Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lindsaydeanna]

Hi all, I'm still in the beginning stages of considering teaching in Korea. One thing I'm curious about is the Jewish community/ies. I'm assuming there is a decent-sized one in Seoul, but otherwise how difficult is it to be somewhat religious and Jewish?

[recessiontime]

The only Jewish person I know of on this board is a known atheist. I guess he's the wrong person to ask. I think there was a thread about this topic not too long ago.

[stephorama]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=146214&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I've checked out the Chabad site for Seoul. As far as I know that's the best option for holidays, etc.

Shalom Ya'll

[tardisrider]

lindsaydeanna--

Check your private messages.

Toda.

[sublunari]

This place is crawling with Jews, and what's great is that Koreans are crazy about them, they always want to "go to the Jew"--except they have this weird idea like Jews have a lot of exotic animals for some reason. Sorry, had to be the one to make this inevitable joke.

Anyway, my experience, as a hybrid halfbreed Jew, is that if you reveal your Jewishness to Koreans you can expect a lot of positive racism in response, i.e, oh Jews are so intelligent, Jews make lots of money, etc., etc. Generally the population is aware that Jews exist somewhere, but as to what a Jew is exactly, I don't think you could swing a cat at more than a few Koreans who could tell you any more than the other members who have posted here thus far. The sort of singsong lullaby that goes "Jesus was a Jew, and his mother Mary too!" has probably never crossed their minds.

[Yaya]

There are Jewish services every Friday evening at the U.S. Army base in Yongsan (you'll need someone to get you in). I also believe a Jewish community center has opened around Gyeongnidan near Itaewon.

The Korean fascination with Jews has a lot to do with education, especially because so many Jews get into prestigious colleges. Books on the Jewish approach to education have become bestsellers in Korea.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Several postings attempting to discuss religion have been deleted.

Please read if you haven't already:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=169448

The topic of this thread is permissible, as it is not focusing on religion itself but rather resources available to those of a particular community in Korea.

Individuals attempting to derail or hijack this thread in order to discuss religion will find themselves and their ISPs no longer welcome here.

[Jane]

[Yaya]

[decolyon]

I know there's a huge population of native Japanese Jews in Japan. I have never seen a Korean Jew.

But Christianity is by far the most in-your-face religion here. Damn American imperialism. Exporting Big Macs and Jesus.

[lubastowiezc]

I have no clue about the Jewish community in Korea...sorry...but just today one of my classes were doing a group presentation about travel and one group chose Israel.....at one point in the presentation the group said:

"A Jew is someone who escaped from Auschwitz prison"

[lubastowiezc]

[wylies99]

[northway]

In my experience, East Asians tend to beat Jews with the positive end of the stereotype stick. Essentially: "Oh, Jews, very good! Very smart!"

[stephorama]