Jewish Heritage Tours

CONTACT: 202.244.3975 RAH Productions P.O. Box 11398 Washington, DC 20008
robynhelzner@verizon.net
Robyn Helzner Jewish Heritage Tours

 

Kreplach & Dim Sum 
Jewish Heritage Tour to China October 2017

Shanghai

Hong Kong

Xi'an

to China. Our journey took us to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Hong Kong. We enjoyed fabulous weather and a packed itinerary! In Beijing, we celebrated Shabbat with Kehillat Beijing and met with Chinese students studying Hebrew at Beijing University. We toured Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, and visited the Lamma Buddhist Temple. We rode on a Dragon Boat at the Summer Palace, enjoyed a rickshaw ride through a hutong, and ate lunch at a hutong family restaurant. A visit to Coal Hill and the 798 Art District were added attractions. In Xian, we walked on top of the old city walls, visited the Great Mosque, strolled through the Muslim Market and joined the wenty-three adventurous travelers joined me on a fascinating Jewish Heritage Tour T

Beijing

locals in “square dancing” in a city park. We encountered the famous Terra-Cotta Warriors and feasted on delicious vegetarian dumplings at a famous dumpling restaurant. Merchants and traders (including Jews) journeyed to this ancient Chinese capital along the famous Silk Road. In Shanghai, we explored the historic Hongkou ghetto where, during World War II, more than 20,000 European Jews found safe haven in the only city in the world that would accept them. We toured the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, now housed in the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue, and visited a small apartment once owned by a Jewish family. We strolled along Shanghai’s fabulous waterfront, the Bund, rocketed to the top of the Pearl TV Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city, and enjoyed a spectacular acrobatics show. Our celebration of Shabbat with Kehilat Shanghai and a visit to a Chinese kindergarten were unforgettable highlights. In Hong Kong, we toured the historic Ohel Leah synagogue and viewed their stunning collection of Sephardic Torahs. We met with the rabbi from the United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong and shared dinner with members of the Jewish community at Hong Kong’s Jewish Community Centre. Excursions to Victoria Peak, the beach at Repulse Bay, Stanley Market, and a ride on the famous Star Ferry capped our exhilarating tour. One tour member marveled at “how many wonderful and awe-inspiring experiences we packed into a few short weeks.” I agree!

© 2023 Robyn Helzner/RAH Productions