Dear Friend,
It’s hard to believe Passover is right around the corner! We are about to initiate a traditional deep cleaning of our kosher kitchen that is aimed at removing all of the chametz—the bread and leavened food products.
(The sages also like to say that in the run-up to Passover, we should undergo a spiritual “deep cleaning” of sorts, to remove the “spiritual chametz” that may be blocking us from fulfilling our potential.)
In this update we wanted to share a few quick and important announcements about our Passover Seder banquet next Friday, April 15:
First, we’ve moved the start time slightly from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Please arrive by 6:30 pm so we can get a prompt start to the Seder.
Second, for those of you who have not yet paid for your tickets, please do so as soon as possible and before the April 10 deadline.
We are unable to accept any money at the event because Passover is a “Yom Tov” holiday (and it also falls on Shabbat).
This will also help us plan the food and seating arrangements, and will ensure that your name is on our list when you arrive.
Space is filling up very fast so secure your seat now.
Click here to pay with your credit card online, or click here for bank transfer instructions.
逾越節即將來臨，真令人難以相信，是吧！ 以下幾點有關 4 月 15 日（週五）逾越節晚宴的重要事項，想跟各位報告： 首先，我們將活動開始時間從晚間6:00 稍微延後至晚間6:30。請各位於晚間6 點 30 分之前到達，以便準時開始宴席。
第二，尚未支付活動費用的與會者，煩請在 4 月 10 日前盡快繳交。 逾越節既是「聖日」（Yom Tov），時辰又落在安息日，因此，我們無法在活動期間收受任何金錢，尚祈見諒。 此外，事先繳款將確保您的報名，並能幫助我們進行食材準備和座位安排。 晚宴席位有限且即將售罄，若欲參加，還請盡快報名。 請點按此處使用信用卡線上支付，或按一下此處查看銀行匯款說明。
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Why the Hakka people are known as the “Jews of Asia”
We were delighted to welcome a group of 14 eminent professors, thought leaders, and government officials, all of whom belong to Taiwan’s Hakka community. After taking a guided tour of our museum, they enjoyed lunch at the Kosher Culinary Lab.
While Hakka comprise only around 15-20% of Taiwan’s population, they have had an outsized influence in many realms, including business and politics. Sun Yat-Sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, was of Hakka origin. President Lee Teng-Hui, who ushered in the era of democracy in Taiwan, was also a member of the Hakka community.
With their emphasis on education, our Hakka friends sometimes refer to themselves as the “Jews of Asia.” The Chinese characters for the word Hakka—客家—- literally mean “guest”, referring to the diasporic nature of this extraordinary people – much like the Jews, who continue to live around the world in various diaspora communities (like here in Taiwan for instance).
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Welcoming Adrian Krön to the JCC
This week we welcomed Adrian Krön, our first student volunteer from Austrian Service Abroad. As we’ve mentioned in previous updates, the JTCA has partnered with Austrian Service Abroad to bring student volunteers to the JCC.
Austrian Service Abroad is an organization founded and led by Dr. Andreas Maislinger and supported and endorsed by the Austrian Government as an alternative to mandatory military service. Our friend Roland Rudorfer, the Director of the Austrian Office in Taipei, has been instrumental in helping us establish this unique partnership.
Just days into his volunteership at the JCC, Adrian has already “hit the ground running,” creating social media-friendly videos such as this one about the symbolism of the Passover Seder Plate. He’s also helping us put together a unique Chinese-English version of the Passover Haggadah that we will be using at our Seder next week.
If you see Adrian at the JCC, say hello, or chat with him in Mandarin as well! He’s no stranger to Taiwan, having visited here numerous times to visit his relatives, who are of Hakka origin.
Read more about Austrian Service Abroad in this article in the Times of Israel.
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Welcome to our newest members!
We’re delighted to welcome several members to the JCC: Ezra and Yehudit Bannett and family, Edgar J. Britschgi, Meital Margulis Lin and family, Clayton Jacobs, Grace Cheng Dodge and family, Michael London, Roger Wu, Allan Ko, Emi Lee, Patricia Chen, Perry Underwood, Meir Alon Amir, Samson Kunin, David Mann, Shir Bashi, Scott Austin, Yaacov Moshe, Roi Vaknin and family, Daniel Patael, Shay Kosher, and Bezalel Sinai.
Thank you for your support, and a very warm welcome to the JCC family!
Join us on this exciting journey by becoming a member of the JCC. Just click here to sign-up.
See you at the Seder!
Shabbat Shalom,
Jeffrey D. Schwartz & NaTang
Co-Founders, Jeffrey D. Schwartz & NaTang Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association (JTCA)
