their immigration to Israel; they are from Kaifeng where a Jewish community is believed to have been founded by Iraqi or Persian Jews in the 8th or 9th century ACE. Alexander J. Apfel / TPS Published: 02.29.16, 11:32 / Israel Jewish Scene
Five Chinese women, descended from the medieval Jewish community of Kaifeng, are set to arrive in Israel on Monday. The women, Gao Yichen (“Weiwei”), Yue Ting, Li Jing, Li Yuan, and Li Chengjin (“Lulu”), have studied Hebrew and Judaism to prepare themselves for their journey, as they return to the heritage of their ancestors.
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Upon their arrival, the five women will visit the Western Wall before making their way to Midreshet Nishmat – The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, where they will prepare for their official conversion to Judaism under the auspices of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate.
The women will live in the seminary until the completion of their conversion, after which they will receive Israeli citizenship.
The 5 Chinese women from Kaifeng making aliyah (Photo: TPS) The 5 Chinese women from Kaifeng making aliyah (Photo: TPS)
Kaifeng’s Jewish community is believed to have been founded by Iraqi or Persian Jewish merchants in the eighth or ninth century. A synagogue was erected there in 1163 that still stands today. According to estimates, the community consisted of up to 5,000 Jews during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) but decreased to 500-1000 due to wide-scale assimilation and intermarriage.
According to Michael Freund, chairman of the Shavei Israel organization responsible for bringing the women to Israel, the Kaifeng community was similar to other Jewish communities except that it did not suffer anti-Semitism.
“As a result, beginning perhaps in the 18th century, a process of assimilation and intermarriage began to settle in. Then, the last rabbi of Kaifeng passed away 200 years ago, and the synagogue was rendered unfit for use when a series of floods struck the city in the 19th century,” Freund told Tazpit Press Service (TPS).
However, Freund said that close to 1,000 remain who are identifiable as descendants of the Jewish community and who have shown increasing interest in learning about Judaism and their heritage. Such interest has enabled Freund’s organization to bring many Chinese to Israel, the last group of seven men arriving in October 2009.
Freund further explained that around 25 years ago, Jews were given the option of registering either as regular Han Chinese or, for unknown reasons, as Muslims. “Many opted to register as Muslims since this enabled them to have more than one child, but they are still identifiable as descendants of Jews even if some of them have nothing to do with Judaism,” Freund said.
“Being part of the Jewish people is an honor because of the heritage and wisdom,” said Li Jing, who on a previous visit put a note of prayer in the Kotel asking to return and live in Israel. “Now, my prayer has been answered,” she said.
Posts: 5374 | From: sepedat/sirius | Registered: Jul 2012
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"[T]hey are still identifiable as descendants of Jews even if some of them have nothing to do with Judaism,” Freund said."
If I remember correctly they try/ tried to dispute Falashas and other African people with Hebrew heritage? Hebrew heritage is way older than judaism. Linguistically, culturally etc...
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
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The Falashas had a rough time. But I think it is time for Hebrewism to be retraced to its African roots.
Posts: 384 | Registered: May 2012
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The Jews in Israel will not see them as bona fide Jews unless they convert. After 5 generations you are back to the original stock. According to DNA analysis the Falasha are strictly East African in DNA. That does not mean of course that they are not of the Jewish faith. And those blacks of Southern Africa who claim to be Jews but are indistinguishable from their fellow Africans are Jews only in religion.
Just puzzled by all this because there is nothing special about being Jewish in ethnic terms.
Posts: 5492 | Registered: Nov 2004
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quote:Originally posted by lamin: The Jews in Israel will not see them as bona fide Jews unless they convert. After 5 generations you are back to the original stock. According to DNA analysis the Falasha are strictly East African in DNA. That does not mean of course that they are not of the Jewish faith. And those blacks of Southern Africa who claim to be Jews but are indistinguishable from their fellow Africans are Jews only in religion.
Just puzzled by all this because there is nothing special about being Jewish in ethnic terms.
The irony is that many Israelis with east European anscetry, obviously genetically cluster with east Europeans. And it's not even a dirty secret.
Posts: 22234 | From: האם אינכם כילדי הכרית אלי בני ישראל | Registered: Nov 2010
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quote:Originally posted by lamin: The Jews in Israel will not see them as bona fide Jews unless they convert. After 5 generations you are back to the original stock. According to DNA analysis the Falasha are strictly East African in DNA. That does not mean of course that they are not of the Jewish faith. And those blacks of Southern Africa who claim to be Jews but are indistinguishable from their fellow Africans are Jews only in religion.
Just puzzled by all this because there is nothing special about being Jewish in ethnic terms.
this an lie that they only jew by religion they took dna to prove their jew. stop spreading lies
Posts: 54 | From: va | Registered: Dec 2014
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