Our Neighbors

Good morning, afternoon or evening depending on the time zone.

A few weeks ago I ran into one of my neighbors Kevin. We were discussing then normal issues, weather, taxes, political guffaws and the sort. I could tell Kevin had something more important on his mind, but since I didn't know what it was, we continued with the small talk. We moved on to work related items. He was currently unemployed. He was an OTR. For those who don't know, that's an over the road trucker. Work had been a little slow and he was tired of watching yell and white lines dance in front of the windshield. He had applied for a couple of local jobs at the Opera and sound studios. See, Kevin is an artist at heart. He spent years working on his music and running sound gigs. As he describe some of his past gigs I quietly interrupted. "Hey Kevin, why don't you write a book." His look was of confusion. "Where would I start? What do I write? Who would read it?" I think at one time or the other we've all asked the same questions. My answer. "At the beginning. Start at the beginning." He assured me if he got serious about it, he'd give he a shout for direction and motivation.

Yesterday I ran into Kevin again. Asked him if he'd heard back from the Opera or sound stage. Said he hadn't heard a word, but his fingers were still crossed. Then he hit me with, "Guess what? I took your advice, sat down last night and started writing. I was only going to spend about thirty minutes. Instead I found out I had been hammering on the keyboard for over two-and-half hours. I was shocked." The only advice I gave him was since it's an autobiography of his tales on the road and the shows he worked, be honest. Don't make yourself look like the good guy all time. If you do, readers will question the sincerity and depth of the author. He agreed and scurried back to his house.

Let me tell you something, that gave me a great feeling. Will I make any money of of this? No. Will I be credited with a blooming career? No. I will have the satisfaction of knowing I helped a neighbor in a small way launch a new career. I reflected back to the days I was coaching baseball. I never worried about the win loss record. I concentrated on the boys/girls learning how to properly play the game. If I knew they learned the fundamentals, the W's would follow them through life. I got the same feeling with Kevin.

I will help him and answer any and all questions he may have as he ventures into this new and exciting arena. Isn't that what neighbors are for?
Jeff Dawson on Amazon

The China -- Jewish Connection

 

Back in 1988 when I lived in Israel and was thinking of going to China, I looked up an organization in Israel that had a name that sounded like it would have Chinese people in it.  To my surprise, the organization was made up of Jews in Israel who had lived in Shanghai, China, during World War II.  China had been the ONLY country that offered open sanctuary to the Jews escaping Hitler's rampages without any passport or visa requirements.  America didn't; Britain didn't; nowhere but China did.


I just had the chance to view a  documentary called "Shanghai Ghetto."  It detailed what the lives of those Jews were like thrown into a very different culture and place.  There was poverty, there was disease, there were harsh living conditions, but it turned out to be a paradise compared to life (mostly death) for those who stayed behind.  And the Jews interviewed in the film gave due credit to the local Chinese who had so little themselves, but accepted them as fellow humans and neighbors.  The Jews created newspapers and cultural events, Jewish and Chinese children played together, and vendors bought and sold to each other.


What was totally missing between Chinese and Jews, and still is, was anti-semitism.  I personally know a Russian Jewish woman who was born and raised for 8 years in Harbin, China, in the 1940s.  She clearly remembers the kindness of the Chinese who shared what little they could and never made life harder for the Jews.  They all shared those bad war years together.  It was quite remarkable.


When asked where I was from the first time I was in Israel, I said I lived in Israel.  I found it intriguing that every student studying English I said that to used the exact same adjective to describe Jews -- "clever."  As I continued to return to China over the next 24 years, I became very aware of Chinese respect and admiration for Jews.  I got to know a Chinese professor named Xu Xin who had been a graduate student in the U.S. living with a Jewish family.  That experience led him to a lifetime interest in translating Israeli authors into Chinese, being invited to visit Israel, researching and writing a beautiful book about the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, and finally establishing a Department of Judaica Studies at Nanjing University.


When I taught briefly at Nanjing University,  I gave a lecture to the students comparing the cultures of Jews and Chinese.  Both are enduring cultures that date back to almost the same time in history.  Education, achievement, and hard work have always been highly respected in both cultures.  There are differences, but some very basic similarities.


The last years have shown a steady increase in relations between Israel and China.  They share astute business minds and work together in joint ventures.  Chabad, a Jewish organization, is in China, as are more and more Israelis who once again are finding a comfortable niche living in Chinese society.  Ancient cultures, they both have long memories.  Thankfully, the memories between China and Jews are ones of mutual admiration, appreciation, and gratitude -- with years ahead that promise more of the same.

Suellen Zima

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