!שלום־עליכם 欢迎! 欢迎! Welcome!
The Sino-Judaic Institute has been a pioneer in the field of Chinese-Jewish relations for over 30 years. We are a virtual institute, based in the United States, but with members the world over. We offer this website as a resource to all who are curious about various aspects of Chinese-Jewish relations and want to learn more. SJI is a membership organization. We welcome your participation and involvement.
Our fields of work include:
- The study of the ancient Jewish community of Kaifeng, where Jews have been living now for over a millennium, and assisting the Kaifeng Jewish descendants to reconnect with their cultural heritage as appropriate.
- The study of Jewish life in Shanghai, Harbin, Tianjin, Hong Kong and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- The study of cross-cultural issues such as literary influences, comparative diasporas, religion, intermarriage and family matters, etc.
- The support of Jewish Studies programs in China and fostering scholarship in this field.
- Promotion of tourism to Kaifeng and other cities and to make current exhibits on the Jews of China more accessible to the public.
- Publicaton of Points East, a journal that comes out three times a year, and Sino-Judaica, an occasional scholarly publication.
See New Updates on "Current Issue Highlights" as of 22 February 2021
My Heritage and Life in Shanghai by Esther Isaac
Date: Friday, February 12, 2021
Time: 12:00PM PT / 3:00PM ET
Location: Be’chol Lashon’s Facebook page
Cost: Free
Details
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, a Chinese-American Jew who leads Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA, will help us welcome both Shabbat and the Year of the Ox with prayer, song, and learning.
Joining her will be Souks Soukhaseum of Free Synagogue of Flushing in Queens, NY and Davi Cheng of Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles, CA, as well as the co-creators of LUNAR: The Jewish-Asian Film Project, Gen Slosberg, Jenni Rudolph, and Jared Chiang-Zeizel. At the conclusion of the service, the LUNAR team will premiere the first episode of their series, “The Taste of Connection.”
The service will stream live on Be’chol Lashon’s Facebook page.
Registration is free, takes less than a minute, and helps us plan this and future events. Registrants will receive a confirmation email as well as an email reminder 1 hour before the event starts.
About the Presenters
Davi Yael Cheng is a graphic designer in Los Angeles. Born in Hong Kong, Davi immigrated to the United States with her family when she was fourteen. In addition to her rich Chinese heritage, Davi has embraced Judaism and is actively involved at Beth Chayim Chadashim, the world’s first LGBTQ synagogue.
Jared Chiang-Zeizel is the filmmaker of LUNAR: The Jewish-Asian Film Project. He is an L.A.-based writer, editor, and producer.
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin is Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA and the first Chinese-American rabbi. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
Jenni Rudolph is the Co-Creator and Creative Director of LUNAR: The Jewish-Asian Film Project. She is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, vocalist, and vocal producer, with a broader background in media production.
Gen Xia Ye Slosberg is the Co-Creator and Producer of LUNAR: The Jewish-Asian Film Project. A 2020 graduate of U.C. Berkeley, she is a non-profit professional working at Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA).
Souksavat “Souks” Soukhaseum is the Director of Community Affairs at the Free Synagogue of Flushing in Queens, NY. A native of Laos, Souks grew up in San Francisco.
SAVE FEB 21, 2021 for an hour-long “Author Talk” featuring PROF. STEVE HOCHSTADT in which he discusses his book Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of Escape from the Third Reich.
When Steve Hochstadt began interviewing former Shanghai refugees in the 1980s, as research for his book, the heroic escape to Shanghai was a largely unexplored aspect of the Holocaust experience. Join us in the interview with Steve Hochstadt, Professor Emeritus of History at Illinois College, and delve into the narratives of one hundred refugees located by Hochstadt. The interview will be moderated by Dr. Warren Rosenblum, Professor of History, Politics, and International Relations at Webster University, and held virtually via Zoom at 8pm CST on February 20th, this event should be accessible both to those residing in the United States and in China. (9pm -10pm ET; Feb 21 10am to 11am Beijing time). Free, but you must register.
Further information can also be seen on the registration page at
https://webster-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pf6RoqfkQRyzqNLU1lin5Q