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| ==Ancient history== | ==Ancient history== | ||
| While as an ethnic group and as a people, the Jews have a long history dating back thousands of years, and while Jewish people have dispersed widely throughout the world, with the ] beginning about the sixth century BCE, it is likely that the region in the Himalaya mountains which is known today as ] was not one of these places; according to Birnbaum, it is unlikely there was ever a permanent Jewish community there since Nepal was not directly along the ], and Nepal's rugged terrain and lack of flat roads made the region unsuitable to trade.<ref name=Birnbaum/> |
While as an ethnic group and as a people, the Jews have a long history dating back thousands of years, and while Jewish people have dispersed widely throughout the world, with the ] beginning about the sixth century BCE, it is likely that the region in the Himalaya mountains which is known today as ] was not one of these places; according to Birnbaum, it is unlikely there was ever a permanent Jewish community there since Nepal was not directly along the ], and Nepal's rugged terrain and lack of flat roads made the region unsuitable to trade.<ref name=Birnbaum/>Some legendary material links the first residents of Nepal to descendants of the concubines of ], as well as legends that early Jewish influence played a role in the origination of the ] in Nepal and India, and that the etymological roots of the word ] can be traced to early Jewish origins.<ref name=Birnbaum/>{{Unreliable fringe source}} | ||
| ==Diplomatic relations== | ==Diplomatic relations== | ||
Revision as of 15:01, 29 June 2014
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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. 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. "There was never a Jewish community in Nepal, not in the past and not in the present," according to researcher Eliyahu Birnbaum. Birnbaum estimated that each year the number of Israeli tourists to Nepal is approximately 20,000, and many of them stay for long periods, such that the Hebrew language is spoken in many streets of Kathmandu and elsewhere; in that sense, there is a vibrant Jewish tourist community in Nepal.
Ancient history
While as an ethnic group and as a people, the Jews have a long history dating back thousands of years, and while Jewish people have dispersed widely throughout the world, with the Jewish diaspora beginning about the sixth century BCE, it is likely that the region in the Himalaya mountains which is known today as Nepal was not one of these places; according to Birnbaum, it is unlikely there was ever a permanent Jewish community there since Nepal was not directly along the Silk Road, and Nepal's rugged terrain and lack of flat roads made the region unsuitable to trade.Some legendary material links the first residents of Nepal to descendants of the concubines of Abraham, as well as legends that early Jewish influence played a role in the origination of the caste system in Nepal and India, and that the etymological roots of the word Brahmin can be traced to early Jewish origins.
Diplomatic relations
Nepal established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1960.
Further information: Israel–Nepal relationsCultural 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. 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. In 2014, there was difficulty when a strike prevented a shipping container from reaching the 1,700-person seder. 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. There is an Israeli Film Festival in Kathmandu.
Tourism
In recent decades, Nepal is an increasingly popular destination for Israeli backpackers and tourists. 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. 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.
References
- Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal: National Population and Housing Census 2011., p. 142
- ^ Birnbaum, Eliyahu. "Nepal: the Land Where Time Stopped (in Hebrew)". Retrieved 28/6/2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - Alok Tumbahangphey (4/07/2006). "Passover in the Hindu kingdom". Nepali Times.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Rabbi Levi Brackman (4/3/2006). "Nepal: 1,500 Israelis take part in Seder". YNet News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - 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..."
- March 24, 2014, Israel National News, Will Strike Keep Matzah from Kathmandu?, Accessed June 22, 2014
- 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...."
- 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...."
- 8/13/2011, Israel National News, Nepalese Students Win Scholarship to Israel College, Accessed June 22, 2014
- 2014-04-30, My Republica, 350 more students to be trained in Israel, Accessed June 22, 2014
- 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...."
- 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. ..."
- Sept 28, 2012, Israel National News, Kathmandu to Host 'World's Highest Sukkah' Contest, Accessed June 22, 2014
- 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
- 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
- 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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