By Dan Bloom
CHIAYI, TAIWAN — For a 30-something American woman from New Jersey who married a Taiwanese man and is raising her family now in southern Taiwan,it’s not easy to find a minyan, let alone a mikvah. Trying to find some fellow Jews to observe the Sabbath and get togetherfor some Friday night services is, well, trying.
For this story, let’s call her Ruth.
Ruth sent a letter to the rabbi in Taipei, a 90 year old gentleman named Rabbi Einhorn. She asked him by email if he knew of any Jewish services for people living in southern Taiwan. He told her there was an active group of Jews who met in a rented hotel room for services on Fridays — and for Passover seders each year, as well — but that there was not much in southern Taiwan, despite the lovely tropical scenery and beaches, in terms of Jewish get-togethers,
Ruth didn’t give up her search. She joined an online forum in Taiwan and asked the board:
“Are there any Jewish services in southern Taiwan?”
She explained herself this way: “Look! I’m your typical Reform, Buddhist, pork-eating not so religious Jewish intermarrried woman, but I still believe in a higher power and love my inherited culture and Friday night services. What’s up! There are people of all religions here in southern Tawian, but I cannot find anyone who wants to get together for an occasional Friday or Saturday service. Are there not a couple people interested in getting together for a Seder?”
No sooner had Ruth posted her message than a fellow commenter on the forum replied: “Ruth, try to find the American guy we call
the ‘Chief’ here, and you’ll find he can probably rustle up a minyan for you!”
Another helpful person noted: “Hey Ruth, you can Rabbi Ephraim Einhorn on Minstu East Road in Taipei and he would be able to let you know your options for southern Taiwan services.”
Ruth replied that she contacted Rabbi Einhorn and that he told her by email that he didn’t know of any Jewish people living in southern
Taiwan. So she asked again on the forum board: “If there are any Jews living in the Kaohsiung or Pingdong area, please send me a mesage. I’d like a couple Friday Night services this year or at least a Passover Seder.”
Ruth noted that from her conversations with the rabbi, she was aware that in Taipei, there was “a pretty active congregation.” Sometimes the Taiwanese locals at the Friday night services outnumber the Western expats attending the services and annual seders.
“The rabbi told me that he teaches Jewish culture and religion to anyone who wants to learn,” Ruth posted on the forum board. “Some locals even convert. The rabbi said there is no pressure.”
But Ruth was not in Taipei, she lamented. She was living in southern Taiwan and married to a Taiwanese man.
“I’m in the education/child care business,” she wrote. “People here rely on me to be there to watch/teach their children as well as
my own. I can’t leave of a day or two for any holiday, religious or not. A weekend I could get possibly get away with. Let’s hope the next
major holiday falls on the weekend of school break.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier just to find two, three or ten Jews in all of southern Taiwan?” she asked. “Look, in New Jersey, I could not help
but trip over fellow Jews. But here in Taiwan, where are they all?”
Ruth added: “Besides, I’m married to a Buddhist/Taoist and we have mixed kids. I don’t think the Chabad, even if I could find a Chabad house in south Taiwan, would be happy with me. I was involved with them in another life.They did nothing but to try to get me hitched. They wouldn’t take kindly to me marrying outside the fold. The Taipei rabbi’s approach is just what the doctor ordered. It’s just too far
away.”
Ruth was happy to note that while she could not find any Maneshevitz wine in the local stores, but that the Family Mart store near her home had some Mogan David Concord Grape wine.
“Let’s make some challah,” she concluded. “And sing some ‘Hi Nay Ma Tov’ (the Jewish ‘Kumbaya’), some Adon Olam, light
some candles, say the blessing over the wine and break bread and get toasted. I miss it!”
As far as this reporter knows. “Ruth” is still looking to find a minyan, even a non-minyan of two or three fellow Jews. In southern Taiwan. Where she has chosen to make her home, far far from home.
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Bloom is a freelance writer in Taiwan. He may be contacted at dan.bloom@sdjewishworld.com