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Judaism in Nepal

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History of the Jews in Nepal describes the activity of people from Israel as well as Jewish people who live in and visit the nation of Nepal, including tourism, cultural ties, and religious experiences.

According to the 2011 Census of Nepal, There is no Jewish community of native Nepalese people'[1] . The census does not include foreign residents, of whom a few dozen are Jewish, mostly Israeli diplomats and the staff of Chabad House, a religious establishment that serves mostly Israeli tourists[2]. "There was never a Jewish community in Nepal, not in the past and not in the present," according to researcher Eliahu Birnboim[2].

Diplomatic relations

Nepal established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1960.[3] According to the 2011 Census of Nepal, there is no Jewish community of native Nepalese people.[4] The census did not include foreign residents, of whom a few dozen are Jewish, mostly Israeli diplomats and the staff of Chabad House, a religious establishment that serves mostly Israeli tourists.[2]. According to researcher Eliahu Birnboim, there has never been a permanent Jewish community in Nepal, not in the past and not in the present, although there is a vibrant Israeli tourist community whose influence is felt throughout Kathmandu.[2] Birnboim estimated that the number of Israelis who visit Nepal annually is 20,000.[2].

Further information: Israel–Nepal relations

Cultural and religious ties

In 1986, the Israeli embassy in the Thamel section of Katmandu started the tradition of holding a Passover Seder for Israeli travelers.[5][6][7] In 1999, the Chabad organization, an international Jewish outreach group, picked up this tradition and became the main organizer of this annual event. In 2006, the annual Chabad seder hosted 1,500 participants. It grew into a popular event, with a report of hundreds of Israeli travelers celebrating Passover in Nepal, requiring "1,100 pounds of Matzo" in 2012, according to The Atlantic magazine.[8] In 2014, there was difficulty when a strike prevented a shipping container from reaching the 1,700-person seder.[9] The acting Chief Rabbi of Chabad in Nepal is Chezky Lifshitz. In November 2007, Rabbi Lifshitz announced the opening of a second permanent Chabad house in the city of Pokhara, to assist Jewish travelers in that area. In 2014, the permanent Jewish community in Nepal is very small and consists largely of diplomatic officials and Chabad staff. Israeli colleges have given scholarships to students from Nepal.[10][11] There is an Israeli Film Festival in Kathmandu.[12]

Tourism

In recent decades, Nepal is an increasingly popular destination for Israeli backpackers and tourists.[13][14] In 2012, an Israeli climber abandoned his dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest in order to save the life of a climber from Turkey.[15][16] In 2013, an Israeli artist crafted a monument which consisted of rocks from the lowest place on Earth, the Dead Sea, and placed them on the base camp of Mount Everest, the highest place on Earth; in addition, rocks from Everest were taken to the Dead Sea.[17]

References

  1. ^ Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal: National Population and Housing Census 2011., p. 142
  2. ^ a b c d e Birnboim, Eliahu. ""Nepal: the Land Where Time Stopped (in Hebrew)". Retrieved 28/6/2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Alok Tumbahangphey (4/07/2006). "Passover in the Hindu kingdom". Nepali Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal: National Population and Housing Census 2011., p. 142
  5. ^ Rabbi Levi Brackman (4/3/2006). "Nepal: 1,500 Israelis take part in Seder". YNet News. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ April 14, 2014, Israel National News, Volunteers Save Kathmandu Seder, Accessed June 22, 2014, "...Chabad house, which is expecting over 1,000 people for Monday night's seder..."
  7. ^ March 24, 2014, Israel National News, Will Strike Keep Matzah from Kathmandu?, Accessed June 22, 2014
  8. ^ AMY YEE, The Atlantic, APR 12 2012, 1,100 Pounds of Matzo in Kathmandu: Welcome to the World's Largest Seder, Accessed June 28, 2014, "...In what has become an annual tradition, hundreds of Israeli travelers gather in Nepal to celebrate Passover -- with plenty of kosher wine...."
  9. ^ April 8, 2014, Jewish Tribune, Nepal Chabad without Matzah due to Israeli Foreign Military Strike, Accessed June 28, 2014, "...shipping container filled with Passover for a planned 1,700-person seder in Katmandu, Nepal, remains stuck in India...."
  10. ^ 8/13/2011, Israel National News, Nepalese Students Win Scholarship to Israel College, Accessed June 22, 2014
  11. ^ 2014-04-30, My Republica, 350 more students to be trained in Israel, Accessed June 22, 2014
  12. ^ 18 June 2014, Nepal News, 9th Israeli Film Festival to be observed in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Accessed June 28, 2014, "..films have become a medium to represent Israel, its people, languages, culture, values and traditions to its audiences in Nepal...."
  13. ^ June 3, 2013, Ahron Bregman, Fathom Journal, Israel and the Territories, Accessed June 28, 2014, "...Then came the Intifada, the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation in 1987. It caught me when I was travelling in Kathmandu, Nepal. ..."
  14. ^ Sept 28, 2012, Israel National News, Kathmandu to Host 'World's Highest Sukkah' Contest, Accessed June 22, 2014
  15. ^ Chana Ya'ar, May 24, 2012, Israel National News, Israeli Climber Ditches Everest to Save Turkish Climber's Life: Official relations between Turkey and Israel may be down in the dumps, but atop the Himalayas, two men formed a bond that may last forever, Accessed June 22, 2014
  16. ^ Jul 28, 2013, Ainav Weisberg, Jerusalem Online, Mother dies in Nepal, son left alone unknowing: A single mother and her 12 year old son went traveling, the mother died of cardiac arrest in a hospital and her son was left alone and unknowing, only finding on return home, Accessed June 22, 2014
  17. ^ Viva Sarah Press, May 19, 2013, Israel 21c News, A monument made from rocks of the Dead Sea is set up at Mount Everest base to foster friendship between the lowest and highest places on earth, Accessed June 22, 2014

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