Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Gefen Publishing House (2014), 300 pages
Description
There is a missing page in Jewish history. We tend to assume that Jewish history is to be found in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and the Americas -- but not in the Far East. This book has discovered that missing page, revealing the amazing stories of Jews who both benefited from and contributed to the Far East. You will read about the "uncrowned Jewish king of China", the indefatigable World War II refugees in Kobe, and the baseball player who became an American spy in Japan, as well as the Jew who served as Singapore's first prime minister, the amusing comedy of errors surrounding the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, and the extraordinary tale of the sixteenth-century Marranophysician in India. Jewish contributors to Eastern music and the Jewish members of Mao Zedong's circle also have their stories told. Consummate storyteller Marvin Tokayer, Lifetime Honorary Rabbi of Japan's Jewish community, draws on a lifetime of personal experiences and a wealth of knowledge as he, in concert with writer and television producer Dr Ellen Rodman, weaves together the characters and history of the Jews of the Far East into this fascinating book.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member LeesyLou
Interesting bits of history, but amateurishly documented. The author states in the introduction that many of the stories may not be true, but they're in keeping with the kinds of stories told about the individuals portrayed. It's interesting to see the interplay but a lot more context and a
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commitment to veracity and documentation would have been beneficial. Show Less
LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
I have never reviewed an ER selection without finishing it before, but in this case, I must. I have read a little more than half of the book, 12 of 23 chapters, and I simply cannot slog through any more of it. It's not the subject matter, which ought to be utterly fascinating, and sometimes does
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take over enough to keep my interest for a while; it's the style. There is no narrative flow; it's clunky, it's non-sequential, there are too many references to the author's connections to his subjects, which add nothing to the reader's knowledge or understanding. I truly wanted to know about the accomplishments of Laura Margolis, Jacob Schiff, Beate Sirota Gordon, and Two-Gun Cohen (he should be irresistible, right? Not right.) so I struggled through those chapters, but I did not enjoy the journey. This is a badly written history textbook, not a gripping historical narrative. And it's a shame, because I believe the authors' basic premise, that there were fascinating Jewish figures lost in the cracks of Far Eastern history, is valid. There is enough dry information here to prove that premise, but the research did not translate well into Story in these hands. Show Less
LibraryThing member magid
I expected more from this book than what I got, which felt like a lot of anecdotes strung together rather than actual history. Still, it was interesting to learn more about what Jewish life has been in places I'm not familiar with, or what some intrepid individuals achieved. I think a strong editor
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could have done much with this material, though it was clearly based most on personal experiences and conversations, not trying to be scholarly. Show Less
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
This is an extremely hard book to review as it's not the kind of book that one can sit down and simply read through. It's kind of like reading an encyclopedia with its multitudes of biographies all of which are told without citations but from the personal knowledge and research of its author Rabbi
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Marvin Tokayer. Many times I wanted to just set this book aside, but, as a Jew myself, I like to learn about positive Jewish influence throughout the world. My only hope, after spending a great deal of time forcing my way through this book, will be to hopefully make some of the names of the Jews who were known in the Far East familiar to me so that, if I should hear those names again, I'll have a frame of reference for going back to recall their accomplishments once again. Show Less
LibraryThing member The_Froo
I requested this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program because I was on one of my periodical "Just because my dad drift away from Judaism and Jewish culture after I was born doesn't mean I should be ignorant of that part of my heritage" kicks. So, I got this book and... it's an
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interesting topic, since like most people I'd just assumed there were no Jews in East Asia and never had been. So, the obscure history is a plus. Can't say I like the prose a whole lot, though, since stylistically it reminds me of when my grandmother tells stories: kind of anecdotal and broad-ranging to the point I wish the focus were narrower and it delved deeper. Show Less
LibraryThing member rentie
Good book. Very informative and a fast read.
LibraryThing member Elliot1822
Pepper, Silk & Ivory was like looking through a window into a world that I didn’t know existed. As an American Jew of Eastern European ancestry I was so out of the loop on the varied and so very rich Jewish History of the Far East. It is an absolutely wonderful and educational, but also it is a
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broad look into a major chapter in Diaspora history. Overall these stories are a true collection of wonderfully written characters, they showcase so many aspects and traits of Judaism from ancient cultural traditions to those that were shaped by the powerful historical settings these Jews were thrust into. They showed me and can you how even the most unique Jewish individuals can feel the urge and or desire to serve the greater interests of mankind. Knowledge is and can be the most powerful tool in any nations, civilizsations and or peoples arsenal to defend or make better the world in which we live in. This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read and the knowledge I’ve gained is immeasurable and priceless. Show Less
LibraryThing member simchaboston
This has some interesting tales, and that's the operative word: tales, instead of histories. Tokayer obviously feels a personal connection to his subjects, but it feels like his anecdotes sometimes take the place of research, and his desire to include as many people as possible (no matter how well
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or poorly their lives are documented) means that some of them get short shrift. And with at least two of his mini-biographies (Mo Berg and Morris Cohen), he simply repeats legends that have been disproved by other author's full-length biographies. Still, I did learn a bit about the Jewish communities of Asia and will likely seek out other, more serious works on the same topic. Show Less
LibraryThing member meggyweg
Although I wouldn't have chosen this book for pleasure, I'm glad I did read it because I learned a lot from it. There's a lot of Holocaust-related material in it but also a lot of other Jewish history. Each chapter contains at least one fascinating biographical sketch of a figure in Asian-Jewish
This would be a good addition to any university library's collection of Judaica, and possibly for a public library collection for that matter.
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history, and often more than one person is featured. Did you know that it was an Austrian-born Jewish woman who wrote the part of the postwar Japanese constitution that guaranteed equal rights for women? Or that a Jew invented the oil tanker ship, and it was a Jew who obtained financing for Japan's side of the Sino-Japanese War?This would be a good addition to any university library's collection of Judaica, and possibly for a public library collection for that matter.
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LibraryThing member cstebbins
This book may displease to an extent, as somewhat overly fulsome--at least I found it so. There is a certain self-congratulatory tone that can be hard to take. However that may be to refuse to accept it on its own terms. I would say it is characteristic of the milieu from which it originates. In
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any event, it contains quite a few interesting anecdotes of the "little known facts" variety. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cricket451
Pepper,Silk and Ivory is a facinating read and a must-have for anyone interested in the Jewish people! I have read many books on ancient Jewish society and Holocaust chronicles, and was thrilled to find Pepper, Silk and Ivory since it gives a rarely viewed look into the positive influence that the
It is well-written, has many pictures and has information that I doubt can be found in any other book on the market. It is a wonderful jumping off point for further study into the many people and events mentioned.
Pepper, Silk and Ivory is a wonderful book and a great addition to the library of all readers with an interest in the Jewish people!
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Jewish people have had in the Far East. It is well-written, has many pictures and has information that I doubt can be found in any other book on the market. It is a wonderful jumping off point for further study into the many people and events mentioned.
Pepper, Silk and Ivory is a wonderful book and a great addition to the library of all readers with an interest in the Jewish people!
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LibraryThing member Rosareads
This is an Advanced Review Copy. I consider this book a gift because I have enjoyed it so much.
Pepper, Silk & Ivory is an unusual historical book with an unusual point of view. The author tells stories (twenty-three) of individual Jews who influenced and were influenced by the Far East.. The
Before I continue my praise, I'll add one negative note. Some stories in the book might have benefited from an professional editor's touch because the writing is naive. Nonetheless, the chapters are compelling and great fun to read. I have also learned of fascinating history I might not have acquired anywhere else. For example, The development of the shell logo for Shell Oil, the influence of the inquisition on moving Marranos from Spain, through Portugal, to India and their strong, powerful influence on India culturally, scientifically, and academically.
I have recommended the book to the local public library and the community college. I understand both have purchased it. I am recommending the book to the Jewish Book Club and to the Jewish Library. I read segments of chapters aloud to who ever happens to be available to hear me.
Pepper, Silk & Ivory is an unusual historical book with an unusual point of view. The author tells stories (twenty-three) of individual Jews who influenced and were influenced by the Far East.. The
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stories are brief and each is a gem (Two-Gun Cohen: A Jewish General in the Chinese Army). I found myself reading one or two each day and savoring what I had read.Before I continue my praise, I'll add one negative note. Some stories in the book might have benefited from an professional editor's touch because the writing is naive. Nonetheless, the chapters are compelling and great fun to read. I have also learned of fascinating history I might not have acquired anywhere else. For example, The development of the shell logo for Shell Oil, the influence of the inquisition on moving Marranos from Spain, through Portugal, to India and their strong, powerful influence on India culturally, scientifically, and academically.
I have recommended the book to the local public library and the community college. I understand both have purchased it. I am recommending the book to the Jewish Book Club and to the Jewish Library. I read segments of chapters aloud to who ever happens to be available to hear me.
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LibraryThing member LipstickAndAviators
This is an ok book. Stars are mostly given for subject matter, which is fascinating and mostly untold (until now!) There are some great characters to be discovered here...many of whom could probably have whole books about their lives. Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy reading it...i found it a
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bit tedious and slow-moving, and not nearly as compelling as it should have been. Some of the stories seem like they're missing details or not quite as filled out as they could have been as well. Also, it's worth noting that the title can't be mistaken for Jew IN the far east, but rather jews interacting with the far east. some of these men and women lived large portions of their lives in east asia, others didn't. Either way, it's fascinating to examine the broad impact these jewish men and women have had around the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member palmaceae
The content of this book is quite interesting but the writing style is only ok, which means I would only recommend this book to people interested in Jews in the Far East or other related subjects rather than a particularly good non-fiction book. It was nice to read these stories, which came across
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very personally, especially given the fact that the author knew or knows many of the parties involved or their descendants. Show Less
ISBN
9652296473 / 9789652296474