History of the Jews in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
Unlike mainland China
, the Jewish presence in Taiwan
is relatively young, and was never numerous. The first sizable presence began in the 1950s, when religious services were held in the United States military
chapel
, to which civilians also had access.
In 1975, Rabbi
Ephraim Ferdinand Einhorn
' onMouseout='HidePop("15934")' href="/topics/Pinyin">Pinyin
: Ài Ēnhóng) arrived to serve as the island's sole rabbi. Since then, the Taiwanese Jewish community has been largely made up of foreign business executives and their families, with services also frequently attended by visitors to the island. Under Rabbi Einhorn, holiday services have been held at various hotels in Taipei
. Under an agreement between the rabbi and the management of the Sheraton Taipei Hotel, there are weekly services, kosher
meals, and a Jewish library owned by the rabbi. Attendance peaks around the High Holy Days, numbering between 60 and 100.
Because the state of Israel
has full diplomatic relations with mainland China, it cannot fully recognize the government of Taiwan, which China considers separatist. Nevertheless, Israel maintains the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO). In 2006, there was $1.3 billion worth of bilateral trade between Israel and Taiwan.
At this time, Taiwan has some 150 Jews, which is a slightly lower figure than in 1971, when the island had full diplomatic representation at the United Nations
.
In 2002 a Holocaust Museum was opened in Bao'an, Rende Township, Tainan County
(now part of Tainan City).
It was founded by Chou Chou An , a Taiwanese priest
who follows Messianic Judaism
, considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity. Chou Chou An got his religious education in Japan
. The Kyoto Holocaust Museum has donated several artefacts
to the Holocaust Museum in Tainan.
In the summer of 2011, upon the coming of the new Chabad
emissaries - Rabbi Shlomi and Racheli Tabib, the Chabad Taiwan - also known as the Taipei Jewish Center was founded.
According to the recent stats - there are about 300 Jewish residents in greater Taiwan. 90-95% of them reside in Taipei.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the Jewish presence in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
is relatively young, and was never numerous. The first sizable presence began in the 1950s, when religious services were held in the United States military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, to which civilians also had access.
In 1975, Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Ephraim Ferdinand Einhorn
Ephraim Einhorn
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Ferdinand Einhorn is a British Orthodox rabbi and the only rabbi living in Taiwan.-Early years:Einhorn was born in Vienna, Austria.Einhorn moved to the United Kingdom at age 14 and later to the United States...
' onMouseout='HidePop("15934")' href="/topics/Pinyin">Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Ài Ēnhóng) arrived to serve as the island's sole rabbi. Since then, the Taiwanese Jewish community has been largely made up of foreign business executives and their families, with services also frequently attended by visitors to the island. Under Rabbi Einhorn, holiday services have been held at various hotels in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. Under an agreement between the rabbi and the management of the Sheraton Taipei Hotel, there are weekly services, kosher
Kashrut
Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér , meaning "fit" Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha (Jewish law) is termed...
meals, and a Jewish library owned by the rabbi. Attendance peaks around the High Holy Days, numbering between 60 and 100.
Because the state of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
has full diplomatic relations with mainland China, it cannot fully recognize the government of Taiwan, which China considers separatist. Nevertheless, Israel maintains the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO). In 2006, there was $1.3 billion worth of bilateral trade between Israel and Taiwan.
At this time, Taiwan has some 150 Jews, which is a slightly lower figure than in 1971, when the island had full diplomatic representation at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
In 2002 a Holocaust Museum was opened in Bao'an, Rende Township, Tainan County
Tainan County
Tainan County was located in southern Taiwan. The name "Tainan" means "Southern Taiwan". Formerly a county of the Republic of China , Tainan County was merged with Tainan City at the end of 2010 to form a single special municipality....
(now part of Tainan City).
It was founded by Chou Chou An , a Taiwanese priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who follows Messianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism is a syncretic religious movement that arose in the 1960s and 70s. It blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual....
, considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity. Chou Chou An got his religious education in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The Kyoto Holocaust Museum has donated several artefacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
to the Holocaust Museum in Tainan.
In the summer of 2011, upon the coming of the new Chabad
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
emissaries - Rabbi Shlomi and Racheli Tabib, the Chabad Taiwan - also known as the Taipei Jewish Center was founded.
According to the recent stats - there are about 300 Jewish residents in greater Taiwan. 90-95% of them reside in Taipei.
See also
- Ephraim EinhornEphraim EinhornRabbi Dr. Ephraim Ferdinand Einhorn is a British Orthodox rabbi and the only rabbi living in Taiwan.-Early years:Einhorn was born in Vienna, Austria.Einhorn moved to the United Kingdom at age 14 and later to the United States...
- History of the Jews in ChinaHistory of the Jews in ChinaJews and Judaism in China have had a long history. Jewish settlers are documented in China as early as the 7th or 8th century CE, but may have arrived during the mid Han Dynasty, or even as early as 231 BCE. Relatively isolated communities developed through the Tang and Song Dynasties Jews and...
Official page of the Holocaust Museum in Tainan בארץ להדם (an article about the Holocaust Museum in Tainan), HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, 17 November 2007