Beyond Soo Guy: Unpacking The Jewish-Chinese Alliance

What is the special relationship between these two peoples? It’s not just about Jews eating Chinese food on Sunday night or ladies who play Mah Jong. I’ve reflected on this issue, living and working within the Toronto Jewish community for decades.

Surrounded by Jewish neighbours and Orthodox traditions in Thornhill, I’m acclimated to the Jewish calendar, the huts in October, the pious who walk in Sabbath finest on Saturday. Having run a busy Chinese medical clinic, family-operated, in the heart of the Jewish community, we have had a window into the lifestyle, worldview and lives of Jews. We are simpatico. I’ve been curious about the commonalities between the cultures and areas of intersection, places where values and vision meet. In fact, in China, there is a longstanding admiration for the Jewish people.

You may not know: Chinese bookstores are lined with books written in Chinese with titles like, “How and Why to Become like a Jew,” or “The 10 Commandments of Jewish Success.” Jews are perceived as highly successful, valuing discipline and hard work and sharing the Chinese priority of family loyalty. Further, we have, as people, areas of shared experience. The Chinese who immigrated, like the displaced Jews who came, faced prejudice and difficulty settling in foreign lands. Despite barriers, many Jews have succeeded against all odds. Chinese are keen to learn from your example.

Dr. Roger King in his TED talk, “Overseas Chinese and the Jewish Diaspora,” points out many commonalities between the Chinese who migrated away from China and the Jews who were scattered around the world. Both peoples value education and have adopted a posture of self-reliance. Jewish and Chinese immigrant parents often had to create their own jobs when they arrived, launching family businesses and working tirelessly to make success. The Chinese respect the success the Jews have achieved, not just accumulating wealth but also the virtue of being generous and philanthropic; also knowing how to spend carefully.

Further, as a minority, Jews have represented their community priorities assuming a voice in the political landscape whereas the Chinese have struggled to find that voice and to express a unified message. There are shared priorities; also much to learn.