One to One Interview

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Shavei Israel

The Sino-Judaic Institute

SIGNAL

The Australian Jewish News

Israel Asia Center

Igud Yotzei Sin – Assoc of Former Residents in China

One to One Interview

Outgoing Chief Rabbi visits Hong Kong for the last time with fond memories

Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth, Lord Jonathan Sacks and his wife Lady Elaine visited Hong Kong in mid-January for what is likely to be their final trip to the city before he retires from his role in September this year.

The Chief Rabbi has visited Hong Kong many times over the past fifteen years, his last visit being just last September. Before this current visit, his office specifically contacted Jewish Times Asia requesting an interview. We were particularly keen to take this opportunity to capture Lord Sacks’ feelings and memories of the Hong Kong Jewish Community and to see how he has observed the changes over the years.

Lord Sacks initially became involved with the Jewish Community of Hong Kong at the time of the restoration of the Ohel Leah Synagogue and the building of the Jewish Community Centre (JCC). The community looked to him for leadership during this time and he of course flew to Hong Kong for the opening of the JCC which he described as “sensational.”

He was also in Hong Kong for the completion of a new Sefer Torah and describes how he wanted this to be an event for the children rather than a traditional formal event. The memory of all the children and other community members dancing with the Sefer Torah from the JCC into the synagogue remains one of his Hong Kong highlights.

Looking to the future of the Hong Kong Jewish Community, the Chief Rabbi can only envisage success. He cannot speak highly enough of how hospitable they are to visitors from all over the world and that he sees Hong Kong as being in a unique strategic location. He firmly feels that the 21st century is going to be the “Asian Century” and with Hong Kong being a key city in Asia, the Jewish community is well placed to go from strength to strength.

Education has always been one of the major points of focus for the Chief Rabbi and he often declares that one of his most important achievements during his time in the role is that he has overseen more new Jewish schools being built in the UK in the past 20 years than at any other time in Anglo-Jewish history. When he first took on his role, 25% of Jewish children in Britain attended a Jewish school, now this figure is closer to 70%.

From F-16s to Boeings EL AL chief sees only blue skies ahead

Elyezer Shkedy, President and CEO of EL AL Israel Airlines joined the airline in January 2010 after a distinguished career of nearly 33 years in the Israeli Air Force, earning the rank of Major General.

Shkedy was visiting Hong Kong in June, Jewish Times Asia sat down with EL AL's president to discuss the airlines position in Asia and his personal experiences as a fighter pilot.

Jewish Times Asia: What is the situation regarding Asia in the development plans of EL AL?

We are trying to put Asia more clearly on our map. We fly into four places in Asia: Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Beijing. We are trying to increase flight frequency. Lately, a year ago, I decided to make a change and we enlarged the capacity into Asia and added flights into Hong Kong, Mumbai and Beijing and that was quite a dramatic change.

It is complicated to get ‘slots’, especially in Beijing. One slot we got into Beijing was not attractive so we did not take it. We know what we want and that slot did not fit our requirements. The capacity in 2011 became much bigger than before.

Ruth Kahanoff speaks about Israel in Asia and opposite directions

Ruth Kahanoff, Deputy Director General, Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Israel was in Hong Kong as a guest of the Hong Kong government Department of Information Services in January, 2012. Jewish Times Asia had the opportunity to speak with her and ask her about Israel in Asia.

Jewish Times Asia: You are no stranger to Hong Kong, nor Asia, how do you see things now?

It has been many years since I was here working in Hong Kong so I was pleased to get this invitation and be here to see all the changes and reacquaint myself with the region. The visit has already reminded us of the importance of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong itself has many opportunities for us and Hong Kong in partnerships to do things in China is also interesting, especially in South China. I believe we need to explore the opportunities on top of what the very able consul-general is doing.

We can consolidate the work going on in Guangzhou, so it is a good moment for us to get a feeling for the place and to get more ideas on where we can operate, economically, but also in research and development and with the academic communities, besides in cultural affairs.