Who are the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng? | Explained

[@dankestmemes4910]

I’m from Kaifeng. I actually had a friend from elementary school who moved to Israel in the 4th grade, which was over 20 years ago. Back then, I didn’t understand why he and his family were moving to Israel, but now it all makes sense, he is a Kaifeng Jew.

[@chadwickyang7885]

Back in the mid 1980s, the Jewish community here in Phoenix invited a group of Kaifeng Chinese jews to Arizona and they celebrated with lion dance and all the Chinese culture. My cousin's restaurant catered to the event where hundreds of people turned up for the celebration . I didn't go to the event but my cousin brought back the news pamphlets with photos of the Chinese Jews in Kaifeng praying in the Chinese temple with the Torah. We were not surprised at all, for most everyone went to China to trade over a thousand year ago just like most everyone is still doing today.

[@raeli731]

I’m an Israeli Jew and it upsets me that our country still fails to recognise so many Jewish tribes around the world. We must do better and acknowledge how thousands of years in the diaspora shaped us as a people, not limit us. Those who maintained strong connections despite their challenges, should really be uplifted!!

[@MacD4m0]

Why not? Simple answer. Because they ain't white like the Ashkenazi. Real Jews the bloodline of Abraham-Isaac-Jacob (i.e. the descendants of 2.5 tribes Judah, Benjamin and Levi who returned from their exile in Babylon to Jerusalem) and many others who converted into Judaism AND keep their believe in GOD, they are not white. In the end, the modern day state of Zionist Israel don't care about Judaism and Jews in general... they are all about replacing Judaism and the true Jewish identity which is all about knowing, loving, fearing, and obeying GOD with Zionism and a militaristic imperial ideology that worships the IDF.

[@TheShadowfakx]

I'm with you.Totally inflexible. These are people with conviction, not fair weather friends that summon among us those with little conviction.

[@audreymaize]

Isn’t that why the State was created?

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

The problem is some so-called "Jewish tribes around the world" are faking their Israelite identity such as Igbo, Lemba, Ethiopian Falash Mura, and Kuki-Mizo people. Whereas Kaifeng Jews are the real deal, with actual Israelite genetic lineages. Israel does recognize most legitimate Israelite descendants so there's been no problem for Crimean Karaites, Mountain Jews, Moroccan Jews, Bukharian Jews, Cochin Jews, and other groups to migrate to Israel.

[@denecroxford2475]

Despite Shanghai being more than 7,000km from their homes in Germany, Poland and Austria, more than 20,000 stateless Jews fled to China's largest city to escape the Holocaust between 1933 and 1941. Shanghai was not just a safe haven. It was also a modern city with an established community of Russian Jews, who a decade earlier, had built the structure that held that Star of David: the Ohel Moshe Synagogue.

[@user-tr1zj]

escape from the Germans only to get massacred by the Japanese

[@victorynowall]

Thank you, how very interesting!

[@WarrenPostma]

Is there any book about this? What a great story.

[@denecroxford2475]

@@WarrenPostma The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China by Jonathan Kaufman

[@judgedayan9934]

You have your history a little mixed up. The main Jewish community in Shanghai was from Bagdad, not Eastern Europe. For decades before WWII, Shanghai was under Japanese rule, not Chinese.

[@Barry-e1t]

A great great grandfather of mine had the family name Li and he was jewish from Kaifeng.He was a silk merchant from such a family.He travelled across the silk road on business eventually ended up in the Ottoman Empire.My great great grandmother's family were all Ottoman jews who had their origins as Sephardi jews expelled from Spain in the 1490s. Am Israel Chai ! Od Aveinu Chai ! Chanukah Sameach ! Kol tov !

[@andrewlim9345]

Thanks for highlighting the story of the Kaifeng Jews. It's a tragic story. Singapore has a sizeable Jewish community and Sulawesi in Indonesia has a small one. Penang in Malaysia used to have one.

[@kennethchong2813]

In Malaysia,in Penang the Last of the Jews passed away,and buried in the Jewish Cemetry in Georgetown,Mr Mordecai General Manager of Casuarina Beach Resort,Batu Ferringhi,Penang,Mr Mordecai w True gentleman Jew ,the last and only Jew in Malaysia!😅😅😅😢

[@TheLjso]

​@@spdfatomicstructureDavid Marshall was Mizrahi from Baghdad

[@amitaybenatar7698]

I know this community, they are the best ❤

[@funnyunkle]

Another Win for Unpacked. I am orthodox jew I also have Asian roots too so i have been watching the Kaifeng Jews with optimism and hope over the years, Thank you!

[@AC130rus]

yeah the west is fed up with ya again

[@havas9184]

So come Home already!

[@PaulWinder]

Respect from a Chinese Noahide!

[@oldtimer6129]

My grandfather was born in China, Harbin. Learned Chinese and Hebrew, worked from the age of 12 and was a very handy man.

[@barryklarman2720]

@oldtimer6129 Dara Horn’s book “People love dead Jews” talks about Harbin.

[@hrmsdai]

White Russian Jew? We also had a jewish community in Shanghai between 1910s-1940s

[@ahmetunsal3283]

funny.! Judaism has nothing to do with China . Could you say that any ancient tribes from the Middle East in the meantime Chinese? so They are one of the ancient people from the Middle East.

[@PROPHETIC120]

Glad to see this story, I'm from the Igbo tribe, Jews of Nigeria - Our fathers and their fathers believed they were Hebrews, part of west African Jewish population. Our name Ibo came from the name Hebrew and we are quite enterprising people. Thank God for the connection with other Jewish people. 💜

[@shevrollet354]

אחי ❤

[@Sphaatikhaa]

I had no idea that Igbos are Jewish! Thank you for sharing.

[@alfredzakhour5913]

Yes Nigerians and Chinese are semites. Who isn’t Semitic?

[@Jianeen]

Wow I'm ethnically Chinese but I never knew about this AT ALL! This channel teaches me so much about everything since I subscribed. Thank you so so much @UNPACKED. I love you guys

[@privateprivate22]

I was trying to catch the last names of Chinese with Jewish ancestry, but I couldn’t. Please, if it’s possible, write it to me, because I have so many Chinese students and friends and I became very curious.

[@shafsteryellow]

​@@privateprivate22 they participated in the opium trade and the destruction of China

[@iamsheep]

it's pretty well known

[@privateprivate22]

@@letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo thank you very much for answering me. I understand that the last name doesn’t really prove ancestry, but it’s thrilling for me to think that some of my students could have my ancestry.

[@EvaOwen]

Approx. 11 years, I was able to visit the site of the former Kaifeng synagogue and see a special Jewish related exhibit (which includes some Jewish tombstones) in the Kaifeng Municipal Museum.

[@barryklarman2720]

😞

[@Abdullahbinzahra124]

This channel has made me learn so much about Judaism it inspired me to start learning Hebrew 😅 keep it up guys!! Love from your Arab cousin ❤🇵🇸

[@Waverlyduli]

Thank you. Met a Jewish American in Beijing in the eighties. He was passing through on his way to Kaifeng to do futher research on the Kaifeng Jews for a book he was co-writing. Very nice fellow and he introduced me to the fascinating history of the Kaifeng Jewish community at the time.

[@ben9939]

This video is so well researched and thoughtful! I went to Kaifeng in college and tried to find the Jewish community unsuccessfully. I only managed to find an imam who told me that the Jews were "hannanized" or assimilated into the Han ethnicity. I wish I could have found them when I was there. Ultimately I wrote a mini thesis on Chinese perceptions of Jewish identity and whether Chinese people could see other Chinese as Jews. The results of the study were not very impressive but I've always rooted for this community and really wish I could have had a chance to meet them.

[@capncake8837]

Glad to see Unpacked finally cover the Kaifeng Jews.

[@toba1163]

I wrote a paper on the history of the Kaifeng Jews and I have to say this is the best summary of their story I have encountered. One thing - their assimilation through marrying ethnically Chinese women was not just a passive act over time. Minorities during the Ming Dynasty were often forced to marry out as the new rulers sought to homogenise the population, speeding up the loss of matrilineage significantly. This mandate extended to the synagogue as the authorities likely required placing images of the emperor alongside images of our forefathers. I am so glad that such a well researched video is available for everyone to appreciate, and hopefully we will continue to see more Kaifeng Jews making Aliyah as China unfortunately tightens its grip.

[@zeitgeistx5239]

Your comment reflects your own bias. “China tighten its grip” against whom? That’s funny because no one has accused the Chinese government of oppressing Jews. That’s you repeating the propaganda you have been taught because you are unable to think critically.

[@999.9finegold]

It is so infuriating that the rabbinate does not follow the Halacha. The Halacha says that even if a person is not Jewish, but is of the seed of Israel, we must make it easy for him and help him return to Judaism if that is what he requests.

[@andreak1825]

@@999.9finegold shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when sitting in your home and walking on the road, when you lie down and when you rise - Deuteronomy 6:6

[@marcferraro6949]

Chinese Jews? What a stretch. They are not Ashkenazi from Khazaria, or are they? Khazar's heading east would not likely adopt Judaism, or would they? Before Judaism, the Hebrew Cabal, there were wandering tribes and, the Jews were no different from any other prehistoric man. Proof that it was all created by man with no other intention than identifying as religious superiority in a clique or club.

[@IloveJudaism123]

I love to see there are Jews all over the world. I’m a Mexican Jew and my husband a Salvadoran Jew

[@robyn4062]

It's safer to be in Israel. God is calling His people back.

[@reaux3921]

@@robyn4062lol whats gonna happen in Mexico? Dramatic

[@penepattra8983]

Jews are a Race of people We are not a Nationality Thus we have Jews from every part of the world ❤❤

[@tochangetheworld1]

Did you check your DNA ? How do you know you are Jew ?

[@rotholzs]

I knew about the Jewish from Kaifeng since I was 6. I was lucky enough to meet 3 teenagers from that community, at that time I didn't know much about Asia, so when I enteracted with them, they opened my eyes and the universe was opened up before me, I immidiatly fell in love - with them and the language they spoke, they taught me few words and how to count in Mandarin Chinese, they were the ones to introduce me to this wonderful language and culture, I'm forever grateful to them. I remember them vividly and now, almost 20 years since that encounter, I'm a second year, bachelor degree student in Taiwan majoring in Mandrin Chinese, it all started with them and thanks to them. And I actually recognize in this video the ones who taught me Mandrin Chinese 20 years ago!!! 開封的朋友們好，我是猶太人從以色列來的，我跟開封人的歷史很長。我小時候認識了三位開封猶太人，我馬上愛上了，因此我現在在臺灣上大學，我是華語系的學生。我希望跟開封人有更多機會聊天。

[@victorynowall]

Thank you for sharing your very heart felt story. From a former Chinese Malaysian ( now am American Chinese) This makes me feel that I missed the opportunity of visiting china and Taiwan. I was in Israel on a tour group of he Holy Land 9 years ago.

[@rotholzs]

@@victorynowall I appreciate your kind words 🥰 it's never too late! If you will ever decide to come visit Taiwan, and if I'm still here by that time, feel free to contact me~ I might be able to show you around!

[@victorynowall]

@@rotholzs Thank you for your gracious response. I will certainly give it some thoughts. Shalom!

[@haniahannslew4108]

Please take all the Kaifeng Jews back home in Israel. They should be in Israel, not in China

[@chinonsomichael1719]

​@@rotholzsthat's lovely 😍😍🌹🌹

[@yazuki-wolf]

small correction. You said China is weary of anything that might challenge main stream Chinese culture, but I think it would be more accurate to say that the CCP is weary of anything that might challenge their authority. Traditional Chinese culture I believe would be much more open and free outside that influence.

[@Kennon959]

Bro has never heard when some guy claimed to be the brother of Jesus to try and create a rebel kingdom

[@mrstrange218]

​@@Kennon959 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

[@tomy34188]

Indeed. Taiping rebellion was arguably the bloodiest civil war in history claiming 20-30 million lives. It’s wild that so few people have heard about it. While the Qing-Dynastie was quite tolerant about many religions to a certain extent they were certainly not happy about the ambitions of that particular christian sect.

[@bobfearnley5724]

There is no political opposition in China. Therefore, China is the CCP

[@npgibson69]

Obviously TaiWan is one of the most open and diverse places on Earth, while having a strong traditional Chinese culture.

[@friendofgod9413]

Thank you for posting this video! Back in 2012/2013 I was woken up by the voice of Holy Spirit saying: "There are Jews who are in China who are supposed to go back to Israel." Back then I didn't have wisdom that I have now, so I didn't know what to do with that but I shared it with my pastor. Since then I have been praying for them for provision, to be willing to go and to find a way of going back to Israel. I am so grateful that I ran into your video. God is so faithful! **Correction*** Found the Journal: It was on Saturday May 5th 2012 @ 4:30pm GLORY to GOD! 🙏

[@robyn4062]

Amen!

[@penepattra8983]

It is in the Torah (as I remember as a child) ( and I’m 75 yo The world will have peace when all the Jews from all over the world return home to 🇮🇱 ❤ Amen

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

I hope this community can get the support, love and safety it deserves. We all all joined in one world 🙂

[@skontheroad]

No. We are not. Hence the point of this video.

[@greenman77777]

Indonesia is also not recognize Jewish people 😢

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

@@BORN-to-Run Ummm, cool. I'm Jewish. You're strange.

[@ethair8975]

As an Israeli I'm shocked they were forced to convert in order to come to Israel, this is disgraceful and Israel should make it as easy as possible for these people to come to Israel.

[@orboakin8074]

I had no idea about this😮 As a Nigerian Catholic, i have only net a handful of Jews here, mainly Igbo Jewish people (Friendly folks😂) I also didn't know there were Jewish people in East Asia. I knew about the Khazars of Central Asia but had no idea about the Kaifeng Jews. Great video and God bless and protect them and all other Jewish people

[@BORN-to-Run]

@@havas9184 POW!

[@samoluwafunbi8061]

Igbo are not Jewish

[@orboakin8074]

@@samoluwafunbi8061 yeah, but many are. What's your point?

[@nm93932]

It makes me want to cry. Even after generations, they had that yearning to return home, and talk about returning to Jerusalem. They shouldn't feel bad about having to convert to Judaism. What they practice is a mixture of two cultures. Now they are in the process of learning and understanding practices lost throughout the generations. 😊 they are reconnecting to their roots, regaining lost knowledge. Keeping them in our prayers.

[@edwardpearce9668]

European Jews practice two cultures. Well He said to me "Praise all those who believe in The Yeshua." The Yeshua. Think on that. He isnt Yehoshua (God is Salvation) he is The Anointed. The Anointing is for men only. The Anointing has the freedom of speech (His tongue) All others are failed. YhWh never anointed His body. He does not need anointing. There is only One God. We is the Heavens Elohim Father El and Sanhedrin Israel were praying as Moslems do today "be called". Islam is older than Muhammad and written Quran Lamentations 2.10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground in silence. They threw dust on their heads and girded themselves with sackcloth. The maidens of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground. [the daughters of Zion are not girls it is figurative] 2 Chronicles 7:3 When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.” Ezra 9:5 At the time of the evening offering, I rose up from my self-abasement with my garment and robe torn, then I bowed down on my knees and spread out my hands to Adonai my God. Nehemiah 8:6 Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, amen!” as they lifted up of their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped Adonai with their faces to the ground. Ancient language. aa or ah = existence i or ee = direction of Power from Heaven to Earth e or eh = direction of Power from the Earth to Heaven U or oo = arrival Hu = essence Sa = adding S covering also salvation from existence Him, others sa se si so su Ahu = mound mount the Y is nonexistent it is actually developed from a combination of i and a (ia him her he she) Iahu opposed to Iehu (Iesahua) YhWh Spirit of and El and the Anointed Person. Israel = I sa ra El(iLa or iLu) Islam = I sa ra m' (ma?) ma = coming Ram meaning G-d. Yeshua held up a coin in Palestine and said, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesars". It was called Palestine a transliteration on Philistine. Jerusalem is in Palestine. Was never called Israel except in the North. The people in Egypt were said to be Israel. You cant understand the biblical texts. Palestine exists on maps. Go google them. Many Palestinian Israelites converted to Islam and Christianity. Islam is older than the Quran and Mahammad. They are the people attacked from the north. Ashkenazi come from the north.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Yeah, that pisses me off. Just because they can't prove that every mother in their lineage was Jewish doesn't mean that there aren't just as Jewish as any other jew. They kept the identity throughout centuries of disasters and assimilation and deserve to be recognized as Jews. The rabbnim in Israel are just snobs.

[@arghaynes]

They were victims of Ashkenormalization, the process where Israel's majority culture says, we define the tradition of living memory, your job is to forget

[@element2138]

​@@arghaynes It has nothing to do with Ashkenaz. You've been subject of too much propaganda. It's about Jewish law and tradition. It's the decision of Middle Eastern Jewish leaders. 67% of Israeli Jews are not Ashkenaz.

[@ScenariosOfDrea]

I would love videos on every Jewish community globally if possible I know that’s a lot but I think it would be super interesting from South America to Kazakhstan to Romania and every other place. (I’m Romanian American my dad is a Romanian Jew, son of Holocaust survivors)

[@UNPACKED]

Here you go 😁 kzbin.info/aero/PL-DNOnmKkUabBNl0Aee06VGSKbeJkrI6F

[@joshuazeitman184]

Today the Chinese government is more tolerant of Jews and even made a Jewish park in Shanghai where many Jews escaped from the Nazis. They are also preserving where the Jews lived during the war and there is a small museum in Shanghai to show photos if the Jews who lived there during WWII. Today there are also many Chabad centers in China. China recognizes that Jews are friendly towards the government and pose no threats to them.

[@LuciusMaximusReal]

I am Portuguese, Christian, And I am proud of my Jewish Heritage.

[@barryklarman2720]

Come back to the tribe 👍✡️

[@thomasyahyah]

Reject Paul, Return Moses

[@thomasyahyah]

@@NetScalerTrainer Reject Jesus, return to Moses. Return to Tradition

[@akiheavenly6]

I found out about Chinese Jews from a Chinese restaurant in New York that served kosher food. 😆 I thought they served kosher Chinese food because it's an American-Jewish tradition to eat Chinese for Hannukah. But the store owner explained that they were descendants of Jews who lived in China. I told them that a baloney sandwich is not kosher 😅 so they made me Google Jews of Kaifeng. I was flabbergasted!

[@SafetySpooon]

I think if the Israeli government used different words, they could convince people to get a formal conversion: calling it a REAFFIRMATION as part of JOINING ISRAEL. It would go a long way.

[@dewaynehicks3006]

i understand your point. however, if they used the verbiage “reaffirm“ it constitutes a legitimate claim of jewish lineage. since their status is questionable, there's nothing to “reaffirm“

[@jacobrivers5728]

Do you mean like those fake Kuki ‘Jews’ from north-east India? The Ethiopians are not even Jewish.

[@adii.3665]

Judaism is not just religeon, it's a tribe. Joining Judaism is like being adopted. You can't just say you're a Jew in order to be one. Being born of a Jewish woman is essential.

[@dallasgrey4247]

The Jews of Kaifeng have always fascinated me. So split off from the rest of the Jewish world, and yet thriving. It’s sad to see the community slowly abandoned, and then the law of return being so biased against them.

[@michaelwolf7894]

The irony is that the missionary was showing him an artist's interpretation of a Jewish family... And that his own faith is rooted in Judaism.

[@michaelwolf7894]

@@joshuataylor3550 your use of the word "myth" tells everyone what god you serve. If you wish for people to seriously view you as intellectually objective in the future, you may want to flex that big brain of yours to politic with a higher degree of tact.

[@ElHickey]

@@joshuataylor3550or rather you are ignorant the true history if Christianity?

[@eal8645]

Fascinating!!! Nice to learn something that is totally unheard of prior. Thank you for the education.

[@benjamingilkarov7192]

Love your content! Thank you for your great work!

[@keitiquirke]

Beautiful video. Great work as always

[@justanothersephardi]

This is awesome. Thanks for the great educational content! ❤❤

[@rivlew7025]

So now I know where my craving for chinese food on sundays come from...😂 Love to learn about this, I am a Jew and I didn't know, thank you for bringing this knowledge to me❤

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

Are you Ashkenazi Jewish? I recommend you read next about the Southern Chinese maternal haplogroup M33c which is found in about 0.34 percent of Ashkenazi Jews, stemming from a Chinese woman who converted to Judaism before the 15th century. Because of endogamous marriage, every Ashkenazi today whose ancestors come from East-Central Europe and Eastern Europe must be her descendant.

[@TerryBramow]

😅

[@caralhoguy]

@@user-jr4kc6lu9qwhat’s the story behind that woman

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

@@caralhoguy It wasn't documented by her contemporaries so we'll never learn her name or hometown or original religion or anything else other than that her branch of M33c is closest to a Han Chinese person from Sichuan province. From the study "A genetic contribution from the Far East into Ashkenazi Jews via the ancient Silk Road" by Jiao-Yang Tian, Hua-Wei Wang, Yu-Chun Li, Wen Zhang, Yong-Gang Yao, Jits van Straten, Martin B. Richards, and Qing-Peng Kong in Scientific Reports vol. 5 (February 11, 2015): article number 8377.

[@John-mf6ky]

​@@user-jr4kc6lu9q my grandfather always mentioned how along the silk road you would find all sorts of places of worship. Buddhist temples, Jewish temples, mosques, churches, etc. Really interesting how much transferred along it. Not just goods for trade, not also philosophy and ideas.

[@haimcapone6951]

I am an Israeli Jew and I am so proud to see the brotherhood of our people all around the world. I'm totally non religious, yet it warms my heart to see how much we care for each other, even if we are total strangers and sometimes not even speak the same language. עם ישראל חי !

[@epifaniacabangontongol3748]

This is an awesome channel!! Much appreciated more words can express 🙏

[@Hellbender8574]

Henry Abramson also has a fascinating video about the history of Chinese Jews. His covers the older history whereas this one describes more modern times, so the two contributions are complimentary.

[@Elephant_King_Gj]

Please provide a link to video if you have, I couldn’t find. Thanks.

[@Scrambledbrains3601]

I love his videos absolutely best Jewish history channel

[@addeenen7684]

Once I got a remark on youtube about that I made it all about my ancestors. So I only say I'm glad you made it all about your ancestors. Mazzeltof.

[@valentinussofa4135]

I admit that the capabilities of the Jewish and Chinese diaspora are the best. They always had Hebrew and Chinese names even though they lived and grew up in foreign lands. Their ability to pass down traditions and history from generation to generation is also very good. By the way, I like unique historical stories like this. Thank You so much🙏

[@Igor_Itkin]

Omg I've never heard about that. Thank you ♥️

[@tehray3094]

Different from China, Taiwan has a small but active Jewish community. There are several synagogues and rabbis serving the community's needs, offering religious services, educational programs, and cultural events.

[@dedewa33]

It's amazing how you get the knowledge and awareness of all the Jews all over the 🌎 HaShem strengthen you.

[@uncleambient]

This video is fascinating, thank you.

[@ten4l]

Awesome video, thank you! Just a slight "correction" (if you even want to call it that) is that just because someone has a surname listed among the surnames at 2:02 does not automatically mean that they have Jewish ancestry. For one, the last name 金(Jin) is actually the same Chinese character used when writing the Korean last name Kim (김/金). But then we would have to say that 30% of Koreans, including Kim Jong-un, has Jewish ancestry, which is preposterous! So a Kaifeng Jew would likely have one of those last names, but just because someone has one of those as a last name does not automatically mean they have Jewish ancestry.

[@Awakening_Sunshine]

I thought that was the same character as Kim! It’s interesting that in Mandarin it’s pronounced Jin

[@ten4l]

@@Awakening_Sunshine It makes a lot more sense when you realize that Mandarin underwent transformation over centuries where the g sound eventually became the j sound in certain cases. The same character is pronounced “gam” in Cantonese.

[@jaimec2783]

He specifically said people "from Kaifeng" holding the lastname. Not anyone in China.

[@loveunlimited777]

I hope that more and more Chinese people can build a mutually beneficial and lasting friendship with the Jewish people. Peace ❤

[@howardmart]

I couldn't help myself except to sympathize with their cause. My parents are from South America. I had the opportunity to pursue my higher education in the US. By mere coincidence, late in my studies, a close friend recommended a book to me: "The Mezuzah in the Madonna's Foot." After reading this book and in 1 of those impromptu conversations with my father, I expressed my sadness of the plight of the hidden Jews in the Americas. It was at that moment when my father chose to explain to me our last name was not my real. He claimed our ancestry was Jewish from a very small community in a town way to trivial to recognize today. Because of congenital repercussions of the near incestous reproductive patterns of such a small community, there was a need to allow to pursue a family outside of the local community. When my great grandfather was being baptized, the priest would not recognize his last name. So, a 'proper' Christian last name was entered into the baptism records. It so happens, thanks God, I am an atheist. At times I wonder, if I were to pursue my Jewish ancestry (because of what I now recognize as my obvious Sephardic's, but paternal connection), I would not be recognized as a Jew (not unlike the Kaifeng Jews in China). I find the idea, if I were to pursue a Jewish identity, to apologize/neglect my mother's gentile ancestry as repugnant. Irrespective, I can't help it but to be lividly angered of my ancestor's (albeit as an Atheist unrecognized Jew) plight throughout history.

[@Elias-Mesias-Meshi]

Very interesting! Can You make a film about Iranian Jews ❤ or Azerbaijan,Bukhara Jews,as Christian and the Jewish ✡️ people has place in my! Thanks!

[@ruthyk7083]

And the general Caucasus region. There was an ebb and flow due to the silk road and empire shifts.

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

Ken Blady's book "Jewish Communities in Exotic Places" includes chapters about Jews from Bukhara and the Caucasus and Kaifeng too.

[@ruthyk7083]

@@user-jr4kc6lu9q thanx

[@sarajaved1120]

you are nothing but a hypocrite how can a Christian have place in his heart for jew when Judaism literally tell to kill Christians and Jews abuse Jesus/isa spitting on him

[@Theastronaut-bw1in]

Im north Asian and fully Jewish living in Israel most of my class mates are also Asian from different ears we actually read a book about this called the Jew of china it’s very interesting

[@ManashantiiTheChristian]

I always look forward to your videos. Thank you for this video. I like learning about Jewish history. God bless Jews. I also pray that Christian churches become less anti-Semitic and recognise that Jews and Christians need each other to understand the scriptures better. Manashantii The Christian

[@okancanarslan3730]

With similar practices and traditions, it's no surprise that Chinese thought Jews were just "a bit different" Muslims.

[@BORN-to-Run]

Islam "borrowed" or STOLE any legitamatley similar practices that they adhere to from the OLD TESTAMENT and JUDAISM!

[@tashikoweinstein435]

I am Jewish on my father's side and Colombian Swedish on my mother's. My Gentile mother made sure that I stayed grounded and connected to my Jewish roots! She is the reason why I am a Proud Jew ✡️ today. Moses, Joseph, and even King Solomon all married non-Jewish women, yet their children were still Jewish, and we as Jews see them as heros!! Being Jewish is a matter of Ethnic and Cultural Pride for many of us. Israel needs to remember that it's founders were Secular and returning to the land of our ancestors was both Spiritual and Cultural, and I would also like to remind Israel in case they have forgotten that before the Kingdom of Israel fell, you were Jewish on your father's side! Also, reform Judiasm excepts those like myself who are proud Jews ✡️ from their father's! A Jew is a Jew! Let that be enough, if you want those of us living in the Diaspora to return to ancestral homeland then you are going to have to except those of us with Gentile Mothers like mine!! Regardless of what Israel says or what the religious secs say! I will always be a proud Jew ✡️ and I will always stand by Israel 🇮🇱 but that doesn't mean I will except your rules or opinions regarding Jewishness because I know what I am, who I come from and the place I call home!! I am a Jew, Judea is my ancestral homeland and I don't need religious laws to tell me otherwise! And neither should anyone else, be proud to be Jewish ✡️ and don't let anyone take that Jewish Pride away from you because of who your mother is, what matter is you staying connected to your Jewish roots and Judiasm is more than a religion it is a way of life, we are Jews ✡️ we make the most of and best of we got! And what got is Jewish Pride!! ✡️ AM YISRAEL CHAI

[@tashikoweinstein435]

@WebinarPerson I know that, but apparently modern day Israel 🇮🇱 has forgotten that!!

[@TM-100]

If it means so much to you then it's no big deal to "dot all your i's & cross all your t's" so to speak. Do a proper conversion & be undisputably Jewish. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@play-doughsrepublic5121]

Thank you for your comment. "Moses, Joseph, and even King Solomon all married non-Jewish women, yet their children were still Jewish, and we as Jews see them as heroes!!" - You are very correct! Thank yo for your realization. Shalom... :)

[@dafnahaliwa566]

Very interesting and informative! I must add, the main problem all ancient communities who have lived in difficult locations face is - conversion. This should not be taken as an insult to their lifelong observance, but rather, as a result of their steadfast connection to Judaism throughout their lives a process was put in place by the Rabbis which would allow the so called 'hidden ' Jews to marry the open proclaimed Jews. Being certified a Jew is a process repeated every time a couple decides to get married, for everyone! For the Jews of Kaifeng that process is called conversion, a welcome home to our people with no rejection as the Rabbinate does with other candidates. Yes, it may feel like excess scrutiny and insult, but it is the only way to secure a Full Jewish identity for all our children and when their children will face marriage they will proudly be able to present their parents' certificate of inclusion to the Jewish people, something they were unable to do for thousands of years....

[@edmurks236]

There are DNA tests these days which indicate Jewish ancestry.

[@ruthyk7083]

@@edmurks236 it's got very little to do with genetics.

[@מאיהשחרונצואלהגולן]

I saw your video And I really appreciate your knowledge and the fact that you explain to the world why Hamas is not good, so thank you

[@AmeerHamza-wv2ks]

Buddy I suggest instead of listening to other people's narratives, you do research yourself and then tell me how bad Hamas is.

[@charbelyounes5188]

@JohnDove-d8d completely true.

[@charbelyounes5188]

@JohnDove-d8d Yes. Absolutely and factually true. 😂😂😂😂 I'm sorry if your little white friends aren't that good as you think they are.

[@helen7931]

I am Chinese and I am sad to hear that the Jews of Kaifeng is not recognized by the Israel government 😢

[@niuLiu-n7l]

为什么难过？这些人只是投机份子，血统上基本上就是中国人

[@youngmasterzhi]

Due to our last names “Zhu” being pronounced “Jew” in Chinese, my older brother joked that we would be the only Chinese Jews to tour in former Nazi Germany

[@Kees247]

Wow what a great video! Thank you.

[@MrK-js3it]

As a Chineses myself, i didnt even know there are jewish people in China...

[@成李-o4g]

Impossible.unless you don't read or watch

[@user-tr1zj]

@@BORN-to-Run but Jewish law, culture, and tradition mandates that the Jewish lineage be passed via the maternal lineage, not paternal

[@MrPookiexL3oi]

In my mid 20's I dated who I thought at the time was a Chinese-American girl but as we got serious in our relationship we traveled together to China and visited both of her grandparents on her father and mother's side. I knew very little about her mother's side of the family but I knew more of her father's side who are Han Chinese and most of her father's family had businesses in America and in China. During our time dating I did take notice something was slightly different about my girlfriend and her mother they both had different facial features about them but I didn't think much about it to ask. We visited her family and after spending time with her father's side of the family in Kaifeng we went and visited her mother's side of the family on the outskirts of Kaifeng city and that was when I had a big surprise hit me. I met her grandmother and I noticed right away her grandmother looked very different then the rest of the family she was mixed race. At first I did not say anything I just showed her grandmother and her family members my respect and just played it off like I didn't notice anything different but I was looking at her grandmother every chance I could get with respect not to stare at her. Eventually during our trip the conversation about her mother's past came up and then I asked her about her grandmother and that is when she told me her great grandfather is a jewish man from Europe he escaped the Nazi occupation and lived in Kaifeng along with many other jewish families that was able to escape WWII, it was a very touching story and I never forgot about this specific trip to China it lingered in the back of my mind for many years even after the breakup I thought about it. My former girlfriend hid her Jewish ancestry from me for several years and from her closest friends. At that time she said to me if we never went to China she would never have told me about her Jewish ancestry. I didn't ask much but I thought it was strange to hide something like this but knowing what I know today about China and the CCP govt. I can see why her mother's side of the family was so low key about there mixed ancestry I totally understand. I love history so when we came back to America I told myself one day we will go together to visit Israel. Unfortunately the relationship did not work out but I did not let go of traveling to Israel and in 2019 I did just that I got to visit many of the ancient holy sites in Jerusalem, floated in the dead sea and enjoyed Tel Aviv city life. I traveled around the world but I thank her for inspiring me to visit Israel. I wish her and her family all the best the world has to offer and to live happily and peacefully, her entire family have seen and been through alot during WWII and during the Japanese occupation of China and with the cultural revolution with the communist takeover of China. Whenever I think about my travels around the world I always remember that one trip to China it was the most shocking and most touching and inspiring experiences that will stay in my heart forever. I have kept this particular story swept under the rug for so many years because my former girlfriend did not want me to tell her friends or to my own family about her Jewish ancestry. I wish I could have told her that she needs to stop being ashamed of her jewish heritage and also because she is an American, she's born and raised in North Carolina she does not have to worry about the CCP in China. Because of her family that is still living in China I understand why she keeps it a secret to keep them safe. It kept me from telling my own family the truth which bothered me throughout my time dating her I don't keep secrets from my own family so it was not something I could comprehend during that time. I guess that is why we did not last together because having secrets is not what I wanted in my relationship and she had a fare share of secrets and rightly so I don't blame her. I thank her for the memories we shared and now I am approaching my mid 40's. I can reflect on the good times and special moments we once shared. I look back from time to time and I asked myself if she didn't have secret's would I still be with her today and that answer keeps coming back with "YES" I probably would have proposed to her and we would be married but instead I chose to walk away from the secrets. If you can picture the American actress Maggie Q who is also mixed race that is the closest resemblance my ex-girlfriend and her grandmother when she was younger in her pictures they both resemble one another a Beautiful and elegant women.

[@SirBaracha]

Im a Chinese Jew and from the Song Dynasty. The Song accepted the Jews who fled from Babylon and the Jews intermarried within the Song Dynasty community to prosper. We consider as direct lineage from Shem tgat went to the East and the others to the West/ Israel.

[@arctikbear]

In India's north-east state Mizoram, we have a village called 'Keifang', I wonder if it has anything to do with 'Kaifeng'. (North-east India is where we have the Bnei Menashe community).

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

The "Bnei Menashe" of northeastern India are not really descendants of any Israelite tribe. Also, there is no connection between them and the Chinese city of Kaifeng.

[@arctikbear]

@@user-jr4kc6lu9q You do know that they have done DNA test and other scientific test right? And has been approved by the Head Rabbi and Israel Govt.

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

@@arctikbear The misnamed Bnei Menashe were NOT approved by a rabbi. That was the result of a forged signature. For instance read the article "Head of 'Lost Tribes' Aliyah Group Guilty of Forgery" in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and article "How a Former Netanyahu Aide Is Boosting Israel's Jewish Majority, One 'Lost Tribe' at a Time" also in Haaretz. They don't have any close DNA link to Jews in specific lineages.

[@arctikbear]

@@user-jr4kc6lu9q I think, Its YOU who didnt read the article well... the forgery of the signature doesn't have anything to do with the legitimacy of the Bnei Menashe....

[@robertwood9984]

My understanding is that to immigrate from Russia to Israel thst one grand parent must've been Jewish. Thst means a 1/4 Jewish person could immigrate. These Chinese Jewish people have maintained their Identity with greater odds against them.

[@ml555able]

Wow really interesting video! Well done

[@ΣτέφανοςΛυγούρας]

Sincerely thank you for this video.

[@AlfredoCalalang]

Very informative, I only read short clips from books, but you presented it for educational purpose which is now early knew by mang, nice information you share, 😊

[@Charles_The_Texan_youtuber382]

Yes they are Jewish and imo any East Asian or South East Asian who becomes Jewish is a fellow Jew and should be treated as Jewish like any other type of Jew.

[@LeviHashem]

I ❤ Unpacked. This channel has helped me return to and grow in my Semitic roots. Thank you Unpacked!

[@BORN-to-Run]

QUALITY videos.

[@worldview730]

First time I've ever heard of them, it's like discovering a new planet or valuable mineral

[@kevingrace945]

this is very interesting and informative. I will share to my Facebook page

[@seanskywalka5172]

What are the primary sources for all these stories? Can they all be cited?

[@angelwen0927]

Wow it’s so good to know that there are Chinese Jews! I converted and I am ethnically Chinese. Good to know that there are many other Asian Jews around who are originally raised as Jewish growing up. Amazing !

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Finally! 👍🏻 Thank you ❤

[@maxscameraguy]

At my synagogue, we had to do Bar Mitzvah projects about something relating to Judaism. One kid picked Jews in China as he was a part of the Chinese Immersion program. He told this joke when he started his speach "Two rabbis go to lunch for Chinese food and order and one says to the other "I wonder if there are any Jews in China" and they debate it. They ask the waiter if there are Chinese jews and he goes back to the Chef. The Chef says comes out and says "We have Apple Juice, Cranberry Juice and Pineapple Juice, but no Chinese Juice"

[@deeman-zw7pp]

As an SE Asian I learn something new from this video.

[@JCjackpiper]

Love this!❤

[@yaranov5214]

Their history of intermarriage is what makes them not halachic Jews. This is also the reason why many in the reform movement and some in the conservative movement are not halachic Jews. Intermarriage rates are extremely high in North America and now even in Israel.(a large population there are secular and among them is a high intermarriage rate) To call it a second holocaust is harsh, but the damage this does to the Jewish people is extremely troubling.

[@xolang]

İ'd actually heard of the historical Kaifeng Jews but had no idea that they still exist. Thank you for opening my eyes! 😊 and bravo for pronouncing the chinese words! 🏆 İ take a chinese course last year and know what a challenge it can be. İt is sad to see how they're not accepted even by the jewish law. 😢 İ on the other hand have a jewish great grandmother (my mother's mother's mother). But apparently you don't talk about it in my family. İn fact İ was already 16 when İ found out about it.

[@yitzkhakkaufman3264]

That would make you 100% jewish

[@Eddies_Bra-att-ha-grejer]

9:09 Don't the Karaite Jews do it like this as well, and they claim that this was the original way to determine if someone is a Jew.

[@jamesboth3785]

pls look upto my people also ( Kuki and Mizo) from Northeast India. A section of our community follow Judaism. Many moved to Isreal, while others are still in India. According to our oral history we migrated from Isreal to Iran to China and then to India in a span of 2700 years. I follow Christianity. But I have cousins who follow Judaism. The thing is before we converted to Christianity , our traditions have many similarities with Judaism. And also the DNA test proved that a tiny percent about 4/5 % of the women carried the ancient Jews DNA. The rest beingChinese, Tibetan, Burmese

[@zapperthejeus]

No u PPL aren't Jewish lol 😂 u did for israel citizenship

[@Zambia974]

there is no need for aliyah...stay Jew..where ever you're kookoo

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

@@Infidel730 Sorry to break this to you, but Ethiopian Jews don't have a genetic link to ethnic Jews (Judeans/Israelites) either, and are similarly descended from Judaizing Christians.

[@UCantSeeemeee]

when you convert to Christianity you will find similarity to Jews before your ancestors were live in a primitive state . Your tradition consume pork , beef , exotic food like birds , snake etc but there laws prohibit to consume pork etc . The most delusional people are converted Christiani😂 , now in Phillipines and in south East Asia. Jews and Christianity are born from colonism spres throughout the world .

[@junaid1]

It does not matter how "hurt" anyone is that their Jewish identity is not accepted. It was not accepted in china and not in Israel until proper conversion. They married non Jews, stopped following halacha, who knows what they are... but if they convert properly they are Jews in Israel. We are a nation of laws, not of personal feelings. And that is the way it always has been.

[@nurkkr]

true. but i'm sick that the only accepted standard is orthodox Judaism, which for me has very little to do with judaism, has more to do with islam. (in the sense most of their belief is outward like in islam) they neglect spirituality and realism, without those judaism is just a religion and not a very wise one at that. (please debate me)

[@falsemessiah751]

Orthodox Judaism was a movement to preserve the beliefs and practices of traditional Judaism as many other Jews were dropping many fundamental Jewish beliefs and practices as a result of the enlightenment spreading to the Jewish community. That’s what distinguishes Orthodox Judaism from other sects of Judaism in that it attempt to preserve and maintain traditional Judaism

[@cabbytabby]

The government actually created a separate ethnic identity of Han Chinese who were Muslim, and called them Hui people. They were fully Han looking but because they were Muslim, they branded them as a separate ethnic group. But the Jewish people among the Han didn’t get the same treatment. And were not even recognized as an official religion inside China.

[@user-tr1zj]

as the video said, there were too few Jews to do so (otherwise, every obscure group with negligible numbers would want a carve-out) the Hui have a much higher population, a couple of million

[@dededoi]

hui is too broad of a classification, while lots of them are han converts there are those who descended from persian and arab traders resulting in groups like the hualong hui with very obvious arab influence in their "dialect". there's also hainan huis who are not sinitic peoples; they're austronesians like filipinos and indonesians.

[@niuLiu-n7l]

@@dededoi海南回族是占婆人的后代

[@janetprice85]

I read Pearl Buck's novel " Peony" years ago. It was the story of a young servant girl's love for a handsome young man named David the son of her master. It goes into the history of the Jewish emigres to China and the contrast between the relatively benign/ kind treatment they were given by the Chinese and contrasted it with the western persecutions.

[@hannahchelsea6790]

A replica of the bimah in the old synagogue was built in Kaifeng a long time ago, and transported to Beijing by the expatriate Jewish community, installed in a Kosher restaurant near the 4th Ring Road. This was more than 15 years ago. The restaurant has since shut down, and I don't know what happened to the replica.

[@davidjacob-angelazrael3915]

Very intresting, and very good information. Thank you for your time again on this educational experience 🇮🇱😍👍👍👍

[@jj3710]

So interesting! I didn't know this.

[@LoiDivine]

I met 2 jewish young women from Kaifeng at the Ulpan of Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, tey were doing a Conversion leChumra. there was also an indian girl who didn't speek any other language and was learning hebrew with courage. this was arround the 2002-2004 years

[@LadyMaven]

Very interesting and well done.

[@ginaryan1627]

Thank you for your lovely quick history of the Chinese Jews. As a Christian my immediate reaction to the arrival of the Jesuit priest was "oh-oh"! Your sardonic delivery concerning this was hilarious! Shalom from a supporter of Israel and the Jewish people 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇬🇧🙏🎗️.

[@user-b4751]

Исключительно интересно!

[@Hellbender8574]

This is such a cool video!

[@thomasrussell4674]

This is a beautiful story. I first read about this in "A treasury of Jewish folklore"

[@douleennewburg2143]

Shalom this was new to me and so interesting. Bless these beloved brothers and sisters. I would so love to visit them one day. Until then I will pray for them

[@ucminhvo295]

The Kaifeng Network sends it regards

[@poppothepug2211]

As a Persian I stand with Israel 🇮🇱 and as a Jew I stand with the people of Iran 🇮🇷

[@barryklarman2720]

@poppothepug2211 Absolutely! The Iranian people are fighting the same evil.

[@poppothepug2211]

@@barryklarman2720 💙💙

[@cjason123]

What does an ethnicity have to do with a religion? Sounds like they kind of had an identity crisis of sorts, poor guys.

[@francinebarr1204]

I’m Jewish. Jewish Grandmother From Southern Italy.. 🇮🇱💙🇺🇸

[@sportydude9337]

It’s amazing how for some of these Chinese-Jews their closest Jewish ancestor was probably from the 18th, 17th or even 16th century yet they still feel Jewish despite perhaps having the smallest amount of Jew in them. Some maybe less than 2% I appreciate this.