Shanghai, China - Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel and Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, urged China to extend official state recognition to Judaism. As of now, the Chinese state officially recognizes Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam.
In addition, the rabbi called upon China to restore a Shanghai synagogue, Ohel Rachel, which is currently used for government offices. Rabbi Amar said, "I have come here to strengthen the community here, to aid spiritual growth, and to pray for the government to allow freedom of religion for the Jews."
Rabbi Amar made the comments during a trip to Shanghai this week, during which he offered prayers at the site of Ohel Rachel, which was built in the 1920s. Other synagogues in China are in Beijing and Hong Kong. In addition, there is a community of Chinese descendants of Jews, some of whom have recently been reclaiming their heritage, in Kaifeng.