This weekend marks the start of Hanukkah, an important Jewish holiday observed globally. However, Jews residing in China will not be able to celebrate the eight-day festival openly due to government restrictions.
Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China commented on the situation: “While Jewish people around the world will proudly light the menorah this month, Jews living in China will be forbidden by the government from practicing their religious faith freely. America proudly allows people of all faiths to worship as they choose, and our values must win in the competition between us and China. I wish Jews living in China a happy Hanukkah and hope that one day they can practice their religious faith freely.”
According to estimates from the World Jewish Congress, there are about 2,500 Jews currently living in China. More information about the Jewish community in China is available here.
