23 years ago,we made our first visit to the Orient (aside from my year in Vietnam)Except for the synagogues in Tokyo and H.K., which offered meals,there was nothing.
Today,there are minyanim and restaurants in Thailand,China and H.K.(3 in H.K.)
There is one site that stands out,and that is the Sephardic Congregation-restaurant in Kowloon, H.K.
They have a minyan 3 times a day and after the morning services, serve a free breakfast.During the week,they have a meat retaurant which attracts businessmen from all over the world,primarily sephardic individuals from Panama,Mexico and Israel,as well ,as the U.S.
It is on shabbos that one sees a dramatic picture.Last Friday night, 300 men and a few women came to the orthodox services.Then they waited in the hall of this office/commercial building,and within minutes tables were set up and a formal meal served.
Not only was the food plentiful and varied ( 3 kinds of fish),but the amazing part is that NO reservations are required.Nor is there any charge for this or the lunch and shlosh seudoth on shabbat.Of course a donation is usual, and they do sell the aliyoth on shabbat to cover their annual $800,000 budget.
Rabbi Meoded has truly vitalized this community.Since many Rabbis and scholars pass by through H.K.,they are invited to speak or teach a class.
Just a note on the Chabad efforts in Shanghai and Beijing where a similar attempt is made to welcome Jewish travelers.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
I am back!
It was a wonderful 24 days that my wife and I spent inn Israel,China and Hong Kong.
Firstly I appreciate Elli's pitching in during my trip.
Since my internal clock is way off,what with a 12 hour difference in time,and a 16 hour flight,I got up after a few hours sleep, to write a few words, and try to start catching up with the world.There is only international CNN in China-HK hotels,and no real newspapers,so you have a distorted view of what news you do obtain.
One interesting point, is that when Sheila and I went to the Great Wall in Beijing 2 weeks ago,though it was drizzling when we left our hotel room,it was a snowstorm at the elevations of the Wall.
Our guide's first comment was " GLOBAL WARMING" with a big smile.Obviously Al Gore has had a major influence there!
Firstly I appreciate Elli's pitching in during my trip.
Since my internal clock is way off,what with a 12 hour difference in time,and a 16 hour flight,I got up after a few hours sleep, to write a few words, and try to start catching up with the world.There is only international CNN in China-HK hotels,and no real newspapers,so you have a distorted view of what news you do obtain.
One interesting point, is that when Sheila and I went to the Great Wall in Beijing 2 weeks ago,though it was drizzling when we left our hotel room,it was a snowstorm at the elevations of the Wall.
Our guide's first comment was " GLOBAL WARMING" with a big smile.Obviously Al Gore has had a major influence there!
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Israel and The NYT/Senate Races
Elliot Ganchrow writes:
As a Republican and a supporter of Israel, you need to hold your nose when you read the The New York Times. Two points from yesterday's Times: one, in discussing the pointless talks which will begin this week, Martin Indyk is quoted as saying that he worried that the talks would be disrupted by a terrorist attack or by a decision by Jerusalem authorities to build housing in East Jerusalem. So we reached the point that the experts are equating terrorist attacks with building apartments in the Israeli capital. The second was the op-ed written by Kai Bird, who remembers the Jerusalem of her youth (prior to 1967) and condemns the fact that Palestinians with pre-1948 deeds can't retake their homes from Jews. Two pretty big points she obviously misses- the pre-1967 Jerusalem wasn't that great from the Jewish perspective- afterall they couldn't visit the Western Wall; and second, she doesn't seem overally concerned that the thousands of Jews evicted from the homes in Arab states won't receive compensation from these Arab states.
___________________________________________________________________________
We are starting to see most of the 2010 Senate races take shape- Republicans are looking good in taking current Democratic seats in N. Dakota, Delaware (Biden's old seat), Illinois (Obama's old seat), Indiana, Arkansas, Nevada (Harry Reid's seat), and Pennsylvania. These seven seats would give the Republicans 48 seats. The Republicans also have good chances in Colorado and California and an outside chance in Washington. What is especially interesting is that the Republicans could end up in control of Kennedy's, Biden's and Obama's old seats. Of the Republican held seats, only two could switch to the Democrats, one is Ohio and the other is Florida, where Governor Crist capped off a stunning turn of events by going from prohibitive favorite to being blown out of the Republican Party. Crist will have a tougher time than Joe Lieberman who tried the same tack- Lieberman ran as an independent but enjoyed strong Republican support (and only a token Republican on the ballot)- Crist is attempting to go against two well funded party candidates. Its unclear where he thinks his support is going to come from- my money is still on Marco Rubio.
As a Republican and a supporter of Israel, you need to hold your nose when you read the The New York Times. Two points from yesterday's Times: one, in discussing the pointless talks which will begin this week, Martin Indyk is quoted as saying that he worried that the talks would be disrupted by a terrorist attack or by a decision by Jerusalem authorities to build housing in East Jerusalem. So we reached the point that the experts are equating terrorist attacks with building apartments in the Israeli capital. The second was the op-ed written by Kai Bird, who remembers the Jerusalem of her youth (prior to 1967) and condemns the fact that Palestinians with pre-1948 deeds can't retake their homes from Jews. Two pretty big points she obviously misses- the pre-1967 Jerusalem wasn't that great from the Jewish perspective- afterall they couldn't visit the Western Wall; and second, she doesn't seem overally concerned that the thousands of Jews evicted from the homes in Arab states won't receive compensation from these Arab states.
___________________________________________________________________________
We are starting to see most of the 2010 Senate races take shape- Republicans are looking good in taking current Democratic seats in N. Dakota, Delaware (Biden's old seat), Illinois (Obama's old seat), Indiana, Arkansas, Nevada (Harry Reid's seat), and Pennsylvania. These seven seats would give the Republicans 48 seats. The Republicans also have good chances in Colorado and California and an outside chance in Washington. What is especially interesting is that the Republicans could end up in control of Kennedy's, Biden's and Obama's old seats. Of the Republican held seats, only two could switch to the Democrats, one is Ohio and the other is Florida, where Governor Crist capped off a stunning turn of events by going from prohibitive favorite to being blown out of the Republican Party. Crist will have a tougher time than Joe Lieberman who tried the same tack- Lieberman ran as an independent but enjoyed strong Republican support (and only a token Republican on the ballot)- Crist is attempting to go against two well funded party candidates. Its unclear where he thinks his support is going to come from- my money is still on Marco Rubio.
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