The Jeffrey D. Schwartz and Na Tang Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association (JTCA) is pleased to announce the purchase and delivery of Taiwan’s very first shipment of kosher beef. The 2,100-kilogram shipment is currently en route from Paraguay to Taiwan. When it arrives, it will mark the first time kosher-certified beef will be available for Taiwan’s Jewish community, which does not have access to domestic supplies of kosher meat.
The beef will be enjoyed at Shabbat meals and holiday meals, and will also be featured on the menu at Taiwan’s first kosher restaurant, which will be opening along with the new Jeffrey D. Schwartz Jewish Community Center in the fall.
This historic deal was the result of many months of effort on the part of many individuals and institutions. JTCA worked closely with Chabad Taiwan, Chabad of Paraguay, and kosher certification experts from Israel to inspect and certify the beef. Government authorities in Taiwan and Paraguay were also instrumental to the deal. The shipment was fully financed by the JTCA.
Paraguay has a long history in producing and exporting kosher-certified beef. The country is the largest exporter of kosher beef to Israel, supplying up to 60% of its kosher beef imports.
“As part of our mission to support the Jewish community in Taiwan, as well as introduce our culture to the local community, the JTCA is proud to provide the financial support and logistical resources needed to bring the first shipment of kosher beef to Taiwan. We are excited about the chance to create a complete menu of kosher cuisine to our new restaurant, which will be opening later this year. We are grateful to the support of the Taiwan government authorities as well as the authorities in Paraguay who were instrumental to making this historic deal a reality. And we are pleased to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral trade ties between Taiwan and Paraguay,” said Jeffrey D. Schwartz.
