A Chinese-Jewish American Woman

By Rena Krasno

In an article published in the 2004 Spring Issue of the magazine 'Reform Judaism', Dr. Patricia Y.C.E. Lin describes her Chinese and Jewish identities. According to her, they are not in conflict. In fact, they are complementary and inextricably combined. Dr. Lin is scholar-in-residence at the Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific and Asian North American Religions (Pacific School of Religion, GTU, Berkeley, Ca.)

Dr. Lin writes that when she thinks of being Chinese, her thoughts turn to the Boston Chinatown where her parents once lived, the Chinese Exclusion Acts, and the Chinese Taiwan dialect she has spoken since infancy. Her Jewishness reflects her relationship with God, with 'tikkun olam' (improving the world). Both identities are intrinsically interwoven since Chinese and Jews share similar values such as family closeness and education. Both belong to a minority community with a history of rejection, and discrimination.

Dr. Lin writes that she grew up in a suburb of Boston, with a majority of Christians, few non-whites and a Jewish minority that had been mainly attracted by the excellent school system of Wayland. She notes that during Jewish High Holidays the local schools were always closed. Jewish friends invited Lin to celebrate Chanukah and Pesach, and she attended a Jewish friend's Bar Mitzvah at the Wayland's Reform temple. Her father told her about Chinese Jews in Kaifeng. Later, at U.C. Berkeley, Lin changed her major from electrical engineering to history.

Lin traveled to England to write her doctoral dissertation on European history and gradually made the decision to convert to Judaism. She realized her need to be part of a community with whom she could not only share her values, but also give and receive emotional support, aw well as pray. In 1996, Lin formally converted to Judaism. Friends, including some Jewish professors from the U.S., traveled to Britain to participate in the ceremony. During her first 'aliyah' Dr. Lin received her Hebrew name: Chava Esther bat Avraham v'Sarah.. She says:

"To honor my parents, my Chinese heritage, and my Jewish identity, I chose to hold the celebratory dinner at 'Kaifeng,' a kosher restaurant in North London." Later, Dr. Lin traveled to Israel on what she called 'an inspiring and eye-opening trip'.

When Dr. Lin returned to the U.S., she joined Congregation Sha'ar Zahav in San Francisco, .She is now scholar-in-residence at the Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific and Asian North American Religions (Pacific School of Religion, GTU, Berkeley, Ca.)

Dr. Lin requests Asian American Jews interested to participate in her study, or seeking contact with other Asian American Jew, to email her at: plin@psr.edu.