Taipai, Taiwan
April 30, 2008
Raphael Gamzou leaned forward to share the strange reality of life in Taiwan – and the Far East in general – when it comes to perception of the “powerful Jews.” “They know Einstein was Jewish and that he was smart. They think all Jews are smart and good businessmen. But their society does not have the hangup that Judeo-Christian ones have about wealth. Here they ask for wealth in every blessing and celebration.”
“Rafi,” as he’s known, is the Israel Economic and Cultural representative in Taiwan, an island of 23 million people.
So millions of people in this part of the world – I’m here on a five-day trip highlighting the country’s environmental progress, courtesy Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Agency – walk around believing all Jews are smart and sharp merchants. In the West, we’d call that notion anti-Semitic because of the European historically Christian-based stereotypes it conjures (and the resulting persecutions). I add ironically, trust me when I tell you that I know some Jews who are neither smart nor good at business, and both have certainly been applied to me.
So are such notions still anti-Semitism when said here, or is the offense in the wording situational? One can easily see how such notions said in an international forum such as the United Nations would create an uproar and result in instant Jewish defense agency press releases. Still, is there such a thing as pro-Semitic stereotypes? Should we encourage them?
Those are some of the questions that will be on my mind tomorrow as I meet with a Buddhist master and then on Saturday when I plan to attend Shabbat morning services – the only ones offered on this island with a whopping Jewish community of 100 or so souls.
Posted by on 04/30/08 at 05:12 AM | Comments (2)
Comments
Busnessman: You can’t tell me that you don’t get concerned when you hear talk about Jews being smart and rich and great in business. It’s only one step away…
Posted by Frank on 05/18/08 at 05:08 PMWe Jews are too hung up on anti-Semitism, particularly from the Far East. Historically we ARE good in business and we ARE smart. Not all, but many? It’s true and we should brag about it. So lighten up fellow tribesmen.
Posted by Businessman on 05/04/08 at 12:36 PM
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