Free Zoom Lecture Travels in Jewish History Part I: Asia
New City Library, New York Presents Irene Shaland’s Free Virtual Zoom Lectures: Travels in Jewish History. Part I: Asia — Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:00 PM
Continue reading “Free Zoom Lecture Travels in Jewish History Part I: Asia”Schedule of 2020 Jewish History Lectures by Irene Shaland
Upcoming Jewish History Lectures Presented by Irene Shaland:
September, October, December 2020.
The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories Released
New book of stories from Irene Shaland is now available in paperback. In The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories Irene Shaland presents a collective Jewish narrative from various parts of the globe. She takes the reader on a fascinating journey, both familiar and unknown, from Europe to Asia and Africa, from Vienna to Delhi and Nairobi. The fate of the brilliant Jewish community of Vienna annihilated during the Holocaust shines a disturbing light on the stories of the current rise of Antisemitism in Scandinavia and throughout Europe.
Continue reading “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories Released”Origins of Buddhism in China
This is a short excerpt from Irene Shaland’s lecture presented on December 1, 2013 in Fort Lee, New Jersey. In this episode, Irene talks about the origins and development of Buddhism in China.
Where can you meet a real Chinese Emperor?
While visiting China in October 2012, we had a chance to meet, well, maybe not the Chinese Emperor Puyi himself who is long gone – but his nephew, Aisin-Gioro Yuming.
Continue reading “Where can you meet a real Chinese Emperor?”What does it take to preserve Jewish identity if you are a Chinese Jew?
October 2012, Again – Kaifeng, China. We are at the oldest Jewish burial place in China – with Mr. Jin in front of his life-long project, his family memorial. Our new friend dedicated his life savings and his entire life to create this marble memorial book which presents – engraved in English on one side and in Chinese on another – the 900-year story of Mr. Jin’s family within the context of Chinese history.
Continue reading “What does it take to preserve Jewish identity if you are a Chinese Jew?”History of Confucian Synagogue in Kaifeng, China
We visited this synagogue in Kaifeng in October 2012. On the photo you can see how Irene hurriedly writes, Esther, a Founder and Director of the Kaifeng Jewish History Memorial Center, tells the story of her forebears. On the wall, is the 18th- century rendering of Kaifeng synagogue. For anyone who visited the Forbidden City in Beijing and at least a temple or two elsewhere in China, the synagogue rendering reminds of the country’s typical residential or religious compounds.
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Meeting Biblical Esther-namesake in Kaifeng, China
In October 2012, we went to Henan province, one of the poorest in China and definitely off the tourist tack. We wanted to get to Kaifeng to meet Esther, “A Kaifeng Jew” as she proudly calls herself. On this photo, Irene is standing with Esther, in front of the entrance to Esther’s house. Shema is visible on the opposite wall.
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