Beijing's Jewish Community Works With China's Relgious Regulations

Thursday's Forward reports from China on the 1,500-member Jewish community in Beijing and how it deals with China's regulation of religious activities. In the 1970’s, a small group of liberal North American Jews came to Beijing and founded a progressive congregation called Kehillat Beijing. They were later followed by more traditional Jews from Europe and the Soviet Union, and a Chabad rabbi arrived to serve their needs in 2001. Chabad Rabbi Shimon Freundlich says, "We try to fly below the radar." Technically the synagogue is in Freundlich’s home since Chinese regulations prohibit free-standing religious buildings. Government permission is needed to import Hebrew prayer books. Only holders of foreign passports are allowed by Chabad to attend its services or its cultural events. Chabad does not publicly advertise its activities, and Freundlich discourages inquiries about conversion from Chinese citizens. A ritual slaughterer flies in every 3 month to kosher-slaughter beef and chicken. Beijing’s only kosher restaurant, which opened last year, will have plenty of food for Olympic visitors this month.