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From: ecl@hocsj.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Chinese Jews
Message-ID: <213@hocsj.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Nov-84 11:17:02 EST
Article-I.D.: hocsj.213
Posted: Thu Nov  1 11:17:02 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Nov-84 06:17:46 EST
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Reference: <184@ptsfc.UUCP>

A serious answer is that there once was a Jewish community in China (at
Shaifeng?--I can't remember the city's names, but the American Jewish Congress
has all its China tours visit there for just that reason).

However, when my husband and I were there two years ago, we were talking with
our tour guide about religion and he asked what religion we were and we
answered "Jewish."  He said he had never heard of that religion.  Ever try to
explain Judaism to somehow who doesn't have any background for it?  He had
heard of Israel, and eventually we were able to ascertain that what few Jews
remain in China (mostly in the westernmost provinces) are called "blue-cap
Moslems," because there are a lot of Chinese Moslems, and because Jews don't
eat pork (like Moslems) and wear blue yarmulkes, they have that name.  Welcome
to culture shock!

					Evelyn C. Leeper
					...ihnp4!hocsj!ecl