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Blog: Why Koreans Love Jews

by Julia Bass – Jewish Chronicle

RabbI Osher Litzman, Shliach to Seoul, with South Korean prime minister Han Seung-soo.

I was sipping tea with a South Korean friend of my father’s when he asked: “Do you go to church?” It’s a much more common getting-to-know-you question in Korea than in the north-eastern United States, so I replied: “I actually don’t go to church, I’m Jewish.” When the oohs and ahs from members of the family, who were thrilled to learn I was part of the tribe, had subsided, my father’s friend proclaimed: “I forgot your dad is Jewish! Koreans are the Jews of Asia!”

This family’s reverence for the chosen people is representative of a small but growing Korean interest in Jewish culture and its remarkably strong similarities to Korean culture.

Angela Buchdahl works at Central Synagogue in New York City, and her vast knowledge of Judaism is helpful in understanding this phenomenon; she is half-Korean. She says: “Jews and Koreans have a lot of shared values: education, value of history, respecting our ancestry and passing on traditions. I think Koreans especially admire the way Jews have kept a distinct culture over years of diaspora life.”

Many Koreans would be surprised to learn that there is a Jewish population in South Korea, albeit a small one. The exact number is hard to say, but anywhere from 500–600 is the general estimate.

Rabbi Osher Litzman heads up Seoul’s Chabad House. He says that Jews in South Korea are well established, and have professions ranging “from ambassadors and diplomats to CEOs, ESL teachers, students and members of the US military”.

In March this year, Chabad celebrated a milestone in Korea’s Jewish life by dedicating the first-ever Sefer Torah — a handmade Torah scroll from Israel — made specifically for the Korean Jewish community. The event began with a ceremony at the Seoul Grand Hyatt, which included powerful remarks from Israeli Ambassador Tuvia Israeli. The celebrations continued into the streets with a parade through the city and revellers singing and dancing with the new Torah. They ended up at the Chabad House for dancing and l’chaims, rivalling any night out in Seoul.

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9 Comments

  • To #1 Shaindy

    Really? Thats what you take out of this? Do us all a favor and dont out your airhead comments anywhere. You are talking about the rebbes shliach here who takes care of tourists and business men that go there. So just shut it.

  • RY b C

    One thing that should be noted is that while many Koreans do purport to admire Jews, most have very, very little understanding of what Judaism is or really anything about it. And Shaindy is partially correct in that one of the things that Koreans do associate with Judaism is the “Successful-in-business” stereotype–though from the Korean perspective, this is quite innocently considered “admiration” rather than as a source of scorn or resentment which marks the anti-semite.

    You’ll sometimes hear that Koreans enjoy studying Talmud, and that commentary on Talmud has been translated into Korean and can readily be found in Korean bookstores. In fact, the translations are generally translations of midrash translated for kids. And yes, one of the reasons for “studying Talmud” is with the belief that such study will lead to success in business later in life.

    I lived in Korea for many years and got to know Osher Litzman and his family very well; I still put on Tefillin everyday largely as part of his influence. He does good work, and I think of him and Chabad of Korea frequently.

  • Andrea Schonberger

    Excuse me but my husband and I lived in Korea for 2 years, courtesy of the United States army, and found for the most part that classical anti-semitism, we killed you know who and that sort of stuff, is still the norm.

  • y a akov

    korea makes excellent industrial equip. including military….they are friendly to Ha aretz and America.. at least they are friendly….I have chinese friends that also have similar veiwpoints (money and sucess) sadly their culture breeds the false belief that materialism equals happiness…. they dont really understand Judaism but at least they like us…reach out to righteous gentiles ?

  • Korean love the Jews and the Talmud

    The Korean TV crew is explaining to the secular Israelis the beauty of the Jewish people!
    Korea sent a crew to film Ponivitch Yeshiva and others. They went nuts with admiration for the people of the Talmud.

    http://www.youtube.com/watc…

  • MMB

    Nice to see a country and its people liking us, for a change.
    I know we are in golus and all but it does get sickening since there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

  • To #1 Shaindy & #4 Andrea Schonberger

    To #1 Shaindy,

    No, it’s not about money. The respect comes from the fact that, much like Israel, Korea has been a “buffer-state” and suffered at the hands of foreign powers for most of its history. The Koreans have been treated like the red-headed step children of the Far East & have been enslaved (not saved) by more than a few religious and secular oppressors.

    To #4 Andrea Schonberger,

    Yes, and you have the Catholic Church (and her offspring) to thank for that level of anti-semitism. Feel sorry for the Koreans! They too have been spiritually victimized by Rome and her offspring. Pray they become good Noachides! Better yet, help them become good Noachides!

  • To #6 Korean love the Jews

    To #6 Korean love the Jews,

    Thank you for the link! Yes, the Koreans alos respect education, which is another reason they admire Klal Yisrael and develop an interest in Judaism.