Culture
Jewish tales: Key to Chinese success
Tali Raveh
Published: 30.08.06, 16:37
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29 Talkbacks for this article
1. MAYBE NOW THEY WILL BE OUR FRIENDS !
MOSHE ,   USA   (08.30.06)
INSTEAD OF SELLING ARMS TO OUR ENEMIES. MOSHE
2. the admiration is mutual
SR ,   NYC   (08.30.06)
At least for this writer. That is why I attend the Shaolin Temple martial arts classes and make contributions to the temple through my sifu
3. And Chinese children make great Jews...
Dan ,   USA   (08.30.06)
More and more kids adopted from China are showing up in synagogue and growing up Jewish. They are great kids and I am grateful to China for sending them to us. One family I know takes the trouble to also send their two children to China school so that they will also know their Chinese heritage.
4. This is actually stupid
Efi ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.30.06)
It gives credence to the anti-Semitic false stereotype of "Jews and business." It also encourages thinking along generalization, so when Chinese people meet Jews they will make automatic associations, instead of judging them as individuals. No, I do not welcome this. Write a book about Jews bringing Monotheism to the world, about Hebrew prophets and modern poets, but spare me these "compliments", please! They also don't apply to the 1.6 million Israelis under the poverty line.
5. There are some truths to generalizations
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (08.30.06)
And at least this is a heck of a lot better than we make matzos from the blood of Gentiles! This relationship has to be nurtured. They are a heck of a lot of people NOT to be friends with!
6. We Jews eat more chinese food than the chinese
jason white ,   afula,israel   (08.30.06)
7. Philosemitism
A.B. ,   Tel Aviv, ISR   (08.31.06)
There are successful people in every society. This is nothing genuine to Jewish people. This developement in China is even very dangerous, because in the end of the day philo-Semitism is as dangerous as anti-Semitism!
8. #4 - please tell me about these 1.6 million Israelis
michael ,   tel aviv & london   (08.31.06)
I have to say right off the bat that I live in Holon and don’t know all about what is happening in many other communities throughout Israel. I am Anglo American and made Aliya 3 years ago and am very happy here – even though I came with very little money. It didn’t take me long to come to the conclusion that Israelis are perhaps the most spoiled nation on the planet. Far more so than Europeans and Americans which might come as a surprise. I was asked by a neighbor ‘please bring some toilet paper back from the supermarket’. I returned with a packet and was met with a horrified look, ‘I can’t use that!’. When I asked why I was told ‘it’s green’. And trying bringing someone 2% yogurt when the wanted 3.5% etc. 60% of people have broadband connections (I don’t remember if this is people or people connected to the Internet) and most households have several mobile phones. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have a mobile phone, a broadband connection, a washing machine a microwave and a fridge. So where are these poor people ? Is the judgment made on how much the person or family earns (so much can be concealed) or on what they have or don’t have?
9. Excellent lessons...
Adam Admati ,   Israel   (08.31.06)
...now if only Israelis would learn them and act accordingly. You certainly don't see many public sector workers actually working or cooperating with each other. Our soldiers are the only sacrifices. "The owner of the farm says he is not interested in the hours of work but rather in the production." Shame it is not the same in Israeli-managed companies. Break up the monopolies, outlaw the histadrut and demand direct representation, now!
10. A suggestion
ShimonB ,   Kfar Saba   (08.30.06)
How about translating the book into Hebrew so that our kids too could learn some moral behaviour?
11. # 8: Just visit Dimona or Sderot
Efi, Tel Aviv, Israe   (08.31.06)
Michael, why not just pay a visit to Dimona, or Sderot. Any development town in the Negev will widen your awareness of the poor.
12. What is most important is what Gd thinks about us
howard ,   pacific coast, usa   (08.31.06)
It's nice when others respect us, but ultimately what matters is whether we are living our lives in a way that is a credit to Gd. Every Jew, and every Chinese person, is an individual, with his/her own strengths and weaknesses. It is up to each Jew or Chinese person to live up to his/her potential, to value honesty, hard work, kindness and open-mindedness and to strive for tikkun olam.
13. "The Jew" as a character of myth
howard ,   pacific coast, usa   (08.31.06)
Just as societies through the ages have created myths about people and animals and gods, they have created a whole set of legends about "the Jew." "The Jew" is a smart character who is (depending on the story and the teller) sometimes good, sometimes evil and sometimes neutral. Sounds a lot like Anansi the Spider, doesn't it? If people recognized that these stories are basically fairy tales, it would not be a problem. The problem is that many, many people (most of the Muslim world, in fact) don't recognize that half of their world-view is based on fairy tales about Jewish people. I am happy that in this case, at least, the stereotype is positive. But one should recognize that "the Jew" that is praised, or loved, or hated, or feared by people around the world is not a real person. He's a symbol. All of this said, Jewish and Chinese diaspora communities tend to get along well all over the world, and we should definitely work to deepen that friendship.
14. jews
Neal ,   Los Angeles   (08.31.06)
With there being many shreds of truth to this article. One thing I can say is we jews do not make good chinese food. I know that sounds strange, but I have went to jewish owned chinese resturants here in california and can honestly say "yuk" I know some of their resturants in Israel are good . but here, forget it. Btw there are other asian countries tthat respect jews too.
15. Chinese's the biggest copycat in the world.
John ,   NZ   (08.31.06)
as well as a trouble maker. Don't forget they are the ones selling Silkworm missile tech. to Iran. If you are lost on an island with a Chinese and a Taipan ( poisonous snake ) you better kill the Chinese first !!!
16. Why Jewish are successful and
John ,   NZ   (08.31.06)
Why the world hates Jews... Becos Jesus is Jewish and Jewish are the choosen ones. Over the ages, many have tried to exterminate this race, the Assyrians, Romans, Nazis and now Ahmed the Nut of Iran. Well, the rest is prophesized in the Holy Bible. I read some website that during the end time, P. Mohamed will take Jesus to Mecca and convert him to Islam. I am LMAO!!!
17. Jewish Tales
NYC   (08.31.06)
It's interesting that while Jews are considered to be very astute in business, the one Jewish state, for most of its existence, was a socialist one. Also, the description of Jews that appear in this book sound more like America's perception of the Chinese, especially because as far as Jews having respect for their elders is concerned, that was in past generations. It's hardly the case any longer.
18. Attention!!! The Jews are not superior to everyone else!!!!!
(08.31.06)
19. No. 14, Neal
NYC Girl   (08.31.06)
"I know some of their restaurants in Israel are good." That's because most of them are owned by former Vietnamese refugees, but I'm intrigued by those Jewish-owned restaurants in California. I don't think I've ever heard of any in New York and I thought we had every kind of restaurant under the sun here.
20. Jews and Chinese Food
NYC Girl   (08.31.06)
The Hebrew calendar begins in 5767 and the Chinese calendar begins in 4703...so what did the Jews do without Chinese food for over 1,000 years?
21. CONFUCIUS WAS A WISE MAN
Ephraim Rauch ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (08.31.06)
He lived in China 2500 years ago. He used to say: "When Liu tells me something about Hsiang, it teaches me more about Liu than about Hsiang".
22. The Chinese and the Jews
Aharon ,   TA, Israel   (08.31.06)
I am an Israeli and I have been to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan numerous times on business. I can speak ok mandarin and passable Cantonese (forget Minnan Yu, 2 Chinese languages is hard enough!) I notice that there is alot of admiration for Jewish people in Chinese society - we do have VERY similar values and love learning and tradition. This relationship is not fostered however. Israelis in particular should be more active in engaging Chinese business and tourism. There is a growing Islamic/Arab presence in China (and HK and TW) and the relation is tentative at best. Chinese tend to look down on the Arabs and the Arabs' sentiment is near mutual (except when it comes to their food or women) Chinese views on Israel are separate from Judaism. In fact, quite a number of people were confused to learn that Yi Si Li Ren (Israelis) are Youtai Ren (Jews). Point is, there is alot of misinformation and there is alot of PR work to do. Plus, there can be a great understanding and cooperation between us. I know there is alot of suspicions with China, esp since they are buddy buddy with some of the worst ME leaders but I assure you that this is all a facade - The Chinese need fuel to power their fast changing economy and Arabs want assets in other countries (and some arabs I have met also hold this strange belief that if China converts to Islam, the world dynamic will shift tremendously- hence the marrying of chinese women, not unlike what they do in Europe - outbreed the locals) But seriously, we need to strengthen the Israeli image abroad and this oppertunity will not last forever.
23. #10 Great Idea esp. for Those Attending Public Schools
H ,   Jerusalem   (08.31.06)
24. #18 Like it or Not - The Jews Are G-d's Favorites
H ,   Jerusalem   (08.31.06)
25. Philosemitism,etc.
nola ,   usa   (09.01.06)
First of all, I would like to take back my recommendation for Talk-back nr.7. I am new at this, and didn't notice that clicking on the line would be a recommendation. I thought that this meant to click so that i could amswer this person. About Philosemitism being dangerous. In what way? This is a lame-brained idea, I am familiar with it. You love me, and you hate me, is the same? How were the Greeks hurt by Europe's admiration for them? Yes, it was for their culture. And so I hope that from these simple positive feelings, will come the desire to study our culture, which is of course , what we would like most.
26. When Jews first arrived in China
Chad ,   Seattle, USA   (09.03.06)
The article claims that Jews first settled in China after the destruction of the first temple. However, in what time period after the temple's destruction is a matter of debate. A Jewish community existed in Kaifeng, Henan province in central China since at least the 10th century A.D. Documentary evidence for Jews in other communities or for earlier time periods is harder to establish. However, I do believe that Jews in China have in general been treated fairly, no differently than other foreigners. A German Jew whose family escaped Europe and the Nazis and landed in Shanghai said that they were treated kindly in Shanghai by the Chinese and that the Chinese did not discriminate against them for being Jewish than other non-Jewish foreigners.
27. Jews in China
Cynthia ,   San Francisco, USA   (09.25.06)
Actually, Chinese scholars do date the arrival of Jews in China to periods a lot earlier than stated by Western scholars, which is the 10 century C.E.
28. Culture, not race..
Joe ,   Italy   (09.26.06)
I appreciate Jewish culture and its achievements in science, literature, etc. Nevertheless, I don't think jewish are smarter than others. There are only differences among individuals. There are not smarter or choosen people or races. It's so good not to belong to any religion. I am aware each one of us belong to a culture just by chance, because he was born somewhere and taught something. But biologically we are all men.... it's obvious, but we all tend to forget it.
29. Judaism
Subhashis ,   Kolkata ,India   (08.26.07)
I am absolutely in awe of Jewish teachings and culture . Its matter of fact , down to earth , and simple . Children in India should also be exposed to such readings .Unfortunately I have been exposed rather late ..thanks to the internet .
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