Viewpointby Carice WitteA Vision <strong>of</strong> China -Israel Academic InterchangeIn early 2010, I met Zhang Yangjia,a graduate student in economicsfrom Nanjing University whowas preparing a presentationfor a class on the development<strong>of</strong> the Israeli economy since the state’sbeginnings in 1948.She wanted to learn how this sm<strong>all</strong>,distant country, born <strong>of</strong> seeminglynothing, had quickly developed tohave first-rate welfare, healthcare,education, and financial institutions.She wanted to place the statisticsand numbers in their proper contextto understand this apparent miracle.She was thirsty for knowledge, buteven with the university library andinternet research tools at her disposal,her ability to research was limiteddue to sparse availability <strong>of</strong> books,publications and <strong>articles</strong> in Chinese. Mypersonal inquiries over the years haverevealed that indeed, into 2010, thereremains a dearth <strong>of</strong> reliable Chineselanguage source material on Israel andthe <strong>Jewish</strong> people.Yangjia is part <strong>of</strong> a growing trend <strong>of</strong> youngChinese academics and business peoplepr<strong>of</strong>essionals who desire to learn moreabout the Middle East in general and Israelin particular. As China becomes a moreactive player in Middle East affairs, startingwith energy negotiations and expandingto regional stability and other diplomaticissues, Chinese academics and scholarshave recognized the prerogative <strong>of</strong>enhancing their knowledge <strong>of</strong> Israel.The recent publication in Chinese <strong>of</strong>Dan Senor and Saul Singer’s bestsellingbook Startup Nation thensparked the curiosity <strong>of</strong> China’sentrepreneurial-minded community.Would-be innovators seem eager tolearn how a country lacking naturalresources and hampered by a 63-yearlongongoing conflict with many <strong>of</strong> itsneighbors could achieve such highlevels <strong>of</strong> success.Since 1985 the number <strong>of</strong> Chineseinstitutions invested in teaching <strong>Jewish</strong>studies has steadily grown. Today inChina there are nine centers dedicatedto <strong>Jewish</strong> studies, hosting classes onHebrew language, Talmudic studies andRabbinic literature. Of these, only one,the Center <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> Studies Shanghai,32 ASIAN JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 6
Viewpointby Carice Wittetouches on matters pertaining to thestate <strong>of</strong> Israel. Today there are about150 Chinese students studying inIsraeli universities, a number which isprojected to grow significantly over thenext few years.Despite the strong increase in studentand academic demand to understandthis sm<strong>all</strong> nation with 7.5million <strong>Jewish</strong>,Muslim and Christian citizens, basicresources to develop a comprehensiveunderstanding <strong>of</strong> Israel are unavailablein Chinese. A plethora <strong>of</strong> books on the<strong>Jewish</strong> people, <strong>Jewish</strong> civilization andthe secrets <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> money-makingtactics appear on bookshelves in China.However, the number <strong>of</strong> materialspublished on the modern state <strong>of</strong>Israel can be counted on one hand.This also holds true for online sources.Although news items regularly appearin Chinese media on the Arab-Israeliconflict, analysis <strong>of</strong> Israel’s historicalunderpinnings and a broader view <strong>of</strong>Israeli society are scarce.While trade and business developmentbetween China and Israel continue t<strong>of</strong>orge ahead, there is poor understanding<strong>of</strong> each other’s culture, history and evenpolitical systems. Such imbalancescould hamper the long term strength<strong>of</strong> ties between the two nations. Forthe people <strong>of</strong> China and the people <strong>of</strong>Israel, both <strong>of</strong> whom place heavy andsignificant emphasis on educationand informed viewpoints, this situationshould be promptly remedied.Fortunately, conditions are now ripeto fill this vacuum. There is demandfor knowledge, on both sides, amutual appreciation by Jews andChinese for each other’s past,current and potential contributions.Even within China’s politburo circles,there is awareness that Israel Epstein,Sidney Rittenberg, and Sidney Shapiro- <strong>all</strong> Communist Party supporters in theearly days <strong>of</strong> the PRC - were <strong>Jewish</strong>.There is a clear unmet need and akey opportunity to influence a future<strong>of</strong> positive interactions. A number <strong>of</strong>organizations are beginning to addressthis gap including Sino-Israel GlobalNetwork and Academic Leadership(SIGNAL).SIGNAL is an independent non-pr<strong>of</strong>itorganization created to enhancethe strategic, diplomatic, culturaland economic relationship betweenChina and Israel through academiccooperation. Through its strongemphasis on long term China-Israelacademic programming, SIGNAL isestablishing a foundation for enduring,multi-level partnership between Chinaand Israel that will ensure long-termcooperation between the two nations.This should lead to a strong appreciationby the Chinese <strong>of</strong> the multifacetednature <strong>of</strong> Israel and its people.Based in Israel, SIGNAL operates itsprogramming in both countries. InIsrael, Chinese students are takenon day trips to get to know the land,the people, the customs and historyas well and invited to attend semiannualseminars at various Israeliuniversities. Such programming aimsto provide background knowledge onthe country where they are studyingand <strong>of</strong>fer an arena for students fromChina to share their experiences, gainnew perspective and build a supportsystem amongst themselves.In China, SIGNAL coordinated the firstcontact between the municipality <strong>of</strong>Chongqing and Israel’s Embassy inBeijing. A few months after this initialintroduction, Israel’s Ambassador,Amos Nadai, presided over Chongqing’sfirst-ever Israel Business Forum thereand <strong>of</strong>ficiated over the start <strong>of</strong> SIGNAL’sIsrael Studies Program at SichuanInternational Studies University (SISU).The Ambassador c<strong>all</strong>ed the program“a significant contribution to greatermutual understanding between ournations.”SIGNAL’s main programming withinChina is its Israel Studies Programsfor Chinese universities. Working incollaboration, SIGNAL and universitiesacross China are developing thefirst comprehensive programs forundergraduate and graduate study inChina on Israel as a modern nationstate.Just as Israeli universities haveprograms in China Studies, the SISUIsrael Studies Program is to be the first<strong>of</strong> its kind in China, a par<strong>all</strong>el effort toteach Israel Studies in China. Thanksto the initiative <strong>of</strong> Dr. Fu Xiaowei andher <strong>Jewish</strong> Studies Center, the forwardthinking administration <strong>of</strong> SISU andthe good work <strong>of</strong> the new China-Israelacademic organization, SIGNAL SISUis laying the groundwork to launch thecountry’s first Israel Studies Program.Embassies <strong>of</strong> both nations haveexpressed this as a historic milestonein the development <strong>of</strong> Sino-Israelacademic relations.Reaching beyond location-basedprograms, SIGNAL will soon launch itsVirtual Resource Center, an academicwebsite providing comprehensiveinformation on Israel and its people inChinese. The site will include <strong>articles</strong> onIsraeli history, culture and society. It willprovide answers posed by users aboutthis unique nation. The Virtual ResourceCenter (VRC) will include information onIsrael’s universities and how to applyto the vast range <strong>of</strong> degrees that aretaught in English. In addition to essays,<strong>articles</strong> and other academic materials,the VRC will have a Video Channelproviding Chinese language narrativeto the many sites <strong>of</strong> great historical andcultural significance in Israel.ASIAN JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 633
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