The Chinese sense of humor is a lot more sophisticated than we are held to believe. Our company was at a 5-7 cocktail fest for those who have contributed less than zero to the local economy. We were all getting pretty good into the sauce, and we noticed a small Chinese group that seemed to be monopolizing the good scotch. So, we started gabbing and my associate said something that seemed to infer to the Chinese guy, “Lo” that he was Jewish. Lo asked, “how long have you jews been around for?” What kind of question is that? “around” , like maybe there was a period where they were under the radar? In storage?
—The Jewish community in China influenced the Chinese culture, such as Confucianism; Taoism and the Chinese classics, which had to be studied for the imperial examinations, for official appointments, and for social status. Many of our Chinese Practice and medical treatment and food have Jewish practice but people today are not aware of the origins. It was said that China today one of the only nations in the world that does not have a history of anti semetism and persecuting the Jews because of their faith and practices. Their hospitality given to Jew the History prove that Chinese much bless by the presence of the Jews. I eager to view the Chinese Jews: -Torah Scroll, but yet to view. It is known as Dao gin jiao. You can read the articles about the Torah Scroll of Chinese Jews by Michael Pollak—Read More:http://www.messianic-torah-truth-seeker.org/zanmeiyeshua-Moshiach/Chinese-jews.html
The rejoinder was “how long have you folks constituted a society and nation?” “Over two thousand years!” he said proudly, but a bit shakily. A good hand to be sure. But. I even noticed on the bottle that the scotch was kosher. Who would have known? “Two thousand years? We’ve been around three thousand years!” Then in the most perfect vernacular English, “Three thousand years! That’s a thousand years longer than us. Tell me, honestly, what the heck did you people eat for a thousand years?” I imagine the great sages of yore would have answered that better some things should be left unknown…
ADDENDUM:
(see link at end)…In a 1992 study, sociologists Gaye Tuchman and Harry G. Levine focused their attentions on New York City, where there are substantial Jewish and Chinese immigrant populations. No matter how different the cultures may be, they both enjoy similar foods: lots of chicken dishes, tea and slightly overcooked vegetables. For Jewish newcomers, Chinese cooking offered a new twist on familiar tastes. Then there’s the matter of how food is handled, a matter of great importance to observant Jews. Chinese food can be prepared so that it abides by kosher law, and it avoids the taboo mixing of meat and milk, a combination commonly found in other ethnic cuisines. In one of their more tongue-in-cheek arguments, Tuchman and Levine wrote that because forbidden foods like pork and shellfish are chopped and minced beyond recognition in egg rolls and other dishes, less-observant Jews can take an “ignorance is bliss” philosophy and pretend those things aren’t even in the dish.Read More:http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2011/12/why-did-jewish-communities-take-to-chinese-food/
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