China 2

Good Friday morning to all in China and a good Thursday night to all

We have been very busy since we got here and we have not really had a chance to sit down and write any updates....so we have a lot of catching up to do. 

To sum up the first two full days, we covered a number of the highlights of Beijing, and are really enjoying ourselves. The weather has been cooperating nicely. During the day it is sunny (tho hazy...or maybe just polluted) and very comfortable; in the evenings it is cool (sweater or light jacket). 

We had no concept as to the size of Beijing. It is huge. Distances are vast. And attractions are quite spread out which require taking cabs or subways to get from one place to the other. And even within individual attractions, there are vast open spaces (to accommodate the tremendous masses of people) which necessitates much walking. 

We have taken taxis which are an adventure in itself because of the driver's lack of understanding of English and worse still his lack of knowledge of locations in the city (we had to explain to the driver last night how to get to the National Arts Centre....imagine a cabbie in Toronto not knowing where Roy Thompson Theatre is located)...and then not knowing when you get in whether it is a legal cabbie or not.

We have taken the subway which has 15 lines covering the entire area of the city, (and adding new lines as we speak) and it is clean and efficient but totally packed...you do not have to hold onto a rail because being packed like sardines will ensure that you do not fall (but watch out for your valuables :-)!

So here are some of the updates....

On Wednesday night, we ventured over to the Chabad House, a short 12 minute walk from the Marriott. It is housed in a very attractive building on a Main Street directly in front of one of the entrances to Si De Park, which has many public sports facilities.

It is a three storey building and the entire main floor is Dini's restaurant (meat) and the kosher mini mart. The second floor houses a very beautiful shul with many exhibits that make up the Sino-Jewish museum of Beijing and it also has a dairy cafe open for breakfast and lunch.

The Chabad centre is managed by Rabbi Shimon Freundlich and his wife Dini who moved here in 2001 from Hong Kong, where he had served as assistant rabbi. Dini has close connections to Toronto, as she is the daughter of Rabbi Mendel Lipskar of South Africa, and the granddaughter of Rabbi Lipskar a"h of Toronto, who was my Grade 6 rebbe in Eitz Chaim.

When they arrived here, it was a virtual golus and over the past 12 years they have rapidly expanded the services available to the community of 1000 individuals who live here and to the approximately 2000 - 3000 business people and tourists who travel through each year. Included in this group, are the masses of Israeli backpackers traveling through Asia, especially throughout the spring/summer months. 

They originally provided all their services from their own apartment but now are housed in a 10000 sq. foot Community Centre housing their shul, restaurant, offices, kosher store and mikveh. They also operate another branch closer to downtown. The picture below is from Chabad's website and shows the Mei Tova Mikveh surrounded by a pagoda like structure.

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The staff includes not only Rabbi Shimon and Dini Freundlich but also Rabbi Nosson Rodin, Mrs. Miriam Rodin, and Rabbi Mendy Raskin and Mrs. Chani Raskin. Rabbi Mendy and Chani Raskin are the schluchim of Chabad of Ya Bao Lu, or downtown as it is perhaps better known, situated close to the downtown hotels and hosts Shabbat services and meals every week for overseas guests that are staying in area hotels.

Ganeinu is the only Jewish day school in northern China and is a school for the entire Jewish community, regardless of background or affiliation. They utilise a Montessori based curriculum combined with Jewish traditions and cater to the educational needs of students.

 This is a 5 star facility that has successfully fused together Judaic observance with a Chinese traditional theme with a modern spa touch.

Residents of Bejing and visitors alike all point to Rabbi Freundlich's warmth, inclusiveness and extremely gregarious nature as a major impetus behind Chabad's rapid expansion in Beijing.

When we arrived at the restaurant, there was only one other couple there, and over the next hour, a number of other couples came in to eat. Most were travellers like us on their way thru the Far East. We were hoping for authentic Chinese food and were not disappointed. We had a very good dish of sizzling chicken with Chinese rice as a side. It was very tasty.

We met Rebbetzin Dini's niece, Nechama, from South Africa, currently on Shlichut in Beijing for the year together with a number of other girls. She shared with us some of her impressions of Beijing, albeit limited as she had only just come around the time of the chagim.

We were getting quite tired and headed over to the hotel to rest up for our full day on Wednesday of the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.

Here is a preview.....

All the best ...have a great Shabbat...

弗朗西絲   - Frances
大衛 - David