Legends of the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng
Gr 6 Up-The anti-Semitic fervor of 11th-century Crusaders drove a community of Jews from their home on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, in what is now Turkey. They eventually settled in Kaifeng, then the capital of China under the Song Dynasty. There they built a synagogue in 1163, and maintained their cultural and religious identity into the 19th century. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Kaifeng Jews reached a population peak of 5000. Using oral histories collected in China, the authors distill 900 years of memory into 20 chronological stories about major events in the life of the community. Unfortunately, they are better historians than storytellers. Invented dialogue is transparently written to convey factual information, not to delineate character. The narration is clear but dry, lacking the drama and specific details needed to bring a story to life. Handsome full-color illustrations embellish each chapter. Libraries with extensive collections in Jewish or Chinese history will want this title, but the writing style isn't compelling enough to interest general readers in this fascinating, but obscure, footnote to history.-Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MACopyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.