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.
@@padmathalamarla8246 In the event of war, Israel is much more protected than European countries. The problem Israel is currently facing, which is more difficult than wars, is the corruption in the country. The issue of the protests that have taken place in recent years in Israel revolves around whether, in the next few decades, Israel will become an extreme religious state and most educated people will leave the country, or if Israel will remain an educated state and even continue to develop.
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!!
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.
Considering your country is a genocidal ethnostate that sterilizes Ethiopian Jews, im not surprised they are not willing to help out their asian counterparts.
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.
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!
So foreign merchants settled in small community, fully self contained and no doubt sufficient as you claimed or suggested are entitled to 'independence'. So I agreed with your premise. Then all Jewish communities in EU have the same rights!!!! 😅😅
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.
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!😅😅😅😢
@@rivlew7025 I agree.Many people have Jewish blood in them and have no idea.One of most closest friends comes from Vietnam and she found out she is part Jewish.
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.
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
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.
@@privateprivate22 The Jews of Kaifeng, a community that has existed in China for many centuries, were known to have integrated with the local Chinese population over time. As they assimilated, they adopted Chinese surnames. The eight surnames traditionally associated with the Jews of Kaifeng are: 艾 (Ài) 石 (Shí) (lit. stone) 赵 (Zhào) 张 (Zhāng) 金 (Jīn) (lit. gold) 高 (Gāo) 李 (Lǐ) 周 (Zhōu) These surnames were often chosen based on phonetic similarity to their original Hebrew names or in some cases to align with prominent local families. Over generations, the Jewish heritage of these families became less distinct as they further integrated into the broader Chinese society. ps : there are a lot of Zhou , li and zhangs around in china , that doesnt mean they have jewish ancestry .....i wouldn't think so , it probably applies to people who are from kaifeng.
Hi there. I live in a "Little Asia" community that's right next to a Jewish neighborhood. There's that old joke about Jewish and Chinese folks ending up in each other's restaurants during Christmas. It's kinda true here! Yes, the Kaifeng are interesting. Jews ere kinda special in how, for centuries, they've been an ethno-religious groups that has blended into countless other ethnic groups. I always thought that was kinda cool, if a little mysterious. How is stitch a small group so resilient over so many centuries? Most aren't! In any event, despite being neither Chinese nor Jewish, I have both in my extended family through various marriages. It makes for interesting family gatherings - particularly when food is involved!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
@@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.
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
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.
Im Jewish from Israel. I always get so emotional when i see those ALIYA stories from all around the world,and i understand how lucky i am to be born here. Am Israel Hai !❤🇮🇱
May G-d keep you and your family and friends always safe in Israel.Israel is the most wonderful best country in the world.Kol Tov v Shalom aleichem ! indeed Am Israel Chai ! Od Aveinu Chai !
@user-pb1rz4xu3x To live in Israel came into existence as a refuge Jews around world. A safe homeland they can escape too so the horrors of the past will.never happen again. Youtibe will not let me mention them all but know the horrors stared long before ww2. Thus to be a citizen of Israel one must be one of the following. .1. Be Jewish, .2. Be born in Israel thus Israel has a population of 2 million Muslims and a bunch of other religions such as Christians and people of the Druze faith. And finally . 3. To serve in the military as Israels neighbours want the full eradication of the country and its people. The the Chinese Jews problem was the definition of being Jewish. As acording to the Jewish faith to be Jewish you must be born to a jewish mother. Unlike Christianity where the faith is passed from the father. So tecnically according to the religion they are not Jewish and due to how the beaurcracy works the legal definition of being Jewish is the exact one of the religion itself thus they couldn't become Israeli citizens unless they were to either convert to Jewdism to be considered Jewish according to the Beaurcracy or serving in the army as they were not born in Israel.
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.
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“
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.
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)
@@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.
I agree, showing a picture of Yeshua's family and the fact Christianity was also started by Yeshua's followers. Modern Christianity was cut off out of it's Jewish roots and impeded with paganism due to the Catholic church empire.
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。
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.
@@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!
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.
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
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_Gjnot sure if YT allows. Just search him out. He has a channel here. I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Coursera course, available for free, about the Chinese Jews. It's fantastic!
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❤
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.
@@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.
@@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.
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 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.
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🙏
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.
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
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. 🤷🏼♀️
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... :)
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.
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....
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.
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
@@imperiald3864Siberian people often identify themselves as Russian, Mongolian will not specific mention they are north Asian, they will say they are Mongolian rather than north Asian. Either this guy is lying or that he do not want to real lots of information 😊
First of I’m a girl so hi second the term north Asian is the term they use for Russia, Mongolia anything that’s on the top part of Asia, including Kazakhstan Pakistan anywhere in the Middle East and lining south Asia on the top or on the top of south east Asia is considered northern Asian so yeah there you go hope this helps if not take a geography course☺️
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.
Im Jewish and imo Jews who live in isolated areas like this , a conversion according to Jewish law should be a formality at best and would validate thier Jewish identity beyond a shadow of a doubt.
@@Markjameslevy I find the matriarchy of Judaism to be a bit dumb, especially in the modern day and age. The most common theory on how it came to be is that a long time ago people weren't always able to tell who the father of oneself is but the mother was much easier to find, thus the status of Jewish was passed down from the mother. If it wasn't already obvious that isn't an issue today, which is why I still consider myself Jewish, even though it comes from my mothers' fathers' side.
we Mexicans should covert to Judaism and take over Israel and then hand the country back to Palestinians, crazy how people with no genetic links to the levant can occupy a region simply for being "jewish". I think Israel needs especially the women of Mexicans LOL
@@Markjameslevy Its a shame the children of/with Jewish grandparents and/or one only Jewish parents/father are not recognized by Jewish law after all Hitler recognized their Jewish ancestry for generations back and dealt with them accordingly . They were give the same fate in the death camps of Europe as any other Jew.
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 !
if u are interested in obscure jewish history u should check out J. F. R. Jacob. An Indian jew, who is considered one of the founding fathers of bangledesh.
I’m a Arab who use to hate Jews and Israel, than I did more research after Oct 7th and learned more about the Jewish culture and religion with this channel, thank you and stay safe
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.
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)
If they follow the laws of the torah why should they have a formal conversion? I'm sick of the catholic church wanabee rabbinate trying to gatekeep people from God. Like the Jews of china, India, Ethippia and Uganda who were rejected by the rabbinate we should only submit to God, not men.
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
@@nurkkr I am a secular person but I do not agree with you. Orthodox Judaism is not similar to Islam and should not even be compared. I have communicated and communicate with many Orthodox Jews and I can clearly see the difference. And if we take the so-called "reform Judaism", then there is nothing left of Judaism there and it is essentially a completely different religion and therefore many people stop identifying themselves as Jews at all and now we can clearly see this when among the reformists there are so many leftist fanatics who hate everything Jewish and advocate the destruction of Israel. Among the Orthodox, with the exception of small sects such as, for example, Neturei Karta (there are only 5 thousand of them and their community in Iran does not observe Shabbat and in fact they also have nothing to do with Judaism because observing Shabbat is one of the most important commandments so they are mummers) there is no such thing and people consider themselves part of the Jewish people and understand the importance of having a Jewish country.
Thank you for sharing the story. The tradition in China is the children follow their father's heritage. I have never been to my dad's birth place but I was registered as such in all the official documents before I left China.
Cool episode. Actually, until the Roman Empire, Jews were considered Jews according to the father. So any rational rabbinate recognizes Jews who wish to be Jews, not only based on their mother.
@@user-tr1zj And if you're going by their PHENOTYPE rather than by their PATERNAL LINEAGE! They are Jews via their PATERNAL LINEAGE! And that's what counts! Not what they LOOK LIKE!
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).
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 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.
@@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....
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
0:02 showing Om as Buddhist symbol?! Didn’t except that from this channel. Lack of knowledge! Om is a Hindu symbol, as Buddhism appeared from Hinduism some Buddhist may use Om but Chakra or wheel is more appropriate to refer Buddhism☸️. Pin this comment or mention this in your comment or this will create misconception among Non-Hindus.
I don't understand the gatekeeping by Israeli rabbis. Its not like millions are knocking at the door claiming to be jews. They should be accepted for their word.
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!
Always love seeing your videos , very educative, I'm really blessed only God knows how much I praise him, getting $100k bi weekly and I’m retired now. I’ve got a good cash and can also support my family
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.
I m former Christian, we were Jews way back thousand of years before and after, the more change the more we need to depend on those that never changed, live on to life L’Chaim לחיים Shalom peace to human beings
I really hope they come here to Israel and go through the conversion process. While I understand why it may hurt individuals it is a necessary prosses for things like marriage to be possible.
I think it shouldn’t be necessary. I say if they practice the faith that should be good enough. Who you are eligible to marry should be decided by whichever religious functionary you trust not by some government bureaucrats.
@BigJFindAWay are you from Israel? You need to understand that 99% of Jews in Israel would not marry someone who has a non-jew mother or non-Jews from the mother's side. It is not about practice, it's about blood. It's not even a question, if your mother was not Jewish you are not Jewish.
@@NilfgardianNationalist Thats total bullshit. Wherever I go in my travels I meet Israelis and many of them are married to people with no Jewish ancestry at all. People of all races. Israelis aren't fussy about that.
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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.
But they could have stayed back in failing...now israel is in dangerous situations.
@@padmathalamarla8246 If they know God will protect them in Israel, why should they stay in CCP-controlled Kaifeng?
ANOTHER CONSPIRACY TO REMOVE A MUSLIM IN PALESTINE IN REPLACE FOR A "JEWISH" CHINESE
@@padmathalamarla8246 In the event of war, Israel is much more protected than European countries. The problem Israel is currently facing, which is more difficult than wars, is the corruption in the country. The issue of the protests that have taken place in recent years in Israel revolves around whether, in the next few decades, Israel will become an extreme religious state and most educated people will leave the country, or if Israel will remain an educated state and even continue to develop.
@@TNTGAME12 this problem is exaggerated by left-wing politicians who trying to win next elections
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!!
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.
I'm with you.Totally inflexible. These are people with conviction, not fair weather friends that summon among us those with little conviction.
Isn’t that why the State was created?
Considering your country is a genocidal ethnostate that sterilizes Ethiopian Jews, im not surprised they are not willing to help out their asian counterparts.
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.
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!
yeah the west is fed up with ya again
So foreign merchants settled in small community, fully self contained and no doubt sufficient as you claimed or suggested are entitled to 'independence'. So I agreed with your premise. Then all Jewish communities in EU have the same rights!!!! 😅😅
So come Home already!
@sinalbertckwong6406Self sustaining before evil people change laws and make obstacles to limit freedoms. Welcome Home already!
Respect from a Chinese Noahide!
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.
Except that most of the Singaporean Jews are ethnically Indian or Ashkenazi. Our first Chief Minister, David Marshall, was an Indian Jew by ethnicity
wow, glad to see so many singaporeans here supporting Jews and Israel !!
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!😅😅😅😢
@@spdfatomicstructureDavid Marshall was Mizrahi from Baghdad
So Shanghai in... China😊
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 ❤🇵🇸
that is amazing! so many jews in israel know arabic, it means a lot to us when people want to learn our language too🥰
Your last name has some Jewish in it....test your blood you will be amazed...
@@rivlew7025 I agree.Many people have Jewish blood in them and have no idea.One of most closest friends comes from Vietnam and she found out she is part Jewish.
@rivlew7025 A lot of palestinians are actually come from different semitic groups like cananites samaritans and Assyrians.
@@Maus_122Actually most of them are Jewish
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.
escape from the Germans only to get massacred by the Japanese
Thank you, how very interesting!
Is there any book about this? What a great story.
@@WarrenPostma The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China by Jonathan Kaufman
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
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.
@@privateprivate22 they participated in the opium trade and the destruction of China
@@privateprivate22 The Jews of Kaifeng, a community that has existed in China for many centuries, were known to have integrated with the local Chinese population over time. As they assimilated, they adopted Chinese surnames. The eight surnames traditionally associated with the Jews of Kaifeng are:
艾 (Ài)
石 (Shí) (lit. stone)
赵 (Zhào)
张 (Zhāng)
金 (Jīn) (lit. gold)
高 (Gāo)
李 (Lǐ)
周 (Zhōu)
These surnames were often chosen based on phonetic similarity to their original Hebrew names or in some cases to align with prominent local families. Over generations, the Jewish heritage of these families became less distinct as they further integrated into the broader Chinese society.
ps : there are a lot of Zhou , li and zhangs around in china , that doesnt mean they have jewish ancestry .....i wouldn't think so , it probably applies to people who are from kaifeng.
it's pretty well known
Hi there. I live in a "Little Asia" community that's right next to a Jewish neighborhood. There's that old joke about Jewish and Chinese folks ending up in each other's restaurants during Christmas. It's kinda true here!
Yes, the Kaifeng are interesting. Jews ere kinda special in how, for centuries, they've been an ethno-religious groups that has blended into countless other ethnic groups. I always thought that was kinda cool, if a little mysterious. How is stitch a small group so resilient over so many centuries? Most aren't!
In any event, despite being neither Chinese nor Jewish, I have both in my extended family through various marriages. It makes for interesting family gatherings - particularly when food is involved!
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.
Bro has never heard when some guy claimed to be the brother of Jesus to try and create a rebel kingdom
@@Kennon959 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
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.
There is no political opposition in China. Therefore, China is the CCP
Obviously TaiWan is one of the most open and diverse places on Earth, while having a strong traditional Chinese culture.
My grandfather was born in China, Harbin. Learned Chinese and Hebrew, worked from the age of 12 and was a very handy man.
@oldtimer6129
Dara Horn’s book “People love dead Jews” talks about Harbin.
White Russian Jew? We also had a jewish community in Shanghai between 1910s-1940s
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.
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.
😞
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.
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.
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.
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
@@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.
Their home is eastern Europe
Jerusalem is the home of Palestinians only
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
@@orboakin8074 The Bible says many times "every nation, tribe and tongue" and that's what it means!
@@havas9184 POW!
Igbo are not Jewish
@@samoluwafunbi8061 yeah, but many are. What's your point?
@@havas9184 true
Glad to see Unpacked finally cover the Kaifeng Jews.
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.
I hope this community can get the support, love and safety it deserves. We all all joined in one world 🙂
If the Chinese government will allow it.
No. We are not. Hence the point of this video.
Indonesia is also not recognize Jewish people 😢
Yea, we know that, Fish!
But "HERE," we're talking about JEWS(!), and how they became SCATTERED to the
four corners of the earth.
@@BORN-to-Run Ummm, cool. I'm Jewish. You're strange.
Im Jewish from Israel.
I always get so emotional when i see those ALIYA stories from all around the world,and i understand how lucky i am to be born here.
Am Israel Hai !❤🇮🇱
By the Prophets, YHWH promised to gather Israel again, the 12 tribes! Is He not wonderful?
May G-d keep you and your family and friends always safe in Israel.Israel is the most wonderful best country in the world.Kol Tov v Shalom aleichem ! indeed Am Israel Chai ! Od Aveinu Chai !
@@Baruch-q4n Amen!
God bless you to😇
Hi, do you know why they need to convert to become Israeli?
@user-pb1rz4xu3x To live in Israel came into existence as a refuge Jews around world. A safe homeland they can escape too so the horrors of the past will.never happen again. Youtibe will not let me mention them all but know the horrors stared long before ww2. Thus to be a citizen of Israel one must be one of the following. .1. Be Jewish, .2. Be born in Israel thus Israel has a population of 2 million Muslims and a bunch of other religions such as Christians and people of the Druze faith. And finally . 3. To serve in the military as Israels neighbours want the full eradication of the country and its people.
The the Chinese Jews problem was the definition of being Jewish. As acording to the Jewish faith to be Jewish you must be born to a jewish mother. Unlike Christianity where the faith is passed from the father. So tecnically according to the religion they are not Jewish and due to how the beaurcracy works the legal definition of being Jewish is the exact one of the religion itself thus they couldn't become Israeli citizens unless they were to either convert to Jewdism to be considered Jewish according to the Beaurcracy or serving in the army as they were not born in Israel.
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.
Good point!
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“
Do you mean like those fake Kuki ‘Jews’ from north-east India? The Ethiopians are not even Jewish.
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.
@@SafetySpooon I agree!
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)
Here you go 😁 th-cam.com/play/PL-DNOnmKkUabBNl0Aee06VGSKbeJkrI6F.html
@@UNPACKED thank you!!!
You're the real deal!
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.
Yeah, their myths have the same characters
@@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.
Not really an irony. The first Christians were Jews.
@@joshuataylor3550or rather you are ignorant the true history if Christianity?
I agree, showing a picture of Yeshua's family and the fact Christianity was also started by Yeshua's followers. Modern Christianity was cut off out of it's Jewish roots and impeded with paganism due to the Catholic church empire.
Beautiful video. Great work as always
I always look forward to your videos.
Thank you for this video.
I like learning about Jewish history.
Manashantii The Christian
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。
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.
@@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!
@@rotholzs Thank you for your gracious response. I will certainly give it some thoughts. Shalom!
Please take all the Kaifeng Jews back home in Israel. They should be in Israel, not in China
@@rotholzsthat's lovely 😍😍🌹🌹
I know this community, they are the best ❤
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.
You have to go to Israel to meet them today.
They went back home.
@@BORN-to-Run would love to go to Israel.
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!
And the general Caucasus region. There was an ebb and flow due to the silk road and empire shifts.
Ken Blady's book "Jewish Communities in Exotic Places" includes chapters about Jews from Bukhara and the Caucasus and Kaifeng too.
@@user-jr4kc6lu9q thanx
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
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.
Please provide a link to video if you have, I couldn’t find. Thanks.
I love his videos absolutely best Jewish history channel
@@Elephant_King_Gjnot sure if YT allows. Just search him out. He has a channel here. I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Coursera course, available for free, about the Chinese Jews. It's fantastic!
This is awesome. Thanks for the great educational content! ❤❤
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❤
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.
😅
@@user-jr4kc6lu9qwhat’s the story behind that woman
@@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.
@@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.
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.
I thought that was the same character as Kim! It’s interesting that in Mandarin it’s pronounced Jin
@@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.
Korean Kims have nothing to do with Chinese Jin either. They are derived from different clan origins.
@@YummYakitori exactly
He specifically said people "from Kaifeng" holding the lastname. Not anyone in China.
It's amazing how you get the knowledge and awareness of all the Jews all over the 🌎
HaShem strengthen you.
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.
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🙏
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
Buddy I suggest instead of listening to other people's narratives, you do research yourself and then tell me how bad Hamas is.
@@AmeerHamza-wv2ksBe quiet.
Hamas created by US and Israel. Go search then say who is bad. Don’t be so judgmental as condemning others means you’re no better yourself.
@@suilim7206 Completely fictional.
@@JohnDove-d8d completely true.
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.
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
Dude learn better: along ago it was by father after the Babylon they changed it to mother. Chill out u r a jew for real Judaism 👌
@WebinarPerson I know that, but apparently modern day Israel 🇮🇱 has forgotten that!!
gentile sounds like an insult
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. 🤷🏼♀️
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... :)
I am Portuguese, Christian, And I am proud of my Jewish Heritage.
Come back to the tribe 👍✡️
They’ll draft you to fight in Israel.
Reject Paul, Return Moses
Sorry, but IF you were baptized, you’re no longer a Jew. Wake up.
@@NetScalerTrainer Reject Jesus, return to Moses. Return to Tradition
This was hard to take on board but fascinating. I’ve shared it with Jewish channels and groups. Thank you. Baruch HaShem. Shalom 🙏✡️🇮🇱✡️💙🤍💛
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.
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....
Thank you. You said it well.
There are DNA tests these days which indicate Jewish ancestry.
@@edmurks236 it's got very little to do with genetics.
@@edmurks236 what if its 1% ?
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.
That would make you 100% jewish
Finally! 👍🏻 Thank you ❤
This video is fascinating, thank you.
Wow really interesting video! Well done
What are the primary sources for all these stories? Can they all be cited?
Bc having real trouble finding any academic citations
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
what is north asian? Mongolian? Russian? I've never heard that term.
@@imperiald3864Siberian people often identify themselves as Russian, Mongolian will not specific mention they are north Asian, they will say they are Mongolian rather than north Asian. Either this guy is lying or that he do not want to real lots of information 😊
First of I’m a girl so hi second the term north Asian is the term they use for Russia, Mongolia anything that’s on the top part of Asia, including Kazakhstan Pakistan anywhere in the Middle East and lining south Asia on the top or on the top of south east Asia is considered northern Asian so yeah there you go hope this helps if not take a geography course☺️
Also there’s a term called north west Asia if that’s easier to understand
I ❤ Unpacked. This channel has helped me return to and grow in my Semitic roots. Thank you Unpacked!
QUALITY videos.
This is such a cool video!
Wow what a great video! Thank you.
Love this!❤
WOW!!!😮😯😲I'm not Chinese but this is a VERY interesting topic for me.🤔🤩👍😍💯
Thanks for sharing, mate!!😊💚🙏🍀
During WW 2 Shanhai accepted a large number of Jewish refugees. The ones Europe and the U.S. refused to accept.
Very interesting and well done.
Very intresting, and very good information. Thank you for your time again on this educational experience 🇮🇱😍👍👍👍
Fascinating!!! Nice to learn something that is totally unheard of prior. Thank you for the education.
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.
Thats not the issue; its are they Jewish according to Jewish law
Im Jewish and imo Jews who live in isolated areas like this , a conversion according to Jewish law should be a formality at best and would validate thier Jewish identity beyond a shadow of a doubt.
@@Markjameslevy I find the matriarchy of Judaism to be a bit dumb, especially in the modern day and age. The most common theory on how it came to be is that a long time ago people weren't always able to tell who the father of oneself is but the mother was much easier to find, thus the status of Jewish was passed down from the mother. If it wasn't already obvious that isn't an issue today, which is why I still consider myself Jewish, even though it comes from my mothers' fathers' side.
we Mexicans should covert to Judaism and take over Israel and then hand the country back to Palestinians, crazy how people with no genetic links to the levant can occupy a region simply for being "jewish". I think Israel needs especially the women of Mexicans LOL
@@Markjameslevy Its a shame the children of/with Jewish grandparents and/or one only Jewish parents/father are not recognized by Jewish law after all Hitler recognized their Jewish ancestry for generations back and dealt with them accordingly . They were give the same fate in the death camps of Europe as any other Jew.
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 !
First time I've ever heard of them, it's like discovering a new planet or valuable mineral
if u are interested in obscure jewish history u should check out J. F. R. Jacob. An Indian jew, who is considered one of the founding fathers of bangledesh.
I’m a Arab who use to hate Jews and Israel, than I did more research after Oct 7th and learned more about the Jewish culture and religion with this channel, thank you and stay safe
8200 Israeli bot 🤖 😮
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.
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)
Let Israel do its thing like it's been doing for a long time. If they want to do an immigration by descent thing, let them do it THEIR way.
If they follow the laws of the torah why should they have a formal conversion? I'm sick of the catholic church wanabee rabbinate trying to gatekeep people from God.
Like the Jews of china, India, Ethippia and Uganda who were rejected by the rabbinate we should only submit to God, not men.
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
@@nurkkr I am a secular person but I do not agree with you. Orthodox Judaism is not similar to Islam and should not even be compared. I have communicated and communicate with many Orthodox Jews and I can clearly see the difference. And if we take the so-called "reform Judaism", then there is nothing left of Judaism there and it is essentially a completely different religion and therefore many people stop identifying themselves as Jews at all and now we can clearly see this when among the reformists there are so many leftist fanatics who hate everything Jewish and advocate the destruction of Israel. Among the Orthodox, with the exception of small sects such as, for example, Neturei Karta (there are only 5 thousand of them and their community in Iran does not observe Shabbat and in fact they also have nothing to do with Judaism because observing Shabbat is one of the most important commandments so they are mummers) there is no such thing and people consider themselves part of the Jewish people and understand the importance of having a Jewish country.
As a Persian I stand with Israel 🇮🇱 and as a Jew I stand with the people of Iran 🇮🇷
@poppothepug2211
Absolutely! The Iranian people are fighting the same evil.
@@barryklarman2720 💙💙
I am Chinese and I am sad to hear that the Jews of Kaifeng is not recognized by the Israel government 😢
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
Thank you for sharing the story. The tradition in China is the children follow their father's heritage. I have never been to my dad's birth place but I was registered as such in all the official documents before I left China.
but Jewish identity is passed down from the mother's side so it's a complete mess
Cool episode. Actually, until the Roman Empire, Jews were considered Jews according to the father. So any rational rabbinate recognizes Jews who wish to be Jews, not only based on their mother.
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.
I have an excellent book “city of light” by rabbi before Marco Polo who went to china from italy
Thank you
I like this channel even though this is my second vid on ur channel that I’m watching
Thanks! Make sure to subscribe so you can watch more!
This is a beautiful story. I first read about this in "A treasury of Jewish folklore"
Just amazing.. after so many centuries, the tradition still continues. God never forsaken His own.
The fact that Orthodox Christianity is not recognized is just a crying shame!
Wait what
@@JORA52 0:01
@@cowboybeboop9420 ohh I see now maybe there isn't a big enough community yet and which church would they follow Greek russia maybe ROCOR or something
There are orthodox churches in China, the russian chinese practice it.
As a Chineses myself, i didnt even know there are jewish people in China...
Impossible.unless you don't read or watch
@@成李-o4g you probably won't be able to tell if any of those Asians were 0.00000001% Jewish from visuals only either
一群白眼狼。中国接收他们几千年，前些年，拼了命想要回以色列，但是以色列不认同他们是犹太人，血脉太低了，以色列不认。@@user-tr1zj
@@user-tr1zj And if you're going by their PHENOTYPE rather than by their
PATERNAL LINEAGE!
They are Jews via their PATERNAL LINEAGE!
And that's what counts! Not what they LOOK LIKE!
@@BORN-to-Run but Jewish law, culture, and tradition mandates that the Jewish lineage be passed via the maternal lineage, not paternal
Dude what are the odds, I'd just watched your old video about it yesterday
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).
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.
@@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.
@@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.
@@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....
I claim. Jesus is Indian and Jews are origin in India
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
Исключительно интересно!
So interesting. Thank you
What does an ethnicity have to do with a religion? Sounds like they kind of had an identity crisis of sorts, poor guys.
0:02 showing Om as Buddhist symbol?! Didn’t except that from this channel. Lack of knowledge! Om is a Hindu symbol, as Buddhism appeared from Hinduism some Buddhist may use Om but Chakra or wheel is more appropriate to refer Buddhism☸️.
Pin this comment or mention this in your comment or this will create misconception among Non-Hindus.
Thank you so much for this moving and inspirational Documentary. You narrate well. I never knew there are Jewish people in China.
I knew about them, but what about today? Hava they built a copy of their synagogue in Singapore or Taiwan?
I don't understand the gatekeeping by Israeli rabbis. Its not like millions are knocking at the door claiming to be jews. They should be accepted for their word.
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!
Thanks for sharing.....1st time hearing this....goos information 😊
With similar practices and traditions, it's no surprise that Chinese thought Jews were just "a bit different" Muslims.
Islam "borrowed" or STOLE any legitamatley similar practices that they
adhere to from the OLD TESTAMENT and JUDAISM!
My best friend Nick would love this video.
God bless them! ❤
Amazing revelation. Thank u .
他们是犹太人，希望他们赶紧走吧。谁迫害他们啊，这不是胡说八道吗
So interesting! I didn't know this.
Always love seeing your videos , very educative, I'm really blessed only God knows how much I praise him, getting $100k bi weekly and I’m retired now. I’ve got a good cash and can also support my family
Hello!! how do you make such bi-weekly , sometimes I feel so down of myself because of low finance but I still believe God
This is what Daisy Clara does, she has changed my life.
Wow! I know Daisy Clara, and I have also had success...
Absolutely! I have heard stories of people who started with little or no knowledge but managed to emerge victorious thanks to Daisy Clara.
Please what’s her contact information?
Wow China is one of the most difficult nations to maintain a separate identity. It's pretty remarkable that they were able to do that.
如果觉得受到不公平的对待随时可以离开中国 没有人会阻拦 不要双重标准了
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.
The Kaifeng Network sends it regards
Wow, thank you so very much for this story.
I had no idea as to the Kaifeng Jewish struggle. Baruch HaShem, their struggles end and soon. 🙏✡️
They don't live secretly in Kaifeng. They live in open. This is the branch of Jewish that were promised honey and bread, not the ones in Middle East.
I m former Christian, we were Jews way back thousand of years before and after, the more change the more we need to depend on those that never changed, live on to life L’Chaim לחיים
Shalom peace to human beings
How great. Thank you
Love this video.
I really hope they come here to Israel and go through the conversion process. While I understand why it may hurt individuals it is a necessary prosses for things like marriage to be possible.
I think it shouldn’t be necessary. I say if they practice the faith that should be good enough. Who you are eligible to marry should be decided by whichever religious functionary you trust not by some government bureaucrats.
@BigJFindAWay are you from Israel? You need to understand that 99% of Jews in Israel would not marry someone who has a non-jew mother or non-Jews from the mother's side. It is not about practice, it's about blood. It's not even a question, if your mother was not Jewish you are not Jewish.
@@NilfgardianNationalist Thats total bullshit. Wherever I go in my travels I meet Israelis and many of them are married to people with no Jewish ancestry at all. People of all races. Israelis aren't fussy about that.
I visited Kaifeng Jewish community in 2019. This documentary is telling the truth.