The Jeffrey D. Schwartz Jewish Community Center is the new hub of Jewish life in Taiwan. The 22,500 square-foot Center brings together Taiwan’s first synagogue, a mikveh (ritual bath), an authentic Kosher Culinary Lab, banquet rooms, a kindergarten, and classrooms for adult education. After more than a half century of presence in Taiwan, the Jewish community finally has a dedicated place where they can enjoy Shabbat meals, celebrate the Jewish holidays, and deepen their observance and understanding of Judaism.

With a view to preserving and sharing the rich legacy of Jewish art and Judaica, we are pleased to announce the establishment of The Jeffrey D. Schwartz Museum of Jewish Art & Judaica. The Museum will feature more than 400 rare Judaica objects such as Torah scrolls, mezuzot, Hannukkia, and Kabbalistic amulets, a collection of Jewish paintings and sketches, as well as photographs from the early days of the Zionist movement and the founding of Israel. This will be the first collection of Judaica and Jewish art of this scale and historical reach in Asia.

Known as the “People of the Book,” Jews have throughout the millennia relied on the creation and transmission of ideas to sustain and perpetuate their heritage. In this spirit, we are proud to announce the launch of the JTCA Institute. Through conversations with authors and thought leaders from across the global Jewish community, through videos and podcasts, through essays and blog articles, the JTCA Institute aims to help shape the global conversation on Jewish thought, observance, and life.

The JTCA Institute will also bring together experts in the visual and performing arts, and provide a physical as well as virtual platform for them to share their art with the community in Taiwan as well as the global Jewish community.

The JTCA Institute will also house a collection of rare music albums, an extensive library of books on a range of subjects, and a collection of books and photographs about the Holocaust.

Education has always been at the core of Jewish life and observance. JTCA Education is an initiative aimed at deepening understanding and appreciation of Judaism and Jewish history for people of all ages. The new Jewish Community Center will feature a kindergarten where children can learn the Alef-Bet and get a basic grounding in the stories of the Torah. The Center will also have dedicated classrooms for teen and adult learning programs.

JTCA Education will also sponsor education tours and exchange programs, as well as academic scholarships aimed at supporting students with a deep interest and passion for subjects related to Judaism and Israel.

While geographically they may be separated by thousands of miles and several time zones, when it comes to technological innovation, Taiwan and Israel share a lot in common. Taiwan, known to the world as “Silicon Island,” is home to the world’s largest contract manufacturer of semiconductors, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of smartphones and other popular consumer electronics, and many other firms that make the stuff that millions of people around the world use on a day-to-day basis.

Israel is of course widely known as the “Startup Nation,” and is home to dozens of tech unicorns with multi-billion-dollar valuations and innovative software startups. Israel has also emerged as a major center for global innovation and R&D for many of the world’s largest technology firms, from Facebook to Microsoft.

JTCA Global Business & Innovation is an initiative aimed at strengthening ties between these two tech-savvy nations. By exchanging ideas, building business networks, and hosting virtual and live events, JTCA Global Business & Innovation will serve as a platform to facilitate the flow and exchange of innovative ideas and trade and investment opportunities between Taiwan and Israel.

While the various initiatives of the JTCA will devote much time and resources to nourishing the mind and the soul, we will also provide a space for cultivating and supporting what matters most to all of us: our health and well-being. The Jewish Community Center will feature Taiwan’s first mikveh, or ritual bath, which will provide a place for meditation, relaxation, and spiritual rejuvenation. The Center will also offer a series of yoga classes and other exercise classes.

In Jewish life there’s a long tradition of “tzedakah,” or giving back to the community. Through charity outreach, volunteer projects to support underprivileged individuals and communities, and other initiatives, JTCA Giving will focus on providing support to those in need.