Thursday, December 8, 2016

Coming Up Next: Professor Xu Xin of Nanjing University Returns: Ho Feng Shan, The 'Chinese Schindler' Who Saved Thousands of Jews




My next guest on the Conversations segment of Marvels of China: Pathways to the Pacific Rim is China’s most renowned Judaic scholar in the modern era, Professor Xu Xin of Nanjing University. 

Professor Xu ireturning to the show by request to enlighten the audience about Ho Feng-Shan, a Chinese diplomat in Vienna. He risked his own life and career during World War II to save thousands of European Jews fleeing the Holocaust. 


Professor Xu is the founder and director of the Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute for Jewish and Israel Studies at Nanjing University. He has been a scholar of Judaism, Jewish culture and the history of Chinese Jews since 1986.

Among his many accomplishments, Xu led a team of scholars on an abridged Chinese translation of the Encyclopedia Judaica and served as its editor -a book that was used by Chinese diplomats when China and Israel opened diplomatic relations in 1992. The Chinese edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica won an award of Excellent Book by Bureau of Press and Publication of Shanghai and East China in 1994, and an award of Excellent Reference Book by General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China in 1995.

He has also edited Legends of the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng (with Beverly Friend); Anti-Semitism: How and Why; A History of Jewish Culture, and more. Xu has also written numerous articles on Judaic topics. 

Xu was also the first Chinese scholar to introduce modern Hebrew literature to Chinese readers. he has also created Masters and doctoral programs on Jewish history and culture. 

Xu has served as a visiting professor and taught at Chicago State University; Florida Community College and Montclair State University. He was a guest speaker at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1988) and at Tel Aviv University (1993 and 1998). In 1995 he was a fellow at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Center for Jewish Studies (1996 and 1998). 

Professor Xu has delivered over 500 lectures in the USA, Israel, Canada and the United Kingdom at such institutions of higher learning as Harvard University, Yeshiva University, Yale University, University of Chicago, Boston University, Princeton University, UCLA, USC, Brown University, City University of New York, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv University, Haifa University, Ben-Gurion University, University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Montreal, York University and various other universities, organizations and institutions. 


Xu launched 12 Nanjing testimonies at the University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation which is dedicated to making audio-visual interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides. 

His three-week summer seminars for Chinese scholars and graduate students from departments of history and western civilization at other universities enable them to incorporate material on Judaism into their classes. 

His activities have been widely reported by such newspapers and magazines as Chicago TribuneJerusalem PostNew York TimesHarvard University GazetteThe Jerusalem ReportThe Jewish WeekThe Forward, China's Talents, Xinhua Daily, Modern Express, and China Daily.

In 1996, Professor Xu was awarded a Special Government Allowance by the State Council of the People's Republic of China

Xu's essay on Modern Hebrew Literature won a Second Place of Excellent essays on Social Sciences by the Bureau of Higher Education of Jiangsu province in 1994. 

His book, A History of Western Culture, was named as National Planned Textbook in 2006 for Chinese colleges. Xu has won five titles of Excellent Teacher Award since 1994.

In 1995, he was honored with the James Friend Memorial Award. In 2002, Bar-Ilan University's Board of Trustees and the Senate of Israel awarded him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa in recognition of the important research he has done on Jewish people in China.

He is a member of a number of academic organizations in China, such as Jiangsu Writers' Association, the Association of All-China Comparative Literature, the Association of Translators of Jiangsu, and the Society of World History Studies of China. Currently he serves as President of the China Judaic Studies Association and vice-president of China Association for Middle East Studies.

Professor Xu Xin will be joining the broadcast live by phone from Nanjing University, China. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 10, 2016. Marvels of China: Pathways to the Pacific Rim is broadcast from AM1490 WGCH in Greenwich, Connecticut USA and anywhere from WGCH.com10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Eastern USA Time/ 9:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. China Time.


Marvels of China: Pathways to the Pacific Rim's broadcasts are from AM1490 WGCH and anywhere on WGCH.com in Greenwich, Connecticut USA. 

This show is title-sponsored by Beijing AmBridge International Culture Development Ltd. You are invited to explore how an alliance with Beijing AmBridge can help your company or organization grow and prosper. Call Beijing AmBridge's office in Beijing at 86-10-80775517 or email ambridge01@163.com

Corporate Executive Offices (CEO) in Greenwich, Connecticut USA is a supporting sponsor of this show. Since 1989, CEO has been a provider of world-class offices in a prominent, modern building with contemporary services, advanced technology and amenities that will help you focus on productivity while keeping your monthly costs under control. The best thing about CEO is that they treat you like family -only better! Visit them online at www.ceooffices.com or call 203-622-1300 today. 

The Pacific Learning Consortium, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a supporting sponsor of the weekly Confucius Moment. Educational solutions. Global connections. Practical results. Advancement for all. Learning reimagined. Learn more online at www.pacificlearningconsortium.org.






No comments:

Post a Comment