The Jews of China and their contribution to the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century

Yossi Katz

doi:10.1080/00263206.2010.492988

The Jews of China and their contribution to the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century

Yossi Katz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This article deals with the contribution of Zionists throughout the world to the building of the National Home in Palestine, including the Zionist communities in the Far East – India and China. It examines the vast Zionist activity taking place in China, with the Zionists of China making a significant contribution, especially considering the small size of its Jewish community. In contrast to popular belief, in the period discussed in our research China was not distant and disconnected from the Zionist centres in Palestine and Europe. Written Zionist propaganda and Zionist representatives did not overlook China. The notable extent of donations and investments made by the Jews of China benefiting the National Home through the Jewish Colonial Trust, the Jewish National Fund, and the Foundation Fund is the result of two main factors: firstly, the economic strength of the community, especially the very wealthy Iraqi Jews, and secondly, the Zionist passion of the Chinese Jews. The Kadoorie family, whose donations assisted in purchasing land for the Hebrew University, the building of Ha'emek Hospital, and the establishment of the Galilee agricultural school, played a pivotal role. There is no doubt that Eliezer Kadoorie serving as head of the Zionist Organization in China as well as some of its institutions helped widen the circle of donors among upper and middle class Zionists in China, and shared in their prominent part in creating the Jewish National Home in Palestine.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	543-554
Number of pages	12
Journal	Middle Eastern Studies
Volume	46
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00263206.2010.492988
State	Published - 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
42. About the Foundation Fund activities in China see reports by the Foundation Fund Head Office submitted to the Zionist Congresses in the 1920s and 1930s in CZA. See also CZA, the following files: KH4/B1984, KH4/B1975, KH4/B1974, KH4/B1983, KH4/B1976, KH4/B1978, F4/635, KH4/B1980, KH4/B9866, KH4/9865.

Funding Information:
The United Israel Appeal (the Foundation Fund), which, as previously mentioned, collected donations for the funding and maintenance of the Zionist Organization institutions, chiefly the settlements established with the Zionist Organization’s initiative and the labourers’ organizations – was also active in China since its foundation in the early 1920s. In 1924, it opened a branch in Shanghai, managed by Eliezer Kadoorie. In 1928, a Foundation Fund representative arrived from Palestine, and established special committees in Tianjin, Harbin and Mokdon. He also achieved formal government approval for the Jewish National Fund, the Foundation Fund, and the Jewish Organization in China. The Foundation Fund raised thousands of pounds in China.42

Funding

42. About the Foundation Fund activities in China see reports by the Foundation Fund Head Office submitted to the Zionist Congresses in the 1920s and 1930s in CZA. See also CZA, the following files: KH4/B1984, KH4/B1975, KH4/B1974, KH4/B1983, KH4/B1976, KH4/B1978, F4/635, KH4/B1980, KH4/B9866, KH4/9865. The United Israel Appeal (the Foundation Fund), which, as previously mentioned, collected donations for the funding and maintenance of the Zionist Organization institutions, chiefly the settlements established with the Zionist Organization’s initiative and the labourers’ organizations – was also active in China since its foundation in the early 1920s. In 1924, it opened a branch in Shanghai, managed by Eliezer Kadoorie. In 1928, a Foundation Fund representative arrived from Palestine, and established special committees in Tianjin, Harbin and Mokdon. He also achieved formal government approval for the Jewish National Fund, the Foundation Fund, and the Jewish Organization in China. The Foundation Fund raised thousands of pounds in China.42

Funders	Funder number
Foundation Fund
Foundation Fund Head Office
Jewish Organization in China
United Israel Appeal

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10.1080/00263206.2010.492988

Cite this

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title = "The Jews of China and their contribution to the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century",

abstract = "This article deals with the contribution of Zionists throughout the world to the building of the National Home in Palestine, including the Zionist communities in the Far East – India and China. It examines the vast Zionist activity taking place in China, with the Zionists of China making a significant contribution, especially considering the small size of its Jewish community. In contrast to popular belief, in the period discussed in our research China was not distant and disconnected from the Zionist centres in Palestine and Europe. Written Zionist propaganda and Zionist representatives did not overlook China. The notable extent of donations and investments made by the Jews of China benefiting the National Home through the Jewish Colonial Trust, the Jewish National Fund, and the Foundation Fund is the result of two main factors: firstly, the economic strength of the community, especially the very wealthy Iraqi Jews, and secondly, the Zionist passion of the Chinese Jews. The Kadoorie family, whose donations assisted in purchasing land for the Hebrew University, the building of Ha'emek Hospital, and the establishment of the Galilee agricultural school, played a pivotal role. There is no doubt that Eliezer Kadoorie serving as head of the Zionist Organization in China as well as some of its institutions helped widen the circle of donors among upper and middle class Zionists in China, and shared in their prominent part in creating the Jewish National Home in Palestine.",

author = "Yossi Katz",

note = "Funding Information: 42. About the Foundation Fund activities in China see reports by the Foundation Fund Head Office submitted to the Zionist Congresses in the 1920s and 1930s in CZA. See also CZA, the following files: KH4/B1984, KH4/B1975, KH4/B1974, KH4/B1983, KH4/B1976, KH4/B1978, F4/635, KH4/B1980, KH4/B9866, KH4/9865. Funding Information: The United Israel Appeal (the Foundation Fund), which, as previously mentioned, collected donations for the funding and maintenance of the Zionist Organization institutions, chiefly the settlements established with the Zionist Organization{\textquoteright}s initiative and the labourers{\textquoteright} organizations – was also active in China since its foundation in the early 1920s. In 1924, it opened a branch in Shanghai, managed by Eliezer Kadoorie. In 1928, a Foundation Fund representative arrived from Palestine, and established special committees in Tianjin, Harbin and Mokdon. He also achieved formal government approval for the Jewish National Fund, the Foundation Fund, and the Jewish Organization in China. The Foundation Fund raised thousands of pounds in China.42",

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The Jews of China and their contribution to the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

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