Bar and Bat Mitzvah Tour to China

Archaeological evidence points to Jews in China as early as the fifth century. Many travelers, including Marco Polo, in the 13th century, wrote of meeting Jews. In fact, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) a Ming emperor conferred seven surnames upon the Jews, by which they are identifiable today: Ai, Lao, Jin, Li, Shi, Zhang and Zhao. Two of these names (Shi and Jin) actually appear to be the equivalent of familiar Jewish names, Stone and Gold. We have been further advised that Jewish traders came to China as early as the third century, although the settlements did not appear until later.

It is our good fortune to have become associated with Professor Xu Xin, the definitive world scholar in the field of China Judaic history, who is a Professor of English and Director of the Center for Judaic Studies at Nanjing University in the People’s Republic of China. He has given us a unique opportunity to offer a personal insight into this part of our Jewish history which has been a mystery for centuries.

We have been invited to bring groups to China now for the celebration of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah as a symbol of the globalization of the Jewish heritage. The bar/bat mitzvah Torah ceremony will be conducted by a liberal Rabbi on the site of an ancient Jewish settlement in Kaifeng. The Rabbi will also conduct a beautiful creative service in commemoration of the Holocaust in Shanghai where European Jews from World War II were given refuge by the Chinese people.

In our research we have discovered that there are Chinese families who actually are descendants of the ancient Jews who settled in China. Professor Xu Xin has made arrangements for members of these families to attend the bar/bat mitzvah service in Kaifeng. The itinerary Professor Xu Xin has prepared for our new program not only includes meetings with these scholars, but also social interaction between the Chinese children and the children who will be traveling on the IAT tours. Each child in your group will be assigned a Pen Pal, with whom he/she will have pre tour email correspondence, and upon arrival in Shanghai they will spend time together. The plan is to give each of the IAT children a Chinese name, and each of the Chinese children an American name. The adults will have a parallel interaction, the same day. This unusual program (never before offered) will provide a wonderful dimension to the entire tour. We will be exposed to an exotic, rarely discussed chapter in Jewish history, as well as an opportunity to experience China, which has been so mysterious to the Western World for so long, from the most personal perspective.

Recommended reading:
“Peony” by Pearl S. Buck
Legends of the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng by Xu Xin with Beverly Friend

MUSEUM QUALITY TOUR EXPERIENCE (ADULT and FAMILY TOURS)

EXCLUSIVE: fully escorted by PROFESSOR XU XIN

Director of University of Nanjing Judaic Studies Center

Definitive world scholar in the field of ancient Jewish Chinese history

SPECIAL BONUS! FREE LAND FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH CELEBRANT


ALL INCLUSIVE:
 

Round trip transpacific flights

All intra China domestic flights and train excursions

Yangtze River deluxe air conditioned cruise, 3 meals a day on cruise, all shore tours

Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Xian, Chongking, Yangtze River, Yichang, Shanghai

Transfers and porterage, all entrance fees

5 Star deluxe air conditioned hotels throughout (Except: Kaifeng: best 4 star hotel)

Deluxe air conditioned buses

Meetings with descendants of ancient Jewish clans

Visits to incredible sites of ancient Chinese history and historical Jewish sites

Shows and concerts

1)Adult tour – interaction with contemporaries; meetings with scholars

2)Bar/Bat Mitzvah tour: ceremony on site of ancient Kaifeng synagogue
 

Pre tour preparation provided for b’nai mitzvah

Rehearsal with Rabbi or Cantor night before service

Pen Pal program prior to departure, social activities with pen pals during tour

Gala bar/bat mitzvah banquet

For both adult and bar/bat mitzvah groups:
 

Holocaust service in Shanghai

Hutong and visit to families; visits to schools

Inquire about our Jewish heritage tours:
Israel, Italy, France, Morocco, Barcelona, Australia, European river cruises: Russia, (Volga/Dnieper/Black Sea;) Rhone, Rhine, Moselle