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The Jews of the Orient Continued from page 12. currently fighting and it would be nice if you talked about all Jews living in harmony and respecting each other.” I laughed and told him that I do this all day long back home. On Saturday morning I arrived at the synagogue. This time women sat in the gallery upstairs—three Caucasians, one converted Malay sian, and a Seventh Day Adventist. The men ambled in at all hours, prayed at their own pace, gossiped and generally walked around. The Torah was read by an elderly Jew in a Sephardic drone, and you really had to work hard to under stand him. After the service, we went into the club section to a sitdown kid- dush where I spoke. Since there was no rabbi, they asked me to address David Levy, who was to become bar mitzva the next week. He was an Eurasian child—a very handsome young man. Lunch the next day was a wonderful expe rience. The fascinating part about that was the fact that it was the Sunday before Tu B’Shevat and the children were given packages of raisins, fruits, etc., just like Jew ish children all over the world. Bangkok is a little different story. It’s head is Isaac Djemal, who came from Syria about 1940. When he arrived, one could purchase land at a modest rate. H is sons and daughters were educated at Jerusa lem and London. Currently, there is a change in Bangkok because they had to move from the old syn agogue to a room closer in town because the Orthodox Jews would not ride on Shabbat. Again, we were invited to a Tu B’Shevat party on the day itself where the Jewish community would turn out. It was to be held at the offices of the Kashani Brothers, who are Israelis and own a whole sale gem shop. Since it was a few minutes from our hotel, we decided to walk. But, just to besure, we had the concierge write it out in Thai. Naturally, we got lost. We showed the address to people, but we still couldn’t find it. Out of despera tion, 1 went into the lobby of another hotel and called Mr. Kashani. He said, “You are only a few minutes away. Just stay there and I’ll send Tziyon to get you.” Tziyon turned out to be a young Israeli learning the gem business. Here we are walking down the side streets of Bangkok talking Hebrew. At the party they served pita and chumus. The Israeli Ambassador Navon took us back to our hotel in the Embassy car. Our last stop was Singapore. Out of a population of three mil lion there are 350 Jews. The syn agogue, Mogen Avot, has a minyon every day, morning and evening. But, there is a catch to it. They pay the members to attend. In Singapore we had an interest ing meeting with the Israeli ambas sador, Ben Moshe. Singapore is a very important listening post for Israel and other activities which are not proper to mention in pub lic. Ben Moshe is a very able man. On the wall behind him he has a picture of Shimon Peres, the pres ent prime minister of Israel. On the wall in front of him he has the pic ture of Yitzhak Shamir, who by agreement will soon become the prime minister. When that occurs, he will simply switch pictures. He told us alot of interesting things about the relationship of Israel and the Far East. And, in some instan ces, it is very promising and hopeful. Being a Jew is always fascinating and a little different wherever one is. But, in the Orient it is unique and stimulating and a visit there must include a visit to the syna gogue. . . . And they shall heat their swords into plowshares ISAIAH 2.4 nron nmo Atlanta, JETTlPLE Slf^l Georgia Torah Day School of Atlanta •oron njia mis'? The Board of Directors and Staff of Torah Day School wish our families and the entire Jewish community a year of health, happiness and prosperity Rabbi Eliezer Vilensky. Principal Dr. Henry Edik. President L’Shana Tova to the entire community JEWISH WAR VETERANS JEWISH WAR VETERANS AUXILIARY Bicentennial Post #976 Harry Axelrod Muriel Kimelman Commander Auxiliary President L’Shana Tova from the i Southeastern Region of HADASSAH Carol Kaplan, President Janet Lipsitz, Treasurer Elaine Antman, Assistant Treasurer Martha Sanders, Recording Secretary Debra Adler, Corresponding Secretary Shirley Michalove, Susan Tourial Margie Franco & Toby Parker Vice Presidents PAGE 13RH THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October 3, 1986