A beautiful, new, educational exhibit about Kaifeng Jews recently opened at Shavei Israel's Ma'ani Center. Designed mainly with magnificent pictorial panels, it tells the story of the Kaifeng Jews from the past to the reawakening of their Jewish spirit, to their dreams of aliyah and living...
As is customary in so many workplaces in Israel, the staff at Shavei Israel had a beautiful 'haramat kosit' - literally a 'raising the glass' to toast the New Year. As we reflected on the many challenges and accomplishments of the past year, including bringing...
Gao Yichen, Yue Ting, Li Jing, Li Yuan and Li Chengjin, the five Chinese Jewish women who made aliyah earlier this month with Shavei Israel’s help, are now all settled in and studying at Midreshet Nishmat – the Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study...
Our coordinator for the Jewish community of Kaifeng Eran Barzilay sent us some great pictures from Passover celebrations in China this year. The Jewish world marks the holiday pretty much the same way everywhere - with matzo, eggs and reading from the Haggadah - even...
Purim 2015 has come and gone but the pictures are still flowing in to the Shavei Israel office. Now it’s time to share them with you. So strap on your jet pack, we’re going for a ride - from China to India, Poland to Portugal,...
How does the Kaifeng Jewish community celebrate Sukkot? The same way Jews do all over the world - by sleeping and eating in a sukka (the temporary structure built to commemorate the Israelites' 40 year sojourn in the desert following the Exodus from Egypt), surrounded...
The Jewish community in Kaifeng sent us a few pictures of their pre-Passover preparations this year. Here they are, including a search for chametz, (leavened bread) the night before Seder, reviewing the Haggadot and making sure the 4 cups of wine are 100% kosher....
Every year, when Purim comes around, Shavei Israel communities around the world celebrate big time. The Megillah readings, outlandish costumes, extravagant parties, sumptuous kosher food, and far out festivities never cease to amaze us. And so, as we do every year, here’s a selection of...
Israeli student Eran Barzilay visited Kaifeng, China, during the High Holy Days in 2012. He was accompanied during some of his trip by Gideon and Shuli Elazar, an Israeli family from Tekoa. The Elazars celebrated the Sukkot holiday in Kaifeng and Gideon taught some classes...
The 7 men from Kaifeng, China, whom Shavei Israel has supported in their journey towards Judaism, stand here before the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court last week in a final step towards formally rejoining the Jewish people. In the main group picture are: Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund...
