Presented by Eric Maroney

A vibrant and long-lasting Jewish community existed in Kaifeng, China, for nearly 1,000 years. We will be taking a broad, visual look at this community using slides, examining the artifacts that they left behind to get a sense of the kind of Judaism they practiced. We will discuss a wide range of topics, including the group’s geographical origins, their synagogue compound, their connection with other Jewish communities in China, and the books and scrolls they left behind.

The Kaifeng Jews provides a clear example of the tremendously malleable nature of Jews’ and Judaism’s ability to blend with surrounding cultures. Eric hopes by showing areas where the Kaifeng Jews accepted or altered Chinese practices, and others where they outright rejected them, we will have a greater understanding of how Judaism works in our own lives.