Israel’s president Moshe Katzav follows a kosher diet and is a Shabbos observer. That’s not altogether surprising, but it made for unusual circumstances when he was invited to China on an official State Visit last week.
President Katzav was to open the new Israeli embassy in China, and his visit would include banquets at the State Guest House, the Great Hall of the People, and the Grand Beijing Hotel. The Israeli embassy had no choice but to explain to the Chinese government, that the food at all of these events would have to be kosher if President Katzav is to visit.
Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, Chabad-Lubavitch representative to the city of Beijing, met with various officials of the Chinese Protocol. Unfamiliar with the rigors of a kosher diet, they were somewhat reluctant to go along with Rabbi Freundlich’s specs, but after several meetings, all was arranged, says Rabbi Freundlich, “in the most dignified and elegant manner.”
China’s government held the official opening for Israel’s embassy on Friday, at an elaborate ceremony which included presentations by the Israeli Ambassador, the Deputy Premier of China, President Katzav and Rabbi Freundlich, who lit the first menorah light.
In a first for the Grand Hotel in China, Chabad of Beijing saw to it that President Katzav would have traditional Shabbat services with a minyan—both for Friday night and Shabbat morning services, and a proper Shabbat dinner with candle-lighting and Kiddush.
Rabbi Freundlich, who developed a good rapport with Chinese government officials was invited to the official welcoming ceremony by China’s Premier, Hu Jin Tou, in the Great Hall of the People, a gesture which Rabbi Freundlich describes as a “major step forward for China’s Jewish community.”
Today, China’s Jewish community enjoys full time Chabad representatives in Beijing and in Shang-hai.
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