Hebrew Voices #110 – Hebrew Manuscripts from China
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, Hebrew Manuscripts from China, we learn how the ancient Jewish community in Kaifeng preserved Hebrew books and culture, which eventually made their way to Western libraries.
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, Hebrew Manuscripts from China, we learn how the ancient Jewish community in Kaifeng preserved Hebrew books and culture, which eventually made their way to Western libraries.
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Podcast Version: Transcript
Hebrew Voices #110 - Hebrew Manuscripts from China
You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.
David: The one that I’m gonna show you now is truly unique. This is the only Chinese-Hebrew manuscript from Imperial China.
Benjamin Netanyahu: Le ma’an Zion lo ekhesheh, u’l’ma’an Yerushalayim lo eshkot. (For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest. Isaiah 62:1)
Nehemia: Oh, wow. Tell us who you are.
David: I'm David Gilner, and I'm Librarian of the Klau Library here in Cincinnati. And I'm Director of the four-campus library system of Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion libraries in New York, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, and the main scholarly library here in Cincinnati.
Nehemia: Okay, and you've agreed to meet with us here today, and show us some of these Hebrew manuscripts from China.
David: Right. Now, it's commonly accepted that Jews came to China about 1,000 years ago, or a little more. They were in trading companies with Muslims and they sailed around to get to China. And then, once they were there, they trekked back across the desert to get to Samarkand and Bukhara and...
Nehemia: Crossed the Silk Road.
David: …the Silk Road. In 1850, a group of Protestant missionaries sent a group of people to retrieve manuscripts from the Jewish community at Kaifeng. By this time, these people were not practicing Jews. They were practicing something, but their knowledge of Judaism was...
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Comments
What about The Name amongst these writings? How did this Hebrew community in China pronounce it?
Wow! I’m only a couple of hours away from there! I see a road trip in my future!
Thank you again for your teachings!
Wow I got chills when I saw the documents on the main Picture. Thanks for what you do, Nehemia . I recon you’re worth 3x N.Geographic…. Nehemia Geographic. As for the rest of what I’d like to say, Brenda puts it best, so, what Brenda says..
When I was a teenager (back in the 1970’s), I and a friend were perusing some old National Geographic magazines. His parents had the entire collection. I still remember opening one from 1907 and being spellbound by the article on Chinese Jews. Some of my recollections have become somewhat hazy, but I seem to recall the author noting his intention to return to Keifeng to collect more information, interviews, etc. However, as it happened, political turmoil precluded that, and it was several decades before westerners made it back.
Ever since I first laid eyes on that article, then learned the area was closed to foreigners, I wondered what had happened to that community. It’s been fascinating to observe in subsequent decades the new contacts and the awakening arising of such things coming to light.
Isn’t that our hope, that israel (not only the jews!) will be sifted and gathered from every nation?
Our Creator never ceases to amaze me. He hides His truth in plain sight, we just have to be willing to search for it, just as the parable that Y’shuah presented about the woman who lost one of her dowry coins and searched without ceasing until it was recovered.
Thank you Nehemiah for being on the forefront of all of this and for your willingness of heart to stay the course and be the vessel that He created you to be.
May we all be as dedicated and willing to not only support you, but help “keep your arms lifted” when you are tired.
Shalom beloved!
Who would have thought…..
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