Author: shaland

Posted on

Free Virtual Lecture: Travels in Jewish History – Asia

angkor watt Cambodia

Adath Shalom Synagogue Presents
Irene Shaland’s Free Virtual Lecture:

Travels in Jewish History

Date: Thursday, May 6th, 2021   Time: 7:30 PM EST

Join this event on Zoom: 

https://zoom.us/j/3393948412?pwd=QjJiVW0yUUtuV01mS0NvUzlyOU9SUT09

Meeting ID: 339 394 8412

Passcode: Israel

For more information follow this link to the announcement on the Adath Shalom website: https://www.adathshalom.net/event/travels-in-jewish-history-india-china-myanmar-cambodia-and-more.html

     Travel with Irene Shaland to the continent of Asia in search of little-known Jewish histories. In China, learn the two-fold narrative: the Jews IN China and the Jews OF China while discovering the 2,000-year history of Jewish life there. What are the Jewish secrets of the Gobi Desert and the Silk Road? What do the most anti-Semitic of Russian Tsars and a Russian-Yiddish cultural enclave in the north of China have in common?

     In India, discover the most refined beauty and the deepest spirituality of this country while learning the little-known history of the oldest continuously living Jewish community in the world, its myths of origin, and the sense of identity. Hear fascinating stories about the synagogue near the tomb of a Persian emperor, Jewish atheist’s shrine in a mosque, India’s role in the Holocaust, and Muslim youths defending the synagogue of Mumbai.

     In Burma/Myanmar, you will be transported to the ancient land of rice fields and countless golden Buddhas and pagodas to discover the little-known narrative of the once-thriving Jewish community there, which was all but decimated during World War II. Understand why this small group of immigrants throughout their history in Asia became so successful commercially and powerful politically only to disappear to almost oblivion after the 1940s and 1960s. 

     In Cambodia, you will visit a small synagogue near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and discover what the Rabbi’s usual day looks like in the country of Angkor Wat.

Irene Shaland is the author of a multitude of magazine articles published in the US, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, the UK, and Israel. She regularly presents at conferences, museums, universities, special-interest group events, and other venues.

Irene’s last book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories” is available on Amazon.

Join this event on Zoom: 

https://zoom.us/j/3393948412?pwd=QjJiVW0yUUtuV01mS0NvUzlyOU9SUT09

Meeting ID: 339 394 8412

Passcode: Israel

For more information follow this link to the announcement on the Adath Shalom website: https://www.adathshalom.net/event/travels-in-jewish-history-india-china-myanmar-cambodia-and-more.html

Posted on

Virtual Tour of Singapore

Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

A Few Words About Singapore

Take a quick virtual tour of Singapore. Often called “post-modern,” this city-state, energetic and cosmopolitan, proudly offers the highest quality of life. And this is true for everyone, whether they are residents or just came to visit.

Among many other aspects of life, Singapore is clean and well-organized. In addition, with no street crime,  it boasts a lack of unemployment and poverty. And if you talk to Singaporeans, you will find out that they cannot even imagine living anywhere else.

Singapore People

This miracle of Asia was built by immigrants from various corners of the world, and is called a nation of cultures. This city-state is a unique universe of tolerance and inclusiveness. However, it is not a melting pot but rather a mosaic of cultures.  As a result, this remarkable nation offers everyone an opportunity to build a peaceful and prosperous life.  So, among its citizens, you will find the Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Europeans. They Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jewish, or secular.

English is the main official language followed by Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Religions include Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism. As of this writing, the population of Singapore is 5.8 million, of which approximately 74% are Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indians, and 4% other.vir

Singapore Location

Singapore is located at the end of the Malayan Peninsula between Malaysia and Indonesia. The Singapore Strait separates Singapore from Indonesia. The Straits of Johor are the boarder between Singapore and Malaysia. The state of Singapore consists of the main island and smaller surrounding islands. The mainland of Singapore measures 31mi from east to west and 27mi from north to south.

tual tour of Singapore

All images © Alex Shaland. All rights reserved.
Text © Irene Shaland. All rights reserved.

See more about Irene Shaland and Alex Shaland.

Enjoy our travel photography at Instagram Travel Photos.

Posted on

Introducing Rabbi Barbara and Her Book: The Cat That Ate the Cannoli

Book cover of Rabbi Barbara's book The Cat That Ate the Cannoli

All quoted text and Images used with permission from the author, Rabbi Barbara Aiello.

“Discovering Rabbi Barbara and her book … turned a light on so many parts of my own family’s traditions, and opened my eyes to the anusim stories in my own grandparents from Calabria. I read it with tears the first time, and reread it with more tears, finding more details that I missed the first time. Thank you Rabbi Barbara! – Corbin”

Continue reading “Introducing Rabbi Barbara and Her Book: The Cat That Ate the Cannoli”
Posted on

Meeting the Jewish Community of Mumbai India

Irene Shaland and guides inside the Mumbai Mogen David Synagogue

Excerpt from Irene Shaland’s book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories.”

Jews settled in Mumbai (Bombay) in the 18th century. First, the Baghdadi arrived in the 1730s. Then, the Bene Israel began migrating from the countryside into the city in the 1740s. Today, Mumbai has the largest Jewish community in India: 3,500 to 4,000 people, most of whom are the Bene Israel. We visited two of the city’s eight synagogues: Kenesseth Eliyahoo and Magen David. Both were built by the Sassons, the wealthiest family of the Baghdadi Jews. The elegant blue structure of the Magen David Synagogue was erected by David Sasson in 1861. Hanna and Eliyahoo were waiting for us inside.

Continue reading “Meeting the Jewish Community of Mumbai India”
Posted on

Join us for a Free Virtual Lecture: Jews and Aborigines

Australian aboriginal man

Jews and Aborigines: Little-Known Stories from Australia

Presenter: Irene Shaland. Date: Tuesday, January 26th , 2021, 1:00 PM

This program is hosted by The Women of Fairmount Temple.    The event is FREE but a Registration is required.  To register: email Janice Hirshon at  [email protected]

Follow Irene Shaland on an exciting virtual trip to Australia to explore this country’s history, its land, and its people. Meet an Aboriginal man, William Cooper, a hero of his people’s human rights struggle and a brave defender of the Jews during World War II.

Continue reading “Join us for a Free Virtual Lecture: Jews and Aborigines”
Posted on

Celebrating Chanukah in Story and Song

Rabbi Barbara Aiello

“Thank you so much for the wonderful, beautiful, meaningful, uplifting, intimate commemoration (service) event. Everything you do is filled with deep meaning and addressed to all of us – our dedicated friends and …to the world at large.” A. and I. S., USA

CHANUKAH IN SICILY with Rabbi Barbara
Monday, December 14, 2020 – 6:00 pm Italy time
A ZOOM Event – Sponsored by Chavurah Ner Tamid Palermo, Sicily’s Pluralistic Jewish Congregation Porta “Chanukiyot”, candele e fiammiferi per accendere cinque le candele! Bring your Chanukah menorah, candles and matches! to light the FIFTH CANDLE

Continue reading “Celebrating Chanukah in Story and Song”
Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress