A Jew in China- Part 3
A Jew in China- Part 3
We had an inspiring and uplifting Shabbos, and when it ended, I stayed with everyone for a while longer, full of yearning for another Shabbos just like it.
Dov Glanz 24/08/2009 09:00
As the sun set on Friday and Shabbos arrived, the beis knesses came to life. Local Jewish residents, including hi-tech professionals, businessmen, and scientists welcomed the visitors with a moving rendition of "Shalom aleichem". The Morrocan, Dutch, Hungarian, and Yerushalmi accents and melodies blended together quite pleasantly. A holy atmosphere of "Yiddishkeit" enveloped us all, as Rabbi Shimon the shaliach led the prayers.
The young pupils of "ganeinu" – the Jewish kindergarten of Beijing – made their own poignant contribution to the services when they shouted "Amen", and we all felt "mit a kap hecher" (a Yiddish expression used to describe the Shabbos atmosphere that makes every Jew feel elevated and closer to the Heavens, to the Creator of the world). No matter how many words I write, and no matter how much my fingers type, I will not be able to describe the inner joy we all felt when we danced at the end of the song, "Lecha Dodi". Jews in the capital of China, Jewish souls in the middle of a huge industrial region, everyone putting their business ventures on hold in honor of Shabbos. There are no words to express it…
After the prayer service, we all went into the dining room of the kosher restaurant, which is personally supervised by Rabbi Shimon. We all sat around long tables, and the sense of unity was overpowering. A magnificent mosaic made up of every color of the Jewish rainbow. I, a yeshiva student, sat alongside a scientist from Hebrew University who had come to China to attend a convention for physicists. Dror, a hi-tech professional born in Israel, sat opposite a Jew who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Not far from us sat a Jew who works as a satellite consultant, deep in conversation with a student based in China.
The next day, the experience was even more intense, as we stayed to partake of the second and third meals in the Beit Chabad sanctuary, with a smaller number of people than had been present at the evening meal. Shabbos eventually drew to a close, leaving its deep and positive mark in our hearts. Thanks again to Rabbi Shimon and his family for the dedicated work they do at Beit Chabad.
I have attached more photographs, as I promised I would do when I posted photographs with the previous journal entry. This set of pictures depicts the paintings hanging on the walls in the Beit Chabad. All of them are paintings of ancient basei knesses throughout China.
To Read Chapter 2
The young pupils of "ganeinu" – the Jewish kindergarten of Beijing – made their own poignant contribution to the services when they shouted "Amen", and we all felt "mit a kap hecher" (a Yiddish expression used to describe the Shabbos atmosphere that makes every Jew feel elevated and closer to the Heavens, to the Creator of the world). No matter how many words I write, and no matter how much my fingers type, I will not be able to describe the inner joy we all felt when we danced at the end of the song, "Lecha Dodi". Jews in the capital of China, Jewish souls in the middle of a huge industrial region, everyone putting their business ventures on hold in honor of Shabbos. There are no words to express it…
After the prayer service, we all went into the dining room of the kosher restaurant, which is personally supervised by Rabbi Shimon. We all sat around long tables, and the sense of unity was overpowering. A magnificent mosaic made up of every color of the Jewish rainbow. I, a yeshiva student, sat alongside a scientist from Hebrew University who had come to China to attend a convention for physicists. Dror, a hi-tech professional born in Israel, sat opposite a Jew who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Not far from us sat a Jew who works as a satellite consultant, deep in conversation with a student based in China.
The next day, the experience was even more intense, as we stayed to partake of the second and third meals in the Beit Chabad sanctuary, with a smaller number of people than had been present at the evening meal. Shabbos eventually drew to a close, leaving its deep and positive mark in our hearts. Thanks again to Rabbi Shimon and his family for the dedicated work they do at Beit Chabad.
I have attached more photographs, as I promised I would do when I posted photographs with the previous journal entry. This set of pictures depicts the paintings hanging on the walls in the Beit Chabad. All of them are paintings of ancient basei knesses throughout China.
To Read Chapter 2
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| A Beis Knesses in Kaifeng | צלם |
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| A Beis Knesses in the city of Harbin, built in 1907 | צלם |
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| The Beis Knesses adjacent to the cemetery in Harbin, built in 1920 | צלם |
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| A Beis Knesses in Tientsin, built in 1939. | צלם |
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| The Ohel Leah Beis Knesses in Hong Kong, paid for and built in 1901 with a contribution made by Jacob Sassoon. | צלם |
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| The Beit Aharon beis knesses in Shanghai. The congregation was established in 1927 by a Jew named Silas Herdon. The building was demolished in 1985. | צלם |
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| The new Beis Knesses in Shanghai. Built by the Russian community in 1941, and had an active congregation until 1956. The building was destroyed in 1993. | צלם |
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| The Ohel Moshe Beis Knesses in Shanghai. The community headed by Rabbi Ashkenazi used this building beginning in 1927, but had been praying elsewhere together, as an organized congregation, from 1907. | צלם |
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| The Bachai Lor beis knesses, built between 1920 and 1930. | צלם |
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| Another picture from the city of Harbin, the building was used as a Beis Midrash built in 1916. | צלם |
Venice Photo Gallery This is the first photo gallery that was sent to us. We present to you Venetia on the water in the spring.
Jenin: The Location Where Joseph Was Sold into Slavery Our forefather Jacob sent his son Joseph to a place north of Jenin, near Dotan (Dotina), where he was later sold into slavery by his brothers. What does that place look like today?
Working Up High How can we appreciate the self-examination and thorough cleaning of the high windows of the Etrog building? Here is the historic opportunity.