september 2012 • volume 7 • issue 5 • elul / tishrei 5772– 5773

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Tributes have been pour- ing into the family of the late Theodore (Teddy) Kaufman who passed away 15 July 2012 aged 88. He was buried at the Kiryiat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv. Teddy is survived by his wife Rasha, and brother Isai Kaufman in San Francisco, USA. He will be missed by all who knew and respected him as a giant in understanding China- Israel relations. His knowledge of the history of the Jewish presence in China was great. Teddy, as he was affec- tionally known, was born 2 September 1924 in Harbin, China. He lived there after his family fled Russia in 1903. His father was Dr. Abraham Josev- ich Kaufman, a Russian-born medical doctor, community or- ganiser and Zionist who helped protect tens of thousands of Jews seeking safe-haven in East Asia from Nazi atrocities dur- ing World War II. No doubt from his fathers influence and stature, Teddy was also instrumental during his time in Harbin and managed to publish a paper that provided news on Israel and also estab- lished certain Jewish commit- tee's. He emigrated to Israel in 1949 and a few years later es- tablished, with 16 other former Jewish residents, an organisa- tion known as the Association of Former Residents of China - Igud Yotzei Zin. The organi- sation comprised of residents from Harbin,Tianjin, Shanghai and Dalian. Teddy was chair- man for 50 years. IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE TEDDY KAUFMAN, FOUNDER OF IGUD YOTZEI ZIN In thIs Issue Jewish New Year Greetings 2-8 Regional News Asian Science Camp heads to Israel 9-14 Business News Pearls can also be a ’girls best friend’ 15-17 Art and Culture Japans famed Kabuki showcases in Israel 18-20 Feature Exploring Jewish India 22 Festivals Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur 24-25 JTA Classifieds 28-29 Jewish communities in Asia Candle-lighting and the month’s Parasha’s 31 By Philip Jay, Editor September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773 www.jewishtimesasia.org ter, running deep in his efforts to develop relations between China and Israel.” “Mr. Kaufman represented the spirit of selfless giving back,” the statement continued. As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘Don’t forget the well-diggers when drinking from the well.’ Mr. Kaufman never forgot his well-digger, by showing his deep affection to China where he was born and lived for 26 years. He then became a well- digger himself and set an ex- ample for younger generations. Mr. Kaufman worked until the last hours of his life promoting the Israel-China relationship.” Established 2006 Separately, he was also the founder and president of the Israel-China Friendship Asso- ciation and was instrumental in bringing a deeper understand- ing between the two nations. The work of Igud started with distributing food parcels to Jewish refugees around the world, and to needy immigrants from China into Israel. Other former China resident’s organi- sations were established around the world including San Fran- cisco, Sydney and Los Angeles. In 1956, Igud began grant- ing scholarships to students who were former China resi- dents, made possible by a fund which was established by ex- China residents in New York. The scholarships have been awarded to the offspring of former China residents, sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, and even great grandsons and daughters. Well over 1800 scholarships have been distributed. In addition, for over 20 years, Igud has distributed twice a year Rosh Hashanah and Yom Ha'atzmaut gifts to soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces who are the offspring of ex-China residents - approximately 1500 soldiers. Perhaps Teddy’s biggest legacy is the Bulletin magazine. It was his way of putting on re- cord events of the Jews in Chi- na from the late 19th century to the present day. The magazine is still published today, in three languages, Russian, Hebrew and English. Copies are distrib- uted in Israel among the former China residents and various institutions and the rest are sent to former China residents abroad. An official statement, from the Chinese Embassy in Israel read: “Mr. Kaufman, as presi- dent of the Israel-China Friend- ship Society, had long been committed to promoting China- Israel exchanges in varied fields and maintained friendly relations with the embassy and Chinese people,” “He was like the still wa- Teddy Kaufman from Jewish Times Asia Shana Tovah 5773 Happy New Year to our readers

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Jewish Times Asia, was established in 2006, and is the regions first independent community newspaper for Jewish residents, business travellers and vacationers. The growth of Jewish families residing in the region has steadily increased and many more communities have been established. We are a platform for news gathering, social event highlighting and community awareness. We report on local and international news; insights, stories and features on topical themes and issues relevant to the Jewish community. Jewish Times Asia, is a monthly A3 tabloid style newspaper printed in colour. We are officially registered as a newspaper with the Hong Kong SAR government. The title and copyright of the newspaper is owned by Jewish Times Asia Limited. The newspaper was founded by the current publisher & editor-in-chief, Mr. Philip Jay

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Page 1: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Tributes have been pour-ing into the family of the late Theodore (Teddy) Kaufman who passed away 15 July 2012 aged 88. He was buried at the Kiryiat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv. Teddy is survived by his wife Rasha, and brother Isai Kaufman in San Francisco, USA.

He will be missed by all who knew and respected him as a giant in understanding China-Israel relations. His knowledge of the history of the Jewish presence in China was great.

Teddy, as he was affec-tionally known, was born 2 September 1924 in Harbin, China. He lived there after his family fled Russia in 1903. His father was Dr. Abraham Josev-ich Kaufman, a Russian-born medical doctor, community or-ganiser and Zionist who helped protect tens of thousands of Jews seeking safe-haven in East Asia from Nazi atrocities dur-ing World War II.

No doubt from his fathers influence and stature, Teddy was also instrumental during his time in Harbin and managed to publish a paper that provided news on Israel and also estab-lished certain Jewish commit-tee's.

He emigrated to Israel in 1949 and a few years later es-tablished, with 16 other former Jewish residents, an organisa-tion known as the Association of Former Residents of China - Igud Yotzei Zin. The organi-sation comprised of residents from Harbin,Tianjin, Shanghai and Dalian. Teddy was chair-man for 50 years.

In TrIbuTe To The laTe Teddy Kaufman, founder of IGUD YotzeI zIn

In thIs Issue

Jewish new year Greetings 2-8

regional newsAsianScienceCampheadstoIsrael 9-14

business newsPearlscanalsobea’girlsbestfriend’ 15-17

art and CultureJapansfamedKabukishowcasesinIsrael 18-20

featureExploringJewishIndia 22

festivalsRoshHashanah&YomKippur 24-25

JTa Classifieds 28-29

Jewish communities in asiaCandle-lightingandthemonth’sParasha’s 31

By Philip Jay, Editor

September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773 www.jewishtimesasia.org

ter, running deep in his efforts to develop relations between China and Israel.”

“Mr. Kaufman represented the spirit of selfless giving back,” the statement continued. As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘Don’t forget the well-diggers when drinking from the well.’ Mr. Kaufman never forgot his well-digger, by showing his deep affection to China where he was born and lived for 26 years. He then became a well-digger himself and set an ex-ample for younger generations. Mr. Kaufman worked until the last hours of his life promoting the Israel-China relationship.”

Established 2006

Separately, he was also the founder and president of the Israel-China Friendship Asso-ciation and was instrumental in bringing a deeper understand-ing between the two nations.

The work of Igud started with distributing food parcels to Jewish refugees around the world, and to needy immigrants from China into Israel. Other former China resident’s organi-sations were established around the world including San Fran-cisco, Sydney and Los Angeles.

In 1956, Igud began grant-ing scholarships to students who were former China resi-dents, made possible by a fund which was established by ex-China residents in New York. The scholarships have been awarded to the offspring of former China residents, sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, and even great grandsons and daughters. Well over 1800 scholarships have been distributed.

In addition, for over 20 years, Igud has distributed

twice a year Rosh Hashanah and Yom Ha'atzmaut gifts to soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces who are the offspring of ex-China residents - approximately 1500 soldiers.

Perhaps Teddy’s biggest legacy is the Bulletin magazine. It was his way of putting on re-cord events of the Jews in Chi-na from the late 19th century to the present day. The magazine is still published today, in three languages, Russian, Hebrew and English. Copies are distrib-uted in Israel among the former China residents and various institutions and the rest are sent to former China residents abroad.

An official statement, from the Chinese Embassy in Israel read: “Mr. Kaufman, as presi-dent of the Israel-China Friend-ship Society, had long been committed to promoting China-Israel exchanges in varied fields and maintained friendly relations with the embassy and Chinese people,”

“He was like the still wa-

Teddy Kaufman

fromJewish Times Asia

Shana Tovah 5773

Happy New Year to our readers

Page 2: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

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JTA12AUG_260x360_adv_AW.pdf 1 29/08/2012 4:02 PM

Wishing all our friends and clients a Happy,

Healthy and Prosperous New Year

Hong Kong • Israel • Shanghai • Beijing • Belgium

Page 3: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 3

Solid yet Flexible

www.bhibank.com

BHI Investment Advisors (Asia) Ltd701, 7/F., Ruttonjee House11 Duddell Street Central Hong KongTel: (852) 3423-0828 Fax: (852) 2840-0678

Shana TovaBank Hapoalim wishes its customers and all of the people of Israel a year of peace, health, joy and prosperity.

InvestmentAdvisors(Asia) Limited

Part of Bank Hapoalim Group

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JTA12AUG_260x360_adv_AW.pdf 1 29/08/2012 4:02 PM

Wishing all our friends and clients a Happy,

Healthy and Prosperous New Year

Hong Kong • Israel • Shanghai • Beijing • Belgium

Page 4: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember20124

Infinity GroupThe Leading Cross-Border China Platform

www.infinity-equity.com

Welcome to the IsraelI DIamonD InDustry

the leadership and members of the Israeli Diamond Industry

extend best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and

happy new year to the Jewish communities of asia.

שנה טובה

www.israelidiamond.co.il

W h e r e S t a b i l i t y r e i g n S

לשנה טובה תכתבוותחתמו לאלתר לחיים

wishing you ahappy, healthy

and prosperous new year

בס"ד

www.lsdco.com

Page 5: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 5

London Pearl (Hong Kong) Ltd

Suppliers of the finest pearls to most international brands [email protected]

Shana Tova 5773

Page 6: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember20126

Schedule of Services

Led by

Rabbi Stanton Zamek and

Hazzan Diego Edelberg Date Service Time Location

Sunday, 16 September Rosh HaShanah Evening Service 7:00pm Olympic House Service will be followed by dinner at the JCC, please RSVP by Monday, 10 September.

Bus service provided.

Monday, 17 September Rosh HaShanah Children’s Service 9:30am Olympic House Rosh HaShanah Morning Service 10:30amPlease join us for Kiddush reception following Services.Tashlich Service 3:00pm Stanley Beach Bus service provided. Bus will leave Olympic House at 2:30pm.

Tuesday, 18 September 2nd Day Rosh HaShanah Service 10:30am UJC Sanctuary Please join us for Kiddush lunch following Services.

Friday, 21 September Shabbat Shuvah 7:00pm UJC Sanctuary Service will be followed by congregational Shabbat dinner at the JCC, please RSVP

by Thursday, 20 September.

Tuesday, 25 September Kol Nidre 7:00pm Olympic House

Wednesday, 26 September Yom Kippur Olympic House Children’s Service 9:30am Shacharit (Morning) Service 10:30am Time for Personal Reflection 1:45pm Discussion with the Rabbi 2:45pm Mincha (Afternoon) Service 3:45pm Yizkor (Memorial) Service 5:00pm Ne’ilah (Closing) Service 6:00pm

Please join us for a community-wide break fast at the JCC. Bus service provided, courtesy of the UJC.

Locations:Olympic House 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (next to Hong Kong Stadium)

UJC Sanctuary 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong (entrance is from Castle Steps)

For the latest updates on all UJC events and services, please check our web site at

www.ujc.org.hk

HIGH HOLY DAYS AT THE UJC 2012 - 5773

Wishing you a Peaceful

and Happy New Year

Michael & Judy Green and family

The Board of Carmel School Association Limited, Mrs. Rachel Friedmann

Principal of Carmel School and Head of Elsa High School

and Mrs. Mira Hasofer

Head of Carmel Elementary School

wish all our students, parents, friends and supporters

Shana Tova, Chag Sameach and a Healthy Year!

Elsa High School460 Shau Kei Wan RoadShau Kei Wan, Hong KongTelephone: (852) 3665-5388Facsimile: (852) 3665 5399E-mail: [email protected]

Carmel Elementary School – JCC Campus & Ganeynu/TzutzikOne Robinson Place70 Robinson RoadMid-Levels, Hong KongTelephone: (852) 2249-7600Facsimile: (852) 2249-7690

Carmel Elementary School10 Borrett RoadMid-Levels, Hong KongTelephone: (852) 2964-1600Facsimile: (852) 2813-4121E-mail: [email protected]

Carmel School Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Sharon Ser and her mother, Irene

Ser, wish their family and friends a

Shana Tova and an easy fast, and

hoping for good health, happiness

and lots of fun in the new year.

Page 7: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 7

Phuket's award winning resort

We wish you a Shana Tovah

from Lelia, Mark, Noam, Carol and Tal Konyn

Page 8: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember20128

Jeremy, Debby & eleanna Amias

Wishing all our friends a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

Ginsburg & Wosner Families

L’Shana Tova to our friends may

you have a good sweet year

Andrew L. Cohen

Wishing all our friends and

clients a Happy, Healthy and

Prosperous New Year

Oriental Properties Agency

Oriental Properties Agency C-001736Penina E-098635

M: (852) 9023-3589 [email protected]

Page 9: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 9

www.jewishtimesasia.org

Jewish Times Asia

Publisher & FounderPhilipJay

Sub EditorTonyHenderson

ContributorsDrLesGlassman,IsraelAntiquesAuthority,AlexKats,RabbiAdinSteinsaltz

Design & LayoutTheGreenPagodaPressLtd

ChairmanRobertLMeyer

We welcome editorial enquiries and advertising requests.Pleasecontactouremail:[email protected]

PrinterDG3AsiaLimited6-9/F,HakingIndustrialBldg,34LeeChungStreet,ChaiWan,HongKong

DistributionPP&DCompanyLtd.

Jewish Times Asia ispublishedbyJewishTimesAsiaLtd©Copyright2012

Jewish Times Asia LimitedSuite2207-2209,Tower2,LippoCentre,Admiralty,HongKong

General Line:

Tel: (852)25308177Fax: (852)25308100

Representative Singapore:

AndrewLimMobileTel:(65)96317112Email:[email protected]

Jewish Times Asia is registered as a Hong Kong newspaper with the Government of the HKSAR.

Material in the newspaper may not be used or reproduced in any form or in any way without permission from the editor.

While every effort has been made that the content is true and accurate, the publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the printed text.

Jewish Times Asia is distributed on a controlled circulation, complimentary to resident addresses and business’s in the region. In addition extra copies are available at synagogues, Jewish community centres, kosher restaurants, clubs and associations. The newspaper is also on EL AL flights between Israel & Asia.

Asian Science Camp heads to Israel

A new institute to promote Sino-Israeli ties

Israel Tourist Board to open office in IndiaIsrael’s inbound tourism market is set to get a boost with Indian nationals emerg-ing as the largest group visit-ing the country.

To ease visa restrictions and to increase the numbers of visi-tors from the country, the Israel Tourist Board has decided to

open an office in Mumbai.

“India is a fast-growing market that has shown impres-sive growth in incoming tour-ism to Israel. Over the last two years, the numbers of tourists visiting Israel from India has doubled, with about 40,000 visitors a year,” said Stas Mi-

sezhnikov, Tourism Minister of Israel.

The officials will continue to discuss improvements in transportation, accommoda-tions and Israeli tour packages for Indian travellers. By adding additional flights and advertis-ing special hotel rates, tourism

officials in Israel hope to fur-ther attract Indians to visit the country. The tourist office will invest about US$660,000 to at-tract more visitors from India that has emerged as Israel’s single largest source of incom-ing tourists in the continent, overtaking South Korea.

To further strengthen bilater-al ties in culture and economy, the first Forum of Sino-Israeli Cultural and Economic Co-operation was held in Beijing, in July.

Government officials and scholars of the two countries attended the forum. The China Institute of Jewish Culture and Economy was organised by

China’s University of Interna-tional Business and Economy.

Robert J. Aumann, profes-sor of Hebrew University of Je-rusalem and Nobel laureate in economics, and David Rotem, chairman of Knesset Constitu-tion, Law and Justice Commit-tee of Israel, sent congratula-tory letters to the institute.

The institute’s establishment comes at the time when the two countries are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sino-Israeli diplomatic ties. In the seminar, noted Chinese experts on Israel exchanged their own perspec-tives on Sino-Israeli coopera-tion in various fields including culture, business, technology, security and strategy.

Over 300 young science ge-niuses arrived in Israel to par-ticipate in one of the most im-portant science conferences in the world for students. Held in Jerusalem between 26 – 30 August, the prestigious annu-al conference, known as Asian Science Camp (ASC), pro-motes young scientists from all over Asia and the Pacific.

For the past six years, ASC is held in a different Asian country, organisers changed the venue this year to Israel. Previous camps were held in Taiwan, Bali, Japan, India and South Korea.

Such is the significance and importance of the conference, Israel’s President Shimon Peres was the guest of honour and opened the event.

The camp is the initiative of a number of Nobel laureates in the sciences from eastern

Asia, who set for themselves the goal of creating a platform to locating and promoting the future generation of scientists from Asia. Also appearing on the programme was Professor Yuan T. Lee, co-founder of the Asian Science Camp; Professor Makoto Kobayashi, chairman of the ASC International Advi-sory Committee and Professor Roger D. Kornberg from Stan-ford University in California.

Most of the activities were held on the Hebrew Univer-sity’s Edmund J. Safra Campus offering participants a substan-tial portion of basic science in the spheres of physics, chem-istry, life sciences, and math-ematics, from the best scientific minds in Israel and around the world. Amongst those partici-pating in Asia were four stu-dents from the University of the

Philippines - Los Banos. They all major in Applied Physics and below the age of 20.

The aim of the science camp according to organisers is to expose the young guests to Israel’s diversity, the ancient with its historic and cultural depth, and the youthful with its dynamic and effervescent character. The students were also given the chance to explore Israel’s beauty with a tour of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv during the their stay.

Young scientists attending Asian Science Camp

Students from the PhilippinesPresident Shimon Peres opens ASC

Indian warships in Haifa

Four Indian navy warships visited the northern coastal city of Israel in August as the two countries celebrate 20 years of diplomatic ties this year.

INS Mumbai, Trishul, Gomti and Aditya, from Indian navy’s western fleet, anchored at the Haifa coast, as part of their Mediterra-nean tour.

The four-day visit of the Indian navy warships, which are equipped with electronic sensors and missile systems, “shows the importance In-dia attaches to the growing Indo-Israeli relations and continued cooperation and engagement between the two countries is expected to grow,” senior officials said.

The Mediterranean tour was headed by Rear Admiral A R Karve, who met with senior Israeli naval officers and the Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav.

The Indian sailors also paid their respects at the memorial of Indian soldiers buried in Haifa while fight-ing for the Allied forces in what has come to be known as the war for the liberation of Haifa.

In a rare tribute to the Indian soldiers who fought for the liberation of the city, the municipality of Haifa has decided to include the stories of their valiant efforts by incorporating them in the school curricula as part of the history textbooks.

Page 10: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201210

Regional News

Commemorating the Philippine nation “Opening its Doors” The Municipality of Rishon Lezion organised a memo-rable programme at the Open Doors Monument located at the Holocaust Memorial Park to honour the Philippines for its kind gesture of “opening its doors” to escaping European Jewry from the Holocaust during WWII. The ceremony took place in June, to cele-brate its third anniversary.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Generoso D.G. Calonge, attended the ceremony as guest of honour, together with em-bassy officers and staff, some leaders and members of the Filipino community. Also in at-tendance were Holocaust survi-

Ambassador Generoso DG Calonge with the Weissler family

Municipality of Rishon Lezion for recognising the Philippines’ simple act of love and kind-ness,” added Yee.

Max Weissler, a Holocaust survivor and among the 1,200 Jews who reached the Philip-pines by virtue of the “open door’ policy testified to the kindness and humanitarian act of the Philippines. He recounted vivid stories about his life in the Philippines and the ordeal that he and his family experienced when they were fleeing Nazi tyranny in Europe.

His story would have been forgotten and left unknown to many until Frank Ephraim, also a Jewish refugee, documented and thoroughly discussed their plight, in his book titled Escape to Manila from Nazi Tyranny and Japanese Terror.

During the ceremony, Am-bassador Calonge handed over to Mr. Weissler a memorabilia-letter from the daughter of President Manuel Luis Quezon, Mrs. Maria Zenaida Quezon-Avanceña.

Also in attendance was Rab-bi Eliyahu Azaria from Beth

to welcome people like us,” Cohen said.

“Although I am not one of those who were lucky to benefit from the kindness of the Philip-pine government, I could relate and feel the warm welcome accorded to us by the Filipino people,” he added.

“This is the first time that I was able to see my artwork. I never had the idea that I would be given the honour and privi-lege to be a part of this memo-rable ceremony,” Luis Yee said in his speech.

“I would like to thank, on behalf of our government, the

vors, Luis Yee, the visual artist who designed the Open Doors Monument and “Manilaners,” the Jewish Community who lived in the Philippines in the 1930s and 1940s.

Asher Cohen of the Foreign Relations Department of the Municipality and Holocaust survivor from Romania, opened the programme with tears, em-phasising and highlighting the kind gesture of the Philippines, under President Manuel L. Que-zon, of offering a safe haven to Jews escaping oppression from Nazi Europe. “When it seems that nobody in the world cares, the Philippines opened its doors

Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria making an address

Yaacov Synagogue, Makati, Philippines, who greeted the audience and thanked the Phil-ippines for demonstrating hu-manitarian love for people who had nothing and no one else to turn to at that time.

Luis Yee speaking to the attendees

Asher Cohen

Page 11: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 11

Vietnamese study fish farming Israeli style

Regional News

India and Israel launch broad scale joint academic research

The forum provided a plat-form for leading institutes from both countries to exhibit their academic skills and to forge new ties by entering into strate-gic partnership with their coun-terparts.

After the signing ceremony, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Alon Ushpiz said: “Both Israel and India host some of the most cutting edge academic institu-tions in the world, and the link-ing of our researchers together comes only naturally. Joint academic research between the scientists serves as the core plat-form of our intensive coopera-tion in agriculture technologies, high tech, clean tech and much more. This is an indispensable layer in keeping Israel and India at the forefront of the world’s scientific and technological R&D and innovation.”

Both sides perceive the pro-gramme as one of the key com-ponents of the 20 years celebra-tion of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The programme will sup-port collaborative academic research projects between In-dian and Israeli researchers, fo-cusing on a broad disciplinary scope, including life sciences and medicine, technologies, social sciences, humanities and arts.

The signing of the MoU concluded a two day seminar that took place in New Delhi, in which delegations of senior academic leaders from India and Israel participated. UGC Chairman, Prof. Ved Prakash, headed the Indian Delegation, while ISF Chairman, Prof. Benjamin Geiger, led a five member delegation from Israel.

In yet another academic boost to Indo-Israeli ties, a Memo-randum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Au-gust between the University Grants Commission of India (UGC) and the Israel Science Foundation (ISF), launching the India-Israel Joint Research Program.

This three year programme aims to bring together Indian and Israeli scientists and re-searchers to carry forward together academic research in areas of mutual interest. It was initiated during the recent visit of Minister Kapil Sibal to Israel, during his meeting with Israel’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of Education, Mr. Gideon Sa’ar and Israel’s Chairman of the Planning and Budgeting Com-mittee, Prof. Manuel Trajten-berg.

A Vietnam government del-egation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural De-velopment, including leaders and officials from Science, Technology and Environment Department for Aquaculture, had a working visit to Israel.

The delegation met Israel’s leading agricultural researchers and visited sites with modern technology models. The del-egation was introduced to pro-grammes on breeding fish such as Tilapia and Seabass and fish farming.

The visit was aimed at seek-

ing opportunities for research collaboration and technology transfer in fisheries aquaculture including fisheries bio-technol-ogy.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993, the cooperation in agriculture between Israel and Vietnam has been increasing recently.

Vietnam has great potential for developing aquaculture for exports. The study visit contrib-utes to the mutual understand-ing and bilateral relationship between Israel and Vietnam.

Consul General named for BangaloreBangalore, Israel’s third dip-lomatic mission in India, is set to open with an announce-ment of its new consulate gen-eral.

According to local news reports in India, Menachem Kanafi, currently serving as Director of Southern African Affairs Department at the Min-istry of Foreign Affairs and who in the past has served as the deputy head of mission in Ankara and Counsellor of UN Department of Political Affairs, is likely to join the new consul-ate office in Bangalore shortly.

Israel’s foreign ministry or its embassy in India has yet to officially to confirm this ap-pointment.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna gave the green

light to an Israeli request to set up a consulate in Bangalore during his visit to Israel in January this year.

Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, had de-scribed the move as, “wonder-ful news coming at a time when the two countries are celebrat-ing 20 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.”

Senior representatives from the Israeli hi-tech sector, many with offices in Bangalore, have also welcomed the move say-ing that it will help cut down a lot of costs and time required to travel to other places for bureaucratic purposes. Israel al-ready has a consulate in Mum-bai and its embassy is located in New Delhi.

Vietnam delegation visiting aqua research facilities

Modern Bangalore, hub of hi-tech

Page 12: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201212

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Participants at the conference

2012 Israel Studies Conference in Shanghai congratulated

Regional News

Netanyahu with the students

Ambassador Efrat at the orphanage

The new Thai ambassador and his family and Shimon Peres

Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership (SIG-NAL), co-hosted with Bar Ilan University, Shanghai In-ternational Studies University (SHISU) and Fudan Univer-sity an Israel Studies Confer-ence in June. Thirty leading Israeli and Chinese scholars, as well as Israeli and Chinese executives and energy experts presented papers at the con-ference, which was lauded as a great success.

The conference, which was co-sponsored by The Israel Project, featured three special panels covering: innovation in Sino-Israeli business, oil alternatives, and energy secu-rity. Other sessions focused on exploring how Jewish and Chi-nese civilization inform policy and relations of modern nation states.

“Israel attaches great impor-tance to academic cooperation between Israel and China, it is a high priority,” said Jackie El-dan, Israel's Consulate General to Shanghai, who served as a keynote speaker at the confer-ence.

“We congratulate SIGNAL on a brilliant initiative and a well-executed programme, bringing Israel’s best minds to-gether with Chinese scholars, in cooperation with Bar Ilan Uni-versity and Fudan University. The seminar touched on rel-evant challenges for China and Israel bringing our cooperation closer to help create a better so-ciety and a better future,” Eldan added.

In line with the strengthen-ing commercial bond between China and Israel, Israel studies

Netanyahu meets with a delegation of Chinese studentsIsrael’s Prime Minister Ben-jamin Netanyahu met with a delegation of Chinese Hebrew and Arabic students.

This was part of a project initiated by the Union of Local Authorities Foreign Liaison Department to mark 20 years of friendly relations between Israel and China.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “Welcome to Jerusalem. I know that the world is chang-ing in China and Israel. China is growing and developing and Israel is growing and develop-ing, and becoming a giant cen-ter for high-tech, science and

in China have also been expe-riencing an upward trend in the world of academia following SIGNAL’s historic establish-ment of the first Israel Studies Programme (ISP) at a Chinese university, in 2011.

“The establishment of the ISP at Sichuan International Studies University has begun to take shape following two years of hard work, and has gained much media attention in the US, Israel and China alike,” said Dr. Chen Guangmeng, a lecturer at SISU.

S I G N A L h a s s o f a r launched Israel Studies Pro-grammes at Sichuan Interna-tional Studies University in Chongqing, Shihezi University in Xinjiang, Henan University, Shanghai International Studies University and Beijing Foreign Studies University.

While these programmes al-low for a deeper understanding of Israel in Chinese academia, the number of Chinese research organisations focusing on Israel is also growing steadily. The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and Henan University both have specialised research

centers about Israel and Juda-ism. SIGNAL routinely takes Israeli scholars to research institutes in China and hosts Chinese delegations from the country’s primary think tanks in Israel, thereby widening the channel of academic exchange between China and Israel.

A y e a r a g o , S I G NA L trained three Chinese profes-sors at Bar-Ilan University in order to provide them with specialisation on Israel and Ju-daism so that they could teach related classes upon their return to China. This year, SIGNAL is expanding the programme by selecting more professors from the large pool of enthusiastic candidates.

“One aspect of SIGNAL’s added value is being able to at once engage scholars in the humanities, business experts in finance and technology, international relations experts and high tech industry leaders. We find points of synergy be-tween Chinese and Israelis on many levels and across various fields,” said SIGNAL’s founder and executive director Carice Witte.

Donations made to HaTay Centre

Newly appointed ambassadors

As part of its annual humani-tarian programme Israel’s embassy in Vietnam paid a visit in August to HaTay Cen-tre for disable children and orphans.

This was on the occasion of the new school year 2012-2013. Israel's Ambassador to Viet-nam, Amnon Efrat, specially attended the event.

This centre takes care of 120 children from ages 6 to 16 years old. The embassy donated cover-ing materials to the centre’s multi-function playground and also pre-sented materials for the renovation of the dining room. Over 120 pack-ages of gift were presented to the children. The ambassador showed a keen interest in the orphanage and handed some packages to the children personally.

President Shimon Peres received the credentials of the new ambassadors from Thailand Nepal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain and Fiji at his residence in July.

Israel’s new Ambassador to Thailand is Mr. Jukr Boon Long and Ambassador of Nepal, is Mr. Prahlad Kumar Prasai.

President Peres wished the ambassadors good luck and stated: “Israel is a friendly country and I have no doubt that you will feel at home here. I am certain that you will make a real contribution in expanding the cooperation, the friendship and the rela-tionship between Israel and your countries in many fields of endeavour.”

A special moment was noted during the ceremony when the new ambassador of Fiji marked a special custom by kneeling before the presi-dent to present his credentials. In his meeting with the Thai ambassador, President Peres expressed his appreciation of

Thailand’s struggle with ter-ror, and stated that “Thailand is a paradise for tourists from all over the world. Terrorists must not be permitted to sabo-tage tourism to the country, and the Thai security forces are indeed making worthy ef-forts to ensure this.”

The Thai ambassador thanked the president, and ex-pressed his thanks for Israeli assistance to Thailand. The ambassador added that “Is-raeli aid to Thailand after last year’s floods greatly contrib-uted to the rehabilitation.”

President Peres said to the Nepali ambassador that “Ne-pal is an attraction for young Israelis who are captivated by its charms.”

The ambassador thanked the president, and stated, “Ne-pal is grateful for the support and aid provided by Israel in the fields of education and agriculture, and invites Israeli investors to take advantage of business opportunities in Ne-pal.”

agriculture; therefore, we must increase bilateral cooperation in all areas.”

Union of Local Authorities Chairman Shlomo Bohbot said,

“We ascribe great importance to strengthening ties between Israel and China. I thank the Prime Minister for welcoming us to his office.”

Page 13: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 13

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Page 14: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201214

Regional News

Ambassador Nadai concludes his term leaving China and Israel relations strongIsrael’s Ambasador to China Amos Nadai has just com-pleted his 5 year term in Bei-jing. Prior to his appointment, Nadai did spend some time dealing with the Asia region as Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nadai took the post of am-bassador to China in August 2007, his departure comes as China and Israel celebrates 20 years of diplomatic relations.

Ambassador Nadai sat down with Jewish Times Asia and pro-vided an insight into his time spent, one the most important and significant diplomatic mis-sions for his country.

“My main focus was to build up recognition and mu-tual understanding between the two nations and raise Israel-China relations to new levels, especially on how our ministry of foreign affairs in Israel un-derstands how China works and for us to get closer. China has a deep respect for Israel and the Jewish people and we managed to extract and share common

values,” commented Nadai.

“We concentrated in three broad areas: diplomatic rela-tions, promoting Israel’s knowl-edge and expertise and academ-ic education. During my term, we provided the urgent needs of China, especially innovation for agriculture technology. The government of China looks at itself in terms its success as it feeds its billion plus popula-tion. Israel provided the perfect fit we have the know how for innovative agricultural farming techniques, irrigation, fertiliza-tion, water conservation and much more.”

“We also achieved tremen-dous success in academic co-operation, establishing a mecha-nism for Chinese students to conduct joint post-doctorate research and providing schol-arship programmes for elite students to study in Israel with Nobel laureates.”

One additional highlight was Nadai’s title of honorary citizen of Chengdu. “The recep-

Israel’s embassy in the Philippines helps flood victims

to officially handover the relief goods in support of the residents of Caloocan City.

T h e S h a l o m C l u b i s an alumni organisation of MASHAV scholars and profes-sionals who took training cours-es in Israel. They also serve as a forum for MASHAV alumni to participate in professional and social activities. Its mem-bers also undertake projects towards the goals of community development and humanitarian activities.

After the Philippines was hit with rains and thunder-storms, causing much damage and flooding, Israel’s embassy donated sacks of rice, instant noodles and canned goods to assist the people from Caloo-can to recover from the effects of the calamity.

Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Menashe Bar-On, together with Ms. Zeny Ubaldo, Chairperson of the Shalom Club of the Philippines, and Rev. Fr. Rufino Yabut, Director of Caritas Kalookan, were present

Ambassador Menashe Bar-On handing out ricetiveness of the local government in Sichuan Province was ex-ceptional. We both understood exchanges in cooperation. I was so proud, as this was achieved in one of the most important cit-ies in China, it can be achieved anywhere in the country.”

Perhaps his only regret was the potential for Chinese tour-ism to Israel. “There was not enough planning to develop and at present flights are increas-ing but not as many as we have hoped.”

Israel’s next ambassador to China has got a lot to build on.

Amos Nadai

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Page 15: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 15

Business News

Pearls can also be a ‘girls best friend’

“I estimate the wholesale market value of approximately US$800 million, 2%-3% of total retail jewellery market, which does represent an enor-mous market. The trend over recent years is that more clients are buying bigger pearls,” con-cluded Kalati.

Fine jewellery comes from the earths natural resources, found deep in the ground. Gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones all even-tually come to the surface and are made into various shapes and sizes.

One type of natural jewel comes from the sea - the pearl, from a living shell mollusk as found in an oyster. The pearl grows inside, a hard object produced within the soft tis-sue, specifically known as the mantle.

Pearls are perfect and stylish for every occasion. Beautiful pearl jewellery brings together the natural qualities of the lustre of the pearl with the choice of design.

A fairly sophisticated in-dustry to understand and source from, there are few ‘pearl experts’ in the world. Harry Kalati who owns London Pearl (Hong Kong) Ltd is one of the few. Kalati, a 37 year veteran in the pearl industry, serves top branded customers of high end jewellers found in the major retail outlets in New York, Lon-don and Paris.

“I moved to Hong Kong about three years ago to get closer to the source and suppli-ers of pearls,” Kalati said. He previously spent most of his working life in the UK where he established and founded London Pearl.

“The major locations for fine pearls are found in sea wa-ters off Tahiti, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Bur-ma. I need to be closer to my suppliers. For fresh water pearls I source from China and Japan.”

“The colour of pearls are also incredible, not just white but multi-coloured, whereas in Tahiti they are black. In the Philippines they are golden. There are even pink and blue pearls.”

Most pearl jewellery nowa-days is made into necklaces

chokers, ear rings, pendants and rings. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but they are extremely rare.

Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and fresh-water mussels make up the majority of those that are cur-rently sold. Pearls in the past were also stitched onto lavish clothing, for royals especially, buttons were made from mother of pearl before the arrival of plastic alternatives. Pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, and in paint mixes.

Each pearl is unique. The qualities of the lustre, surface and colour as well as the size and shape determine a pearl’s value. There are differing grad-ing systems for pearls in the industry.

All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendants.

Large saltwater pearls are nurtured for up to three years in the oysters, with Tahitian and South Sea pearls reaching sizes as large as 18mm and 20mm in diameter. The value and rarity of a large pearl increases with size.

Israeli diamond companies exhibit in IndiaA major jewellery show held in India had an important Israeli presence. The India International Jewelry Show (IIJS) in Mumbai was held from 23-27 August.

The Israel Diamond Pavil-ion, organised by the Israel Dia-mond Institute Group of Com-panies (IDI), included eight Israeli companies. This is the fifth time that IDI has organised a national pavilion at the show and interest is growing every year.

Exhibition space at the show is limited, so many Israeli com-panies were not able to attend, IDI even gave up its own space in the booth to make way for an additional company.

IDI Chairman Moti Ganz said that Israel and India have a great deal in common – in

Harry Kalati

terms of business outlook, cul-ture and values. “Both countries have an impressive diamond industry with a long history and tradition. They are also two of the world’s leading diamond centres. Israel and India can complement each other in both manufacturing and trading. We are very interested in expanding our business ties with India,” he said.

Page 16: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201216

www.kaegi-ag.ch

We are proud to support Jewish Times Asia on its 6th year AnniversaryShana Tova to our friends may you have a good sweet year

Business News

Bank Hapoalim restructuring its operations in AsiaBank Hapoalim has an-nounced that the activities of the bank’s Singapore branch, which focuses on private bank-ing, will close and be trans-ferred to Hong Kong with the support of the branches of Bank Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd.

Official statements from the bank read: Bank Hapoalim is expanding its business opera-tions in East Asia, through a representative office of Bank Hapoalim Switzerland and through a Hong Kong-based subsidiary specialising in in-vestment advising, as well as through Poalim Asia Direct, which operates in China.

As part of this effort, in order to maximize operational efficiency, services for private-banking clients in Asia will be provided through Bank Hapoalim Switzerland branches in Zurich, Geneva, and Luxem-bourg and through the subsid-iary in Hong Kong.

Bank Hapoalim toasted to their new Singapore branch

Sharon Ser appointed, Senior Regional Partner AsiaWithers Hong Kong, an in-ternational family law firm, has announced that Sharon Ser has been appointed Senior Regional Partner Asia. Ms Ser, who has practised Fam-ily Law in Hong Kong for 25 years, has been a partner with Withers since 2010.

Ms Ser joined Withers from Hampton, Winter and Glynn where she had been a partner since 1987, and is currently the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Family Law Executive Committee, and was previously the Chairman of the Hong Kong Family Law Association (1992- 1998). Last year Withers won Best Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year, in Hong Kong.

Withers also announced the appointment of Rita Ku Ming Wai, formerly an associate in the firm’s family law practice since 2010, as partner in Hong Kong, pending regulatory ap-proval. Rita is Withers’ first Chinese partner globally and is the seventh partner in Asia.

“Rita’s appointment is a testament to the success of our family law team in Hong Kong

and demonstrates our contin-ued commitment to our clients across Asia. Rita has worked with me for the last 10 years and she is exemplary in her handling of complex financial and multi-jurisdictional cases,” commented Ser.

Ms Ser is very active mem-ber of the Hong Kong Jewish Community and engaged in a number of charitable organisa-tions. She is a director of the Hong Kong Jewish Film Festi-val board, and is a frequent in-terviewer in the Jewish Histori-cal Society Fireside Chat series, which explores the history of long term Jewish residents in Hong Kong.

Sharon Ser

with dual receptions in Novem-ber 2007.

At the time this was of great significance to the bank's entry into the Singapore financial market. They were the first Is-raeli financial group to set up a branch in Singapore to tap into the potential for growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

I n e a r l y 2 0 1 1 , B a n k Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd announced the establishment of BHI Investment Advisors (Asia) Limited in Hong Kong, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd, the private banking arm of

the Bank Hapoalim Group. Eli Bitan who runs the representa-tive office was appointed as head of the new company.

Bank Hapoalim Group is Israel’s leading financial group. It has over 270 branches and eight regional business centres in Israel.

Internationally, it operates through 42 branches, subsidiaries and representative offices, in North and Latin America, Europe, the Far East, Turkey and Australia. The bank is engaged in trade, corporate finance, private banking and retail banking.

Page 17: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 17

L’Shana Tova Tikatevu V’tichatemu L’Alter Lechayim Tovim

Business News

S.T.A.R.S Foundation, providing collaboration with green technology

An address by Johnny Chong

The recent 16th CleanTech 2012 expo event in July held in Israel had a delegation of com-panies and investment funds from Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing organised by the S.T.A.R.S. Foundation.*

One of the goals of Clean-Tech is to encourage techno-logical collaboration and joint projects between Israeli and overseas companies. Chinese companies are one of the major groups where collaboration is strong.

Sharon Galor, is the Israeli liaison commissioner of the S.T.A.R.S. Foundation which organised the delegation to Israel. The foundation is led by Hong Kong businessman Johnny Chong, who is the cur-rent chairman.

The foundation encourages companies dealing with energy, green and emerging technology ‘to accelerate development’, for all of us to benefit, to reach a cleaner and more stable world for future generations.

The delegation was wel-comed in Israel by Mashov Group organisers, Haim Alush and Avi Paz. “We called our delegation: A Business del-egation to the Start-up Holy Nation, as we love the people of Israel,” commented Johnny Chong, chairman S.T.A.R.S Foundation.

“We see Israel as a technol-ogy hub and definitely will in-vest in developing a relationship with Israeli tech companies, introducing them to the Chinese

market, using our wide ranging close contacts and influence in-side Asia,” added Chong.

Exchanging gifts at the 16th Cleantech event, from left to right: Haim Allush, Roy Lau, Avi Paz, Yair Ofek, Founder & CEO I.B.D., Al Kwok, S.T.A.R.S. Foundation, and Johnny Chong

India’s Haryana provin-cial government is to set up a Centre of Excellence for mango production in collab-oration with Israel at Ladwa in Kurukshetra district.

The arrangement was of-ficially announced in July by India’s Financial Commis-sioner and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Roshan Lal. Sec-retary Lal said the centre has already accorded its approval to the project.

Some high yielding variet-

ies of mango fruits would be imported from Israel.

The Centre would fa-cilitate establishment of new mango demonstration fields, establishing mango nurseries, and grow a variety of mango fruits.

The collaboration ex-change of knowledge and technology would lead to high density plantations and canopy management and reju-venation of senile orchards.

Centre of Excellence for Mango fruit

“And yes, we will surely return to Israel, in the coming January 2013 with even more investors,” Chong concluded in his speech during the opening event.

Also visiting the expo with the delegation was Roy Lau, Head of United Nations Indus-trial Development Organisation in China, which aims to help Chinese institutions cooperate with foreign companies in all aspects of business with an em-phasis on green technologies.

The S.T.A.R.S. Foundation,

among its other activities, leads an initiative to establish an industrial park in Guangdong to encourage and help global companies to develop green technologies and be able to operate under the laws of Hong Kong’s intellectual property. It also has liason offices in Tai-wan and the UK.

* S.T.A.R.S. stands for: S ustainable-development, T echnology-synergy, A pplication-cultivation, R esearch-integration, S trategic-development

Page 18: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201218

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Art and Culture

Japan’s famed Kabuki showcases in Israel

The Israel Museum in Jerusa-lem has unveiled a new exhibi-tion entitled Crossplay: Male Actors, Female Roles, show-casing 17th-20th century Japanese prints, paintings and original Kabuki theatre costumes. This is the first time Kabuki has been shown in the country.

The exhibition opened in July and runs through to November. A troupe of Kabuki actors from Japan recently performed and demonstrated the distinctive style of acting, explaining the signifi-cance of the gestures and music accompanying this colourful and unique form of theatre.

Kabuki is a traditional Japa-nese form of theatre, first estab-lished in the early 17th century. Its drama deals with the daily conflicts of Japanese life, myth and historical tales of ancient Ja-pan.

It is played in a styled man-

D’Or performs for charity eventSpirits of compassion and mu-sic were high at the Resorts World as the Tzu Chi Foun-dation, along with the Israel’s embassy in the Philippines, hosted a benefit concert in hopes of helping the Filipino community through the Tzu Chi Eye Center.

The concert featured two

globe-trotting talents: Israeli singer David D’Or and Taiwan-ese folk singer John Yin Zhen Yang. The capacity-crowd of 1,500 were in awe, as Israel’s most acclaimed singer opened with a rendition of Amazing Grace set to a background of re-ligious stained glass windows.

D’Or also performed some of broadway’s most classical songs, like the crowd memsmerizing hit The Phantom of the Opera. The 46-year old Israeli also sang a duet with John Yin, from the hit-broadway musical CATS. D’Or also featured his original single Time For Love a hit back in his native Israel.

The Tzu Chi Foundation and D’Or’s relationship grew stronger in 2008, when D’or vis-ited Hualien county in Taiwan—meeting the group’s founder, Master Cheng Yen. In 2009, D’or rocked the Araneta Coliseum packed with his Filipino fans and the local Israeli community.

ner of speech, music and dance with extravagant costumes and accessories. Its stage is elaborate, equipped with trap doors and a bridge for the actor’s dramatic entrances and exits.

The exhibition highlights the important role of the female impersonators in the Edo period (1615-1868). Through art, film and costume, visitors can gain an insight into the evolution of this unique acting form, while glimpsing a unique aspect of Jap-anese culture.

Costumes, in combination with makeup, contribute to the portrayal of characters in plays, indicating their gender, social class, and age by means of intri-cate patterns and vibrant colours, such as the red associated with the role of the princess.

The floral symbols and liter-ary allusions imbue the costumes with subtlety, illusion, and hidden meaning, enhancing the viewer’s familiarity with a particular pro-tagonist. They also occasionally identify the actor by his personal crest or another symbol typifying the role for which he was most renowned.

Kabuki print

Kabuki performer

David D’Or

Ambassador Shoham, middle, opening Passion, Gabi Benzano, second from the right

Israel’s Ambassador to Thai-land, Itzhak Shoham, together with Thailand’s Vice Minis-ter of Culture, Wutthikorn Intharapuwasak formally opened Passion, an art exhibi-tion that featured Israeli artist Gabi Benzano. The exhibition was held in July.

Attendees arrived at the Na-tional Gallery to appreciate the art project from this Israeli art-ist. The exhibition is Benzano’s first roadshow in Asia. His work emphasises the use of lines

and different shapes that are strengthened by rusted metal wire. Besides his effort in trans-forming metal wires into diverse forms, viewers were able to feel, through his masterpieces, deep emotion and the various meaning of the work.

Benzano was born in Mo-rocco in 1943 and currently lives and works in Raanana. In 1971 his short animated film, Shape and Line, won a Silver Medal at the Venice Film Festival.

Page 19: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 19

Page 20: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201220

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Art and Culture

Bonamassa original blues hitting the right notesAs Joe Bonamassa develops his reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar play-ers, he is also evolving into a charismatic blues-rock star and singer-songwriter of sty-listic depth and emotional resonance.

His ability to connect with live concert audiences is trans-formational, and his latest proj-ect, brand new solo album Driv-ing Towards The Daylight re-leased in May captures the mag-netism and maturity Bonamassa showcases as an artist. This CD debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard Blues Chart and in the UK it debuted at number 2 on the Album Chart .

Driving Towards The Day-light – his “lucky” 13th album is a balanced back-to-basics album that highlights Bonamassa’s signature style of roots blues with rock-and-roll guts, while honouring the traditions of the original blues musicians. It fea-tures special guests including Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whit-ford. “We’ve taken some really traditional old blues songs – the Howlin’ Wolf song Who’s Been

Joe Bonamassa

Talkin? and the Robert Johnson song Stones In My Passway, and we’ve tried to imagine how they would do them in a rock con-text,” said longtime collaborator and producer Kevin Shirley.

Bonamassa’s new album is still getting rave reviews: All Music Guide said, “the ar-rangements and guitars mesh together like whisky and soda” and MSN.com calls it “nothing less than astounding.” American Songwriter ranks Bonamassa “among our greatest living gui-tar players.”

UK’s Guitar & Bass says its “one of his best,” and Gui-tarist said “his guitar, voice and songs are simply better than ever.”

On 27 September, support-ing his latest release, Joe re-turns to Hong Kong playing at the Rotunda 3 – his last stop on his Asia tour.

His two hour plus perfor-mance has received stunning re-views globally at sold out shows in the U.S. South America and Europe. Don’t miss The Guitar Event Of The Year!

Star violist Maxim Rysanov will be performing two con-certs this month. In his Hong Kong recital debut, the first concert will be on 20 Septem-ber at the Hong Kong City Concert Hall.

For the second recital perfor-mance, Rysanov will perform Bartók’s Viola Concerto with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta un-der the baton of its Music Direc-tor Yip Wing-Sie on 22 Septem-ber. Both events are co-present-ed by Premiere Performances of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

Rysanov’s programme will include a variety from Bach and Brahms to Debussy and Martinů, showcasing his distinct mastery on his 1780 Giuseppe Guadagni-ni viola. He will be accompanied by his pianist Jacob Katsnelson, who has performed with him for over 10 years. A pianist for a violist needs to be very technical and versatile, since the standard repertoire for viola is limited. The pianist needs to master both re-arrangements of standard rep-ertoire (usually cello’s) and con-temporary new compositions.

Violist Maxim Rysanov to give two Hong Kong performances

Maxim Rysanov

Rysanov continues to de-light the international music scene with his exquisite art-istry and he holds a special place amongst the new genera-tion of talented musicians. The world’s authority on classical music, Gramophone magazine, described Maxim’s playing as ‘fabulous and deeply moving…mind-blowing’.

His long list of prizes, in-cluding the prestigious Gramo-phone Young Artist of the Year Award, the BBC New Genera-tion Award and the first prize of the Geneva Viola Competition, is a testament to his excellence. Even the legendary viola mae-stro Yuri Bashmet declared: ‘my rival has arrived!

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Page 21: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 21

Strangely, when Ari g e t s t o u s i n t h e morning in Miami his friends in Hong

Kong are going to sleep. Yet, they are all part of the same day camp programme. How does that work? It’s simple. When it comes to being kind, geography and times zones don’t really count.

Three years ago, Leah Co-hen, the mother of a special 6 year old wanted to make a dif-ference to her son. Ari was born with a rare disorder and the doc-tors gave him less than a year to live. Although he far surpassed all medical expectations

When its cool to be kind –an important lesson for the campers of Gan Izzy

This year’s project was exceptionally special since it included lots of seemingly co-incidental circumstances. We just happened to be having an Artjamming session in camp this year. Mrs. Shemtov, visit-ing Hong Kong from Philadel-phia, just happened to be flying to New York the next day and Rabbi Avtzon, who was in the middle of a round the world trip, just happened to be flying from New York to Miami the day af-ter. That’s how we were able to hand over a hand-painted bright blue “wheelie” for Ari in less than 48 hours.

Goldie Avtzon, Camp Director “since we had just unrolled our new “Cool to be Kind” campaign in camp that year and were look-ing for real ways in which our campers could make a differ-ence.”

When the next summer rolled around Ari was invited back to Gan Izzy Hong Kong through another gift that was carefully planned by the camp staff and Ari’s parents. The same hap-pened the year after that and the summer after that.

Ari was not able to physi-cally attend camp. Leah thought that by collecting T-shirts from branches of the international Camp Gan Israel network she would enable her son to virtu-ally attend a different camp each day. She sent out 100s of emails and the T-shirts came pouring in from all over the world. One of those T-shirts was sent with love – along with some personalized gifts – from the children of Gan Izzy in Hong Kong.

“It was perfect timing” says

Camp Gan Izzy kids

Aris suitcase on its wayKids handpaint suitcase

Rabbi receives suitcase in New York

As in every act of kindness there are two parties involved. There is one party that gives and one party that receives. In the story of Ari and Gan Izzy Hong Kong, however, it is not clear who is the giver and who is the receiver. While Ari received a cool blue case, the children of Gan Izzy continue to receive the most important life lesson. That is “It is cool to be kind.”

Page 22: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201222

When I tell people that I recently returned from a Jewish explora-

tion trip of India, the curiosity and wonder is often expressed in the form of a question: “Are there really Jewish people in India?”

To us in Australia, Jews of Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa are widely known. And everyone has heard of Chabad emissaries throughout Asia and other outly-ing parts of the world. But Jews in India seem to be a novelty.

Countering this perception, and also by extension introduc-ing us to the great work that the Jewish humanitarian organisa-tion the Joint Distribution Com-mittee (JDC) does, 18 Austra-lian Jews from Melbourne and Sydney were selected to partici-pate in an inaugural JDC Jewish Young Professionals Service and Leadership Trip. Our destination: India, once known as the Jewel of the British Crown.

In Mumbai on our first day we met Elijah Jacob, the all-knowing Director of the JDC in India. He told us that Jews have been part of Indian society for nearly 2,100 years – longer than in most parts

Exploring Jewish Indiato Mumbai that’s inspired by Spanish architecture, we chat-ted, painted, drank tea, and heard the life stories of the seven proud Jewish residents. Under the guid-ance of Elijah, this experience fostered a sense of youthful exu-berance that none of us will soon forget.

Later, Elijah also showed us around a Jewish farmhouse in the remote bushland outside of Mumbai, covered with Stars of David and Jewish imagery. As it turns out, it is in that part of the country because nearby is where Jews first landed in India. We saw the old Jewish cemetery that has a monument to those who did not survive the shipwreck and visited a beach right near the first land-ing spot where the Judean travel-lers ended their journey.

The power of a place like In-dia – where outward anti-Semi-tism does not exist and where the bright blue and pink synagogues stand on main roads – is the Jew-ish community’s determination to build a future for itself. And although one may imagine that some day the synagogues of Mumbai may become relics, for now, this small local community –with the help of Elijah and the JDC – can ensure that Jewish vis-itors like us will be able to see the sites of Jewish India and partici-pate in the ceremonies for many years to come. And if anyone asks, we can tell them with great certainty and clarity that indeed, there are Jews in India.

Supplied by Alex Kats

monwealth, dating from 1568. With a history like that, it is not surprising that it is beautifully lit and lovingly maintained, with in-dividually painted tiles.

Back in Mumbai we met many of the recipients of aid provided by JDC and some of the eight synagogues of the city. In one, we sat in on a youth concert, had a lovely communal kosher chicken dinner and par-ticipated in a comedy quiz and performance evening with mem-bers of the community. We also visited the JDC-operated Jewish Community Centre and met with young leaders. Speaking with them, I felt a sense of urgency and frustration emanating from some. I know, like they do, that it is up to them to secure Judaism’s future there. Thankfully, whilst many have chosen to leave, many others are adamant about staying and ensuring the community’s survival.

That look at the future made our visit to the Bayiti Old Age Home – the only Jewish senior centre in the country – even more poignant. Maintained and en-tirely funded by the JDC, its in-habitants could not easily survive without the care they receive. Set in a southern village adjacent

the wish is granted, which it of-ten is, many return to partake in a Malida ceremony.

Unlike any other Jewish ritu-al I have ever seen, the Malida is a thanksgiving ceremony taken from indigenous Indian practices infused with Jewish prayers from the Havdalah service and foods from the region. We had the hon-our of seeing a communal Mali-da performed by the members of the synagogue. For many in our group, being allowed to partici-pate in such a sacred ceremony was a breathtaking and even spir-itual experience.

A few days later in the south of India in Cochin, we witnessed the landmarks of a once thriving Jewish metropolis. Standing on one of two ‘Jew Streets’ not too far from ‘Synagogue Lane’ in a neighbourhood that everyone knows as ‘Jew Town’, we realised the depth of the city’s Jewish con-nection. And although the former Kadavumbhagam Synagogue is now a plant nursery-cum-aquar-ium store, the benches, original lights and windows still remain, but the Bimah and the Ark are now in a museum in Israel, though their remnants are obvi-ous. It was an inspiring, but sad experience to stand in all that re-mains of a clearly once glorious Jewish past.

However, in another part of ‘Jew Town’, we visited the Pardesi Synagogue, the only cur-rently functioning synagogue in Cochin. It serves the 50 or so Jews that remain, and any num-ber of visitors. The Pardesi Jews claim their ancestors from among the Sephardic Jews who immi-grated to India. Their synagogue is known as one of the oldest Jewish buildings in the Com-

of Europe and certainly longer than in South Africa. The story goes that seven Jewish families from ancient Judea were ship-wrecked off the coast of India and those who came ashore made India their home. Their descen-dants are known as the Benei Yisrael and Elijah, and many oth-ers, can trace their roots directly back to the original families.

Throughout history, Jews from other parts of the world came to India too, particularly from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghani-stan and Yemen, as well as from Spain, Portugal and Western Eu-rope after the Spanish Inquisi-tion. At its peak, there were more than 50,000 Jews in India and to-day there are about 5,000, mostly based in and around Mumbai. From what we saw on the ground though, they are determined to see Judaism thrive.

On a colourful road where few tourist buses ever travel is the remote town of Panvel. About two hours out of Mumbai, it’s home to the Beit El Syna-gogue. Old, bright, beautiful and functional like so many of the synagogues in India, it barely maintains a minyan. But it is re-nowned as a place where Jews and non-Jews alike come to pray for things that they desire. Once

Arriving at the 150 year celebrations of the Magen David Synagogue

All that remains of the old former Kadavumbhagam synagogue in Kerala that is now mostly an aquarium shop

One of two Jew Streets in Kerala

Inside the Pardesi synagogue, that was first built in 1568

The Australian group with residents of the Bayiti Jewish old age home

Sophie Solomon Babrikar, one of the recipients of aid from the JDC and the Jewish community

Page 23: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 23

Portside - At Portside, you will find a stylish, unique venue supported by a dedicated staff of professionals offering a level of quality professionalism not found anywhere else.

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The Aberdeen Marina Club has been one of Hong Kong’s premier recreation and social clubs for almost 28 years but it was my first time there. Located on Hong Kong’s green South Side, it is a short drive from both Mid-Levels and Stanley.

The Club’s professional team of event planners and chefs are highly trained to Shangri-La’s five-star standards to ensure any event will run smoothly and effortlessly on the day. Special attention to the very last detail is the hallmark of their commitment. That was certainly evident at the wedding reception.

I was very impressed with the Club’s newest dining and events spot, Portside. This is both a restaurant and a venue

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Page 24: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201224

HighHolidays

Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year

Ro s h H a s h a n a h fal ls on the first and second days of Tishre i . Rosh

Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” In 2012 we will enter the year 5773 o f the Jewish ca lendar.

The festival appears in the following verses in the Torah: “In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remem-brance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation.” Book of Leviti-

cus, chapters 23:25. Although the name Rosh Hashanah does not appear it is referred to as Yom Ha-Zikaron (the day of remem-brance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar).

The celebration of this holi-day is marked with solemnity, as it is the day on which the whole world is judged for the coming year. The holiday is the birthday of the world, as it was on this day that G-d created Man on the sixth day of creation. Every year, on this day, we proclaim G-d as our one and true King.

The Shofar

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown during the prayer services. One of the most important observances is to hear the sound of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded on each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: Tekiah, a 3 sec-ond sustained note; Shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, Teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds. The Tekiah Gedolah (literally, “big

tekiah”), is a final longer blast.

The sound of the shofar is likened to a call to repentance. If the festival falls on Shabbat the shofar is not blown.

Why do we blow the shofar?

Since Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of the world, it follows that it is also the anniversary of God be-ing sovereign over the world. It is a coronation of sorts, and thus we trumpet the shofar just like at a coronation ceremony.

The word shofar is related

following is the list taken from the Talmud:• Leek or cabbage• Beets • Dates • Gourd/Squash/Pumpkin• Pomegranate• Fish head

Tashlich

We are obligated to per-form Tashlich (“casting off”). by walking to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and emptying our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. When the first day occurs on Shabbat, many syna-gogues observe Tashlich on Sun-day afternoon, to avoid the carry-ing of the bread on Shabbat.

Some common greet-ings used at this time include: L’shanah tovah (“for a good year”). L’shanah tovah tikatevi v’taihatemi, which means “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” and Shanah tovah u’metukah (have a good and sweet year).

to the Hebrew word, l’shaper. which means “to beautify.” The call of the shofar reminds us each of our own calling, the call-ing to live beautiful lives.

Rosh Hashanah is consid-ered a high-holy day, and no work is permitted. People attend synagogue and use a special prayer book called the Machzor. The book includes the regular daily prayers as well as a num-ber of additional liturgies.

Symbolic Foods

During the festival it is cus-tomary to eat apples dipped in honey as a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. We also prepare the challah but rather than the weekly Shabbat braid-ed bread, it is instead baked in a round shape to signify the circle of life and continuity. We dip the challah bread in honey instead of the usual practice of sprinkling it with salt.

We also eat other symbolic foods based on a word game which connects the name of a certain food, to a particular hope we have for the new year. The

Maccabi World Union (HK Chapter) Ltd. Hong Kong – Macau - China

Hon. Chairman Hon. Judge Michael Hartmann

Chairman Rafael Aharoni

Vice-chairman &

Treasurer Jeremy Levy

Vice-chairman Yariv Yaakobi

Secretary Dr. Naomi Rodrig

Board of Directors Rafael Aharoni

Yair Berrebi

Gil Inbar Kobi Itzchaki

Yaron Gil Lamy

Jeremy Levy Dr. Naomi Rodrig

Erez Weiss

Yariv Yaakobi

Supporters Dr. Judith Diestel

Edwin Epstein Rabbi Shimon Freundlich - Beijing

Yaron Geiger

Dan Hoffmann Michel Jospe

Moty Kafry

Isaac Kamhin Eitan Livne

Mark C. Michelson

Daniel Moldovan

Robert L. Meyer Avraham Nagar

Elan Oved – Shanghai

Bernie Pomeranc - Shengzhen Caterina Rajchenberg

Shay Razon

Andre Rofe Joe Teichmann

Mazal Tov to the State of Israel on its 64th

Anniversary

The Maccabi spirit is working wonders all over the Jewish world. MWU has enjoyed a year of excellent mass events infused with Jewish

and Zionist motivation, all working towards the Maccabi answer to the difficult times that we live in. Six years ago, the 17th Maccabiah

Games took place on 11th

July 2005 in Israel was absolute success, especially when China, Hong Kong and Macedonia participated in the

games for the first time since 1932. We, Hong Kong brought some

medals back.

With 8,500 athletes competing, including 5,000 from abroad, the Maccabiah Games was a celebration of sports and Zionism.

Competitors from 55 countries gathered to celebrate solidarity between our people.

Today, we are looking forward to the 19th Maccabiah Games in 2013.

With the larger team from Hong Kong, Macau, China which will participate in the games. Please start saving your money for the trip to

Israel. I promise you will have the best time of your life.

I hope there will be as many of you to join me on this trip!

CHAZAK CHAZAK V'NITCHAZEK!

Rafael Aharoni

Chairman Maccabi Hong Kong

Thank you.

We couldn’t have come this far without you.

Room 712 East Ocean Centre, 98 Granville Road, TST East, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel. (852) 23121111 E-mail : [email protected] Fax. (852) 23116999

The Maccabi spirit is working wonders all over the Jewish world. MWU has enjoyed a year of excellent mass events infused with Jewish and Zionist motivation, all working towards the Maccabi answer to the difficult times that we live in. Six years ago, the 17th Maccabiah Games took place on 11th July 2005 in Israel was absolute success, especially when China, Hong Kong and Macedonia participated in the games for the first time since 1932. We, Hong Kong brought some medals back.

With 8,500 athletes competing, including 5,000 from abroad, the Maccabiah Games was a celebration of sports and Zionism. Competitors from 55 coun-tries gathered to celebrate solidarity between our people.

Today, we are looking forward to the 19th Maccabiah Games in 2013. With the larger team from Hong Kong, Macau, China which will participate in the games. Please start saving your money for the trip to Israel. I promise you will have the best time of your life.

I hope there will be as many of you to join me on this trip!

CHAZAK CHAZAK V’NITCHAZEK!

Rafael AharoniChairmanMaccabi Hong Kong

Thank you.We couldn’t have come this far without you.

Room 712 East Ocean Centre, 98 Granville Road, TST East, Kowloon, Hong Kong.Tel. (852) 23121111 E-mail: [email protected] Fax. (852) 23116999

Maccabi World Union (HK Chapter) Ltd.Hong Kong – Macau - China

Two years ago, we celebratedthe 18th World Maccabiah Games

*World’s 3rd Largest International Sports Event*Greeting Message Here!!!!!!Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed New Year with lots of lots of peace on earth

Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed New Year with lots of lots of peace on earth

Page 25: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 25

Makers of For supple joints and clear airways

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Yom Kippur – waiting for our fate to be sealed

Yo m K i p p u r i s recognised as the hol iest day of the Je w i s h ye a r. T h e

day fa l l s on 10 Ti shre i , which is 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. These 10 days are meant to be days of awe and deep in trospec t ion .

On Yom Kippur, G-d seals our fate for the coming year. The entire day is spent fasting and praying to G-d for forgiveness and a good year ahead. We re-frain from work, fast and attend synagogue services.

The name Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement.” It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year. This day is, essentially, our last appeal and our last chance to change the judgment, to demon-strate our repentance and make amends so we may be sealed in the book of life.

Yom Kippur atones not only for sins between man and G-d, but also for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, one must first

seek reconciliation with that person and righting the wrongs committed against them if pos-sible. This is best done before Yom Kippur.

Observance to Fast

Yom Kippur appears in the following verses in the Torah. “In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work ... For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-rd.” - Leviti-

cus 16:29-30

We refrain from eating any food or drinking on Yom Kippur. The day reminds us to focus on the spirituality rather than be dis-tracted by earthly concerns. The 25-hour fast begins before sunset on the evening before Yom Kip-pur and ends after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur.

The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions: wash-ing and bathing, anointing one’s body (with cosmetics, deodor-ants), wearing leather shoes, and engaging in sexual relations.

As always, any of these re-strictions can be lifted where a threat to life or health is involved.

Most of the holiday is spent in the synagogue, in deep prayer. The service ends at nightfall, with the blowing of the Tekiah Gedolah, a long blast on the sho-far.

It is customary to wear white on the holiday, which symbol-ises purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be

made as white as snow. Some people wear a kittel, the white robe which is used by men under the wedding canopy.

Yom Kippur service

The evening service that be-gins Yom Kippur is known as Kol Nidre, which means “all vows,” and in this prayer, we ask G-d to annul all personal vows we may make in the next year and to ask G-d for forgiveness for sins we have committed. All sins are confessed in the plural emphasis-ing communal responsibility for sins.

There are two basic parts of this confession: Ashamnu, a shorter, more general list of sins and Al Cheit, a longer and more specific list. Frequent petitions for forgiveness are interspersed in these prayers.

The vast majority of the sins enumerated involve mis-treatment of other people, most of them by speech (offensive speech, scoffing, slander, swear-ing falsely, to name a few). These all come into the category of sin known as Lashon ha-ra (lit: the

evil tongue), which is considered a very serious sin in Judaism.

During the morning prayers, the Yitzkor service is recited in memory of all those who have passed away.

On Yom Kippur is also the only day during the Jewish cal-endar year where we pray five times rather than the customary three. The concluding service known as Ne’ilah, is one very unique highlight of the day. The ark is kept open throughout this service, which means congre-gants must stand throughout the service if possible. There is a tone of desperation in the prayers of this service. The service is sometimes referred to as the closing of the gates of heaven; as the “last chance” to get in a good word to G-d before the day ends.

On conclusion of the fast it is customary for people join with their families in a breaking of the fast meal.

After Yom Kippur, one should begin preparing for the next holi-day, Sukkot, which begins five days later.

Guangzhou OfficeSuite 3901, 39th Floor, Profit Plaza 76 Huangpu Avenue West Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510623, ChinaTel : (86)(20) 3839-2008 Fax : (86)(20) 3839-2009E-mail: [email protected]

Hong Kong, Liaison OfficeSuite 2207, 22nd Floor, Tower Two Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway Admiralty, Hong KongTel : (852) 2537-9768 Fax : (852) 2537-9028E-mail: [email protected]

“We pray that the building of the third Beit Hami-drash will begin this year that the Har HaBiat will be cleared of all impeding, glittering structures, and our whole land, including all of Judea and Sumeria will be returned to us.”

David C. Buxbaum, Senior Counsel

To all our friends and Jewish persons in Asia:

L’Shana Tova Tikat-evu V’tichatemu L’Alter

Lechayim Tovim.

Ulaanbaatar Office:Suite 1008, 10th Floor, Grand Plaza Enkhtaivan Ave-46, Sub-District 2 Bayangol District, Ulaanbaatar 210628, MongoliaTel : (976) 7011-9339Fax : (976) 7011-9669E-mail: [email protected]

Beijing Office: 18th Floor, Min Sheng Life Insurance Office Tower, 38 East Third Ring North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100026, ChinaTel: (86)(10)56409388 \ (86)(10)56409399Fax: (86)(10)56409355Email: [email protected]

Macau Office:20th Floor, AIA Tower, No 251A-301Avenida Comercial De MacauTel: (853) 2871-5995 Fax: (853) 2871-5181E-mail: [email protected]

Shanghai Office:Suite 1621, 16th Floor, Tower One Zhonghuan Binjiang Building 2742 Putong Avenue, Putong New DistrictShanghai 200136, ChinaTel : (86)(21) 5846-0290Fax : (86)(21) 5846-0329E-mail: [email protected]

New York Office:110 Wall Street, 11th Floor New York 10005-3817, U.S.ATel.: (1) 212-709-8278Fax: (1) 212-943-2300Email: [email protected]

India, Liaison Office:Jurisconsultus, S.C.O. 89-90Level IV, Sector 34City Centre, ChandigarhPin 160034, IndiaTel: (91)(172) 424-1111Fax: (91)(172) 262-2003E-mail: [email protected]

website: www.anallp.com

Life is in the balance we pray to be sealed in the Book of Life

Page 26: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201226

Praying at the Kottel

Children, return!

Return, rebellious children, I will heal your affl ictions. ‘Here we are, we

come to You, for You are God our Lord.’” – Jeremiah 3:22.

In the days before the great day of forgiveness and pardon, Yom Kippur, we are all called upon to do to teshuva. We stand laden with our sins both small and great, hoping for God’s mercy. We stand laden with our suffering and pain, longing for the wellspring of consolation. Knowing that we cannot justify our actions during the past year, we can only hope for mercy, forgiveness, and pardon.

Indeed, that is the role of Yom Kippur - to forgive, par-don, and atone. Only one thing is required of us: to desire for-giveness, to turn our faces to God instead of our backs.

God summons each one of us with the call and the prom-ise: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” – Malachi 3:7.

God calls to each one of us, wherever he is, to return to Him, to draw near to Him, to take refuge under His protect-ing wings. In teshuva, no one is far and no one is near; what applies to the near applies equally to the very distant. God calls out even to those who gloomily imagine that they are as remote as can be. To them, too, He promises the grace of His emanation, the light of His forgiveness, and the wholeness of unity with Him.

It is not a political party or social body that calls to those who must return. God Himself is the One who speaks to each and every individual. It is He who calls, and it is He who promises. We should not allow individuals or groups to conceal the true light, the light of God, to which we all must return, nor should we deny the inner will innate in each of us to be a complete Jew. Let us not hold on to excuses and alibis to de-lay our return.

The accounting and reckon-ing, penetrating to the depths, must be performed in each of our hearts. Let us not put the blame on others, great or small. Let us not imagine that true rectification can be attained by superficial means, by daubing a little plaster, through false rem-edies. Let us take off the filthy garments of empty pursuits, of racing after desires, of imitat-ing others, of casting blame, and of evading responsibility.

Let us clothe ourselves again in the garments of salvation and adorn ourselves with a crown of true beauty. Our fine clothes are soaked with the blood of gen-erations, but their splendor has not dimmed. They are heavy to bear, but they carry and uplift their wearers.

The crown of the Torah was not given to anyone as an inher-itance; it was not handed over to any group or party among us. It is an everlasting heritage for all Jews, and every member of our people is entitled to draw himself near to the Source, to connect himself to the light of God, to adorn himself with the crown of the Torah of truth.

The call to teshuva is a call to everyone. It is a call to break through the barriers of remote-ness, to disregard concerns about what others might say, to detach one’s thoughts from the influence of foreign cultures. Each individual is called upon to search within the hidden recesses of his heart, to engage anew in soul-searching, to make a grand reckoning of his life, and to return wholeheartedly to God.

It is not a disgrace to re-examine one’s way of life; it is not a shame to admit, “We have gone astray, we have led astray.” So many of the errors and deviations were rooted in good intentions, in fine aspira-tions, although the course of life was misleading and led far afield. It is not embarrassing to admit, “We have erred.” On the contrary, it is a disgrace to re-tain, out of feeble-mindedness, a mistaken path.

When there is courage to ac-knowledge one’s error, one still has the opportunity to rectify it. The path of return is open to all, even for one who never studied and has no knowledge of Juda-ism. Let him overcome the in-

many who are ready to wel-come those who return. The doors of the synagogues are open for prayer, the doors of the batei midrash (study halls) are open for Torah study, and – most importantly – the gates of heaven are open.

Generations upon genera-tions of ancestors, holy souls, stand at the gates waiting for each Jewish soul to make this turnabout, the return to its true and original place within Is-rael’s pure essence.

God is the One Who calls to us, to all of us, to return to Him – to those who imagine that they are always close to Him, and to those who think that they have gone irreversibly far from Him. To all of us He calls: Re-turn to Me; children, return.

Supplied by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Israel Institute for Talmudic Studies

hibitions regarding the strange-ness – let him break through the barriers of ignorance and illiteracy – and then the Jewish spark in him will reveal itself in all its splendor and grow into a true fire. Each and every one

can see for himself and demon-strate that he indeed is “Israel, through whom I derive glory.” -

Isaiah 49:3.

The gates of teshuva are open, as are the hearts of so

Institute for Talmudic Studies

L’Shana TovaTikatevu V’tichatemu

Wishing all Communities in Asia a Happy & Peaceful New Year 5773

www.jewishtimesasia.org

Celebrating 6 years of Jewish news in Asia

Page 27: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 27

Bridging the world of peace through stampson a personal level and ex-changed emails, the interaction was interesting and wonderful and to my left the Japanese del-egate. Many joint photographs were taken. I gave the delegates an Israeli bookmark as a mo-mento and it was greatly appre-ciated.

The array of commission-ers, judges and representatives from all over the world, became like a family of nations built on common interest for the love of philately, united in their ac-ceptance of diverse cultures, nationalities, race and religion. By interacting not only on a philatelic but personal level genuine friendships and new acquaintances were made.

Supplied by Dr Les Glassman

It has been a great honour and privilege to represent Israel at the world stamp championship exhibition

which was held at the main convention centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 18 - 24 June 2012, under the patronage of the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP) and the auspice of Federation of Inter Asian Philalately.

One of the unique qualities of the world stamp champion-ship was its inclusive nature in which representatives from over 60 countries were made to feel part of a family of nations.

The championship was originally initiated with the aim of fostering friendship and co-operation amongst philatelists worldwide. The exhibition pro-vides a platform for exhibitors to showcase and display their fine and rare collections which are not only judged by an inter-national jury but are also appre-ciated by a wider audience for the beauty, culture and tradi-tions the stamps represent.

Participants exhibited their collections in various classes ranging from traditional, postal history, postal stationery, air-mails - aerophilately, thematic, revenue, literature and youth.

The opening ceremony was officially opened by the Min-ister of Communication and Information, Mr. Tifatul Sem-biring, President of FIP, Tay Peng Hian, and the President of Indonesian Philatelic Associa-tion, R Soeyono.

The entrance to the exhibi-tion hall had a mosaic of Queen Elizabeth 11 and former Indo-nesian President Soeharto both created by local artists consist-ing over 10,000 stamps.

In order to encourage and capture the interest and imagi-nation of the younger gen-eration in philately, numerous exciting activities were created which many school children at-tended.

We distributed stamps and covers which were given to me by the Israel Filatelic Federa-tion. The joy and appreciation

when the school children re-ceived the cover with a stamp from Israel is something I will never forget.

Stamps know no boundar-ies. They cross oceans and seas throughout the world. The theme of Indonesia 2012 “Bridging the world of peace through stamps” was most ap-propriate. I felt this bridge on many levels.

congratulated by all.

The 72nd FIP Congress was held on the last day of the ex-hibition. 84 member federation delegates were present. I was seated on my right side next to the Iranian delegate, we spoke

The Israel Philatelic Fed-eration donated a special prize, “Peace & Joy” which was dis-played at the exhibition and was awarded to a Danish exhibitor.

I was also very fortunate to receive a gold medal and was

In front of my collection

My wife and I at the opening ceremony

School children receiving gift donated by the Israel Philatelic Federation

Firstly, an official invita-tion to Israel was extended to my wife and I. Even though Indonesia, which is the most populous muslim country in the world with over 250 million people does not have diplomat-ic relations with Israel, we were very warmly received.

Everyone we came into contact with, made us feel very welcome and comfortable. In-terestingly, most Indonesians had never met an Israeli and had never seen someone wear-ing a yamulka before. Despite this, their response and reac-tion was extremely positive. They were fascinated and very curious to learn more about the Holy Land.

The daughter of the Iranian commissioners came up to us and asked how we were manag-ing to keep Kosher in Jakarta? I discussed dentistry with the Turkish commissioner a fellow dentist, talked about various synagogues in Cairo and Alex-andra with the Egyptian judge and his wife, shook hands and exchanged gifts and emails with representatives from various Arab countries including Bah-rain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Page 28: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201228

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Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 29

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Page 30: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201230

Akko’s 2,300 year old harbour exposed on the seabed

Excavations currently underway by the Israel Antiquities Author i ty a t the

foot of Akko’s southern seawall as part of the seawall conservation project have exposed installations that belong to a harbour that was operating in the city in the Hellenistic period (third-second centuries BCE) and that was the most important port in Israel at that time.

The first evidence indicat-ing the possible existence of this quay was in 2009 when a section of pavement was discov-ered comprised of large kurkar flagstones dressed in a tech-nique reminiscent of the Phoe-nician style that is characteristic of installations found in a ma-

rine environment. This pave-ment, which was discovered underwater, raised many ques-tions amongst archaeologists. Besides the theory that this is a quay, some suggested this was the floor of a large building.

According to Kobi Sharvit, director of the Marine Archae-ology Unit of the Israel Antiqui-ties Authority, among the finds large mooring stones were in-corporated in the quay and were used to secure sailing vessels that anchored in the harbour 2,300 years ago.

“In addition, we exposed collapse comprised of large dressed stones that apparently belonged to large buildings or installations, which was spread of a distance of dozens of me-ters. What emerges from these finds is a clear picture of sys-tematic and deliberate destruc-tion of the port facilities that occurred in antiquity,” said Sharvit.

“Recently a find was uncov-ered that suggests we are exca-vating part of the military port of Akko. We are talking about an impressive section of stone

An imported bowl characteristic of the Hellenistic period. Mooring stones

These finds constitute solid archaeological evidence regard-ing the location of the Hellenis-tic harbor and perhaps the mili-tary port.

“It should be understood that until these excavations the location of this important har-bor was not clear. Remains of it were found at the base of the Tower of Flies and in the region of the new marina in excavations conducted in the early 1980s by the late Dr. Elisha Linder and the late Professor Avner Raban. But now, for the first time, parts of the harbour are being dis-covered that are adjacent to the ancient shoreline and the Hel-lenistic city,” concluded Sharvit.

Supplied by Israel Antiques Authority

pavement 8 metres long by 5 metres wide that was partially exposed. The floor is delimited on both sides by two impressive stone walls that are also built in the Phoenician manner. It seems that the floor between the walls slopes slightly toward the south, and there was a small amount of stone collapse in its center. Presumably this is a slipway, an installation that was used for lifting boats onto the shore, probably warships in this case,” Sharvit added.

The bottom of the ancient harbour was exposed at the foot of the installations. There the mooring stones were found as well as thousands of fragments

of pottery vessels, among which are dozens of intact vessels and metallic objects.

The preliminary identifica-tion of the pottery vessels indi-cates that many of them come from islands in the Aegean Sea, including Knidos, Rhodes, Kos and others, as well as other port cities located along the Mediter-ranean coast.

Ancient quay

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Celebrating 6 years of Jewish news in Asia

Page 31: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember2012 31

CambodiaChabad Jewish CenterHouse # 32, Street 228, Phnom Penh, CambodiaTel: (855) 85 807 205 www.jewishcambodia.com

CHinaBeijing Chabad House and Community centre: Fang Yuan Xi Lu, next to the south gate of Si de Park, beijing, PR China Tel: (8610) 8470 8238 ext. 210, (86) 13910740109www.chabadbeijing.com

Chabad of Ya bao Lu: Jian Guo men diplomatic bldg, building 3,2/F, 223 Chaoyangmennei Street, beijing, PR ChinaTeL: (86) 1352 2016 427 Email: [email protected]

Kehillat beijing (Reform): Capital Club athletic Center, 3/F., ballroom, Capital man-sion, 6 Xinyuan nanlu Chaoyang district, beijing, PR China Tel: (86) 10 6467 2225 www.sinogogue.org

GuangzhouGuangzhou Chabad: 31 He Ping Lu, overseas Village, Guangzhou, China Tel: (86) 137 1050 5049 www.chabadgz.org

ShanghaiShanghai Chabad (Shanghai Jewish Center): Shang-mira Garden Villa #1, 1720 Hong Qiao Road, Shanghai, 200336, PR ChinaTel: (86) 21 6278 0225 www.chinajewish.org

Chabad of Pudong: Vila # 69, 2255 Luoshan Road, Shanghai, 200135, PR China Tel: (86) 21 5878 2008 www.chinajewish.org

Sephardi Shanghai Center: building b. apt. 3 (Room 103),1000 Gubei Road, Shanghai, PR China 201103Tel: (86) 21 6208 8327 mobile: (86) 15900808733Email: [email protected], [email protected]

ShenzhenShenzhen Chabad: no.4, block a, Guishan Xiaozhu Yanshan Road, industrial area, Shekou nanshan district, Shenzhen, PR ChinaTel: (86) 755 8207 0712 www.chabadshenzhen.org

HonG KonG Jewish Community Centre: one Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2801 5440 www.jcc.org.hk

Chabad of Hong Kong: 1/F Hoover Court, 7-9 macdonell Road, mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2523 9770 www.chabadhk.org

ohel Leah Synagogue: 70 Robinson Road, mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2589 2621 www.ohelleah.org

United Jewish Congregation (Reform): Jewish Community Centre, one Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, mid-Levels, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2523 2985 www.ujc.org.hk

Shuva israel (orthodox): 2/F Fortune House, 61 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2851 6300 www.shuva-israel.com

KowloonKehilat Zion (orthodox): Unit 105, 1/F, Wing on Plaza, 62 mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon Tel: (852) 2368 0061 www.kehilat-zion.org

Chabad of Kowloon: 11 Hart avenue, 2/F, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tel: (852) 2366 5770 Email: [email protected]

india (mUmbai) magen david Synagogue: 340 Sir J.J. Rd, byculla, mumbai Tel: (91) 22 23006675

Kenesseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, 43 dr V.b. Gandhi marg, Fort, mumbaiTel: (91) 22 22831502 / 22839617

Kurla bene israel: 275 C.S.T. Rd, Jewish Colony, Kurla (W) mumbai, indiaTel: (91) 22 511-2132

JaPan Kobeohel Shelomoh Synagogue and Community Center: 4-12-12, Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650, Japan Tel: (81) 78 221 7236 www.jcckobe.org

TokyoTokyo Chabad: 1-5-23 Takanawa, minato-ku, Tokyo Japan 108-0073 Tel: (813) 5789 2846 www.chabad.jp

JCC Japan: Tokyo Jewish Community Centre, 8-8 Hiroo 3-Chome, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150 0012, Japan Tel: (813) 3400 2559 www.jccjapan.or.jp

nEPaL Chabad House: GHa-2-516-4 Thamel, Kathmandu, nepal Tel: (977) 980 324 1294 [email protected]

PHiLiPPinES beth Yaacov Synagogue: 110 H.V. de la Costa cnr, Tordesillas West, Salcedo Village, makati City, metro manila 1227, The Philippines Tel: (632) 815 0265 www.jewishphilippines.org

SinGaPoRE Chesed-El Synagogue: 2 oxley Rise, Singapore 238693

Jacob ballas Community Centre & maghain aboth Synagogue: 24-26 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187950Tel: (65) 6337 2189 www.singaporejews.org

United Hebrew Congregation (Reform): email:[email protected]

SoUTH KoREaChabad: 744-18 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul 140-893, South KoreaTel: (82) 107 730 3770 www.jewishkorea.com

TaiWan Taipei Jewish Center: 2/F no. 8, Lane 180, Songde Rd, Xinyi district, Taipei City 110, Taiwan Tel: (886) 9 2392 3770

Taipei Jewish Community: 16 min Tsu East Road, Second Floor, Taipei, Taiwan, RoC Tel: (886) 2 2591 3565 email:[email protected]

Taipei Jewish Services: Sheraton Taipei Hotel, 12, Zhang Xiao East Road, Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: (886) 2 2321 5511, (886) 2 2394 4240

THaiLand Jewish association of Thailand: 121 Soi Sai nam Thip 2, Sukhumvit Soi 22, bangkok, Thailand Tel: (662) 663 0244 www.jewishthailand.com

Chabad of Thailand: 96 Rambutttri St. banglamphu, 102000 bangkok, Thailand Tel: (662) 629 2770 www.chabadthailand.com

bet Sefer Chabad: 221 Sukhumvit Soi 20, bangkok, 10110 ThailandTel: (662) 258 3434

Chabad of Phuket52/32 Ratch U-thit Song Roy Pee Rd. (opposite Patong Post office), Second row of town houses, Patong, Katu district, Phuket 83150

Chiang Mai189/15 Chang-Clan Road, Chiang mai, Thailand, on street of night bazaar, 100 meters before The Empress hotel Tel: (66) 81 870 2249

ViETnam Chabad: 5a (villa) nguyen dinh Chieu St., dakao ward, district 1,Ho Chi minh, Vietnam Tel: (84) 90 9166770 www.JewishVietnam.com

JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN ASIA

Candlelighting times are taken from Chabad.org.

September Parashas

1 September 2012 / 14 Elul 5772: KI TETZEThere were cultures that utilised women to entice the soldiers of the opposing army, for which the Torah provides guidelines of how to treat such a woman. The laws of a wayward son, who rebels against his parents. The laws of respecting other people’s property. The pro-hibition of men wearing women’s clothing and vice a versa – included in this law is engaging in other acts that are specific for the opposite sex, e.g. dying ones hair. The Torah is specific in the types of marriages we may enter into, and those we are not. The law of fulfilling our vows and promises – including making good our charitable pledges. The law of paying wages on time and respecting workers’ rights. The Torah allows for divorce. The importance of being honest in one’s business dealings and having fair measures.

8 September 2012 / 21 Elul 5772: KI TAVOThe Parasha begins with the Mitzvot of the first fruits and the completion of the Tithing cy-cles. Both are accompanied by special declarations of G-ds mastery over the land, and man’s responsibility to keep the commandments of G-d. When Israelites bring the first fruits they make a declaration recalling the history of the Jewish people’s redemption from Egypt. This declaration forms the main part of the Pesach Seder. The blessings and curses are recorded that will be uttered at Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval as soon as they were to enter the Promised Land. If Israel will listen and obey they will be blessed. If they do not listen and obey they will be curses, and these curses (called admonitions or Tochacha) are described in much detail. It concludes with the beginning of Moshe’s final discourse. He starts by recount-ing the miraculous nature of the past 40 years and its clear indication of G-ds ever present protection, past and future.

Countries 7 September 14 September 21 September 28 September

bangkok 6:07 6:02 5:57 5:52beijing 6:19 6:07 5:56 5:44Guangzhou 6:21 6:14 6:07 5:59Hong Kong 6:17 6:10 6:03 5:56Katmandu 6:00 5:52 5:44 5:35Kobe 6:00 5:50 5:40 5:30manila 5:46 5:40 5:35 5:30mumbai 6:30 6:24 6:18 6:12Perth 5:46 5:50 5:54 5:59Shanghai 5:52 5:43 5:34 5:25Singapore 6:48 6:46 6:43 6:40Seoul 6:35 6:24 6:13 6:02Taipei 5:49 5:41 5:34 5:26Tokyo 5:42 5:32 5:22 5:12

Candle Lighting Times for September

Selichot:8 September 2012 (21 Elul 5772)

Rosh Hashanah Eve:16 September 2012 ( 29 Elul 5772)

Rosh Hashanah17 September 2012 (1 Tishrei 5773)18 September 2012 (2 Tishrei 5773)

HOLIDAYS/ FASTS/ ROSH CHODESH/ SPECIAL DAYS

Fast of Gedaliah:19 September 2012 (3 Tishrei 5773)

Yom Kippur Eve/Kol Nidre:25 September 2012 (9 Tishrei 5773)

Yom Kippur:26 September 2012 (10 Tishrei 5773)

15 September 2012 / 28 Elul 5772: NITZAVIMMoses renews the covenant between G-d and the Israelites on the last day of his life. All of the people are included in the convenant. Moses goes on to remind them of some very im-portant lessons, for example – “The hidden things are for the L-rd our G-d, but the revealed things are for us and our children forever to carry out the words of this Torah.” We should not worry about those things that are hidden from us but trust in G-d. However those matters that are revealed to us we should endeavour to learn about them. The benefits in doing Teshuva (repentance - returning) will be the fulfillment of all the blessings that G-d had promised. Moshe reassures us that Torah is accessible to all those who truly desire it. Ignorance and a lack of opportunity for learning should never be an excuse. Moshe presented the bottom line. Endowed with free will we must choose properly. In the end, we are responsible for what happens. The Children of Israel are warned against idolatory.

22 September 2012 / 6 Tishrei 5773: VAYELECHThe last day of Moshe’s life 7 Adar 2488. Exactly 120 years earlier the world was graced with the birth of a child who brought redemption to his people and the light of Torah to the world. Trials and tribulations, rebellions and conspiracies, disillusionment, yet, Moshe never gave up. He nurtured the Jews “like a mother cares for her child”. He confronted man and G-d in protecting his charges, and succeeded in bringing the people, both physically and spiritually intact, to the fulfillment of a 500 year old promise. Now he had to put his affairs in order, finish his work, and insure an unquestioned transition of leadership to his student Joshua. Moses gives the Israelites a stark choice – between life and death, between goodness and evil, and he urges them to choose life. Moses tells them to constantly reminds us of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. From this we learn of the Mitzvah for every Jew to write for himself a Sefer Torah.

29 September 2012 / 13 Tishrei 5773: HA’AZINUThe Parasha is a song. Moshe begins by describing the presence of Hashem in nature as being as evident as the rain or dew that nourish the fields and gardens. G-d is entirely just, always good, always compassionate and forgiving. Therefore, all destruction and negativity must be ascribed directly to the ill fated decisions and actions of His children. The Jew must always remember that he was chosen from among all other nations to be nurtured by the di-rect ministrations of the Creator. We were born in a “desolate, howling, wasteland” and pro-tected till we were able to assume responsibility for our unique relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth. Moshe’s song ends with the Jewish people singing forth their acceptance and understanding of divine purpose and justice.

Page 32: September 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 5 • Elul / Tishrei 5772– 5773

Jewish Times AsiaSeptember201232