Chinese anxious to learn moneymaking “the Jewish way”
posted at 3:24 pm on February 9, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Can it really be anti-semitism if it’s not anti? Potentially, yeah, if it places Jews conceptually outside the community of “ordinary” Chinese. A little speechifying and it’d be easy to turn that admiration into resentment.
On the other hand, 10,000 Jews in a population of 1.3 billion? Even the Saudis would have a hard time working up a ZOG conspiracy out of that.
Let’s call it a moral victory:
Showcased in bookstores between biographies of Andrew Carnegie and the newest treatise by China’s president are stacks of works built on a stereotype.
One promises “The Eight Most Valuable Business Secrets of the Jewish.”
Another title teases readers with “The Legend of Jewish Wealth.” A third provides a look at “Jewish People and Business: The Bible of How to Live Their Lives.”…
In the past few years, sales of “success” books have skyrocketed, publishers say, and now make up nearly a third of the works published in China, and perhaps no type of success book has been as well marketed or well received as those that purport to unveil the secrets of Jewish entrepreneurs. Many of these tomes sell upward of 30,000 copies a year and are thought of in the same inspirational way as many Americans view the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series…
Several of the books, despite their covers, focus on basic business acumen that has little to do with religion or culture. But others focus on explaining how Judaism has ostensibly helped Jewish people’s success, even quoting extensively from the Talmud.
Practically every book features one or more case studies of the success of the Lehman brothers, the Rothschilds and other Jewish “titans of industry and captains of finance,” as one author put it…
Positive stereotypes about Jews and their supposed business prowess have given the Jewish community iconic status in the eyes of the Chinese public.
The cover of January’s Shanghai and Hong Kong Economy magazine wonders, “Where does Jewish people’s wisdom come from?”
Jewish entrepreneurs say they are bombarded with invitations to give seminars on how to make money “the Jewish way.”
Exit question: What do our Jewish readers think? Creepy or no?
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Psst! Hey, China! It’s moneymaking the “New York money people way”.
ReubenJCogburn on February 9, 2007 at 3:30 PM
What??? Nothing about Wolfowitz, Perlman or Charles Johnson???
Seriously, this is great PR for the Jewish nation. The whole world loves us. Usually to death. Perhaps the only way to save Judaism is to convert 1 billion Chinese.
What? It could happen.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 9, 2007 at 3:33 PM
BTW AP, I don’t consider this anti-semitism.
Remember, Jews have lived in China since before Marco Polo’s travels. One example is the Kai Feng Jewish community. Furthermore, China has purchased quite a lot of military equipment from Israel. They wouldn’t do that if they were Jew-haters.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 9, 2007 at 3:37 PM
I’ll try asking my liaison to the World Zionist Conspiracy today for a comment. He’s busy making tons of money and drinking the blood of poor Arab babies, but I’ll see if I can get an answer for you before the Sabbath starts.
ScottMcC on February 9, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Ya don’t need to be Jewish to find it creepy.
doufree on February 9, 2007 at 3:47 PM
Does this mean they are going to start criticizing Jimmy Carter and his new book to raise funds?
thirteen28 on February 9, 2007 at 3:47 PM
I don’t necessarily disagree, Andy, but that’s not the best indication. Saudi Arabia buys tons of military stuff from us and while they’re our “allies”, I’m not really feelin’ the love there.
see-dubya on February 9, 2007 at 3:51 PM
PS Not Jewish, but I find it creepy. Not in a Buffalo Bill way, but more in a harmlessly creepy “under thirty year old guy and I wear a moustache” way.
see-dubya on February 9, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Yeah, but after reading many Israeli newspaper articles, I think Israel feels that the Chinese are not anti-semitic. But there certainly is not a ton of love either. For now, I’ll take the “we’ll do business with you and leave you alone” approach.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 9, 2007 at 3:55 PM
So if this is ok, than can I write a success book entitled “How to Raise Kids That Do Well in School the Asian Way”? hmmmm…..
sweetlipsbutterhoney on February 9, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Mazal Tov!
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on February 9, 2007 at 3:57 PM
I’ll offer a trade. Teach me how to make good chow mein the Chinese way…
G on February 9, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Jooooos?! Where?!
*looks over shoulder*
Arrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!
natesnake on February 9, 2007 at 3:59 PM
This is just a cultural divide. Either fact or fiction, they preceive the Jewish community as having superior business skills. It’s not envy, it’s admiration, and they approach it head-on without mincing words.
Considering there is no preceived ill intention, I would be flattered if I were Jewish.
natesnake on February 9, 2007 at 4:03 PM
Next you’ll be saying they should have their own schools.
They do have their own schools!
I’ll tell you what you are. You are an anti-dentite.
I am not not anti-dentite!
Rabid anti-dentite!
lorien1973 on February 9, 2007 at 4:04 PM
Haven’t we all?
The one thing in common with the Chinese and Jews, they are bboth world traders. Go to any major trading center or border, and those two cultures dominate that industry. I guess it pays to wander around for a few years.
right2bright on February 9, 2007 at 4:07 PM
That’s Dr. Abbott, D.D.S. Tim Whatley was one of my students. And if this wasn’t my son’s wedding day, I’d knock you teeth out you anti-dentite bastard.
What was that all about?
Oh, I said something about dentists and it got blown all out of proportion.
Hey, what do you call a doctor who fails out of med school?
What?
A dentist. (They laugh)
That’s a good one. Dentists.
Yeah, who needs ‘em? Not to mention the Blacks and the Jews.
(Jerry fakes a smile)
lorien1973 on February 9, 2007 at 4:07 PM
All your money making technique are belong to us.
Kid from Brooklyn on February 9, 2007 at 4:07 PM
OY!
bloggless on February 9, 2007 at 4:20 PM
See what I mean about being good traders?
right2bright on February 9, 2007 at 4:21 PM
right2bright-
ROFL! Best of the year.
Matticus Finch on February 9, 2007 at 4:23 PM
Kinda creepy but I honestly don’t know if I’m offended
Defector01 on February 9, 2007 at 4:27 PM
G-d said, Moses I have some commandments for you.
Moses: How much do they cost?
G-d: They’re free
Moses: I’ll take ten of ‘em.
Matticus Finch on February 9, 2007 at 4:29 PM
Thomas Sowell deserves a hat tip on this subject. By his estimation, there are already many similarities between the Chinese in Asia and the Jews in Europe.
spmat on February 9, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Lebanon, West Africa? Is it the Friday afternoon fog, or did I miss something?
Matticus Finch on February 9, 2007 at 4:44 PM
There is a simple explanation for this: Many Chinese settled in various Asian countries. For example, Singapore is 80% Chinese and Malaysia about 30%. Even in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia where they are not a huge percentage of the population, they hold a lot of the economic power, especially in the cities.
The Chinese have often been stereotyped as the “Jews” of Asia because of their economic power in the various countries of Asia. I’ve seen this term in the media and magazines in Asia. The term is so common that surely the Chinese have heard of it and have been flattered by the statement. It is not surprising they would be interested in Jewish success stories from around the globe as a result.
januarius on February 9, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Just another creepy aspect of the Chinese.
They are communist who embrace capitolism.
They are atheist whom have suddenly become sympathetic to the muslim faith.
And they censor porn while allowing prostitution to be practiced freely.
brtex on February 9, 2007 at 4:49 PM
The first rule of Making Money the Jewish Way is:
Don’t talk about Making Money the Jewish Way.
harrison on February 9, 2007 at 5:00 PM
Mattitcus Finch
The Lebanese “own” the business sector in West Africa. The Asian Indians “own” it in East Africa, and the two groups split a good part of it in Nigeria (not counting the Ibos who are local). Exaggerating a bit to make the point. One reason Idi Amin rode the popular support for a while was that he tossed the entrepreneaurial Indians out of the country and took their businesses. (Brits imported the Indians to build the Kampala-Mombasa railroad, many stayed).
The movers and shakers in Africa to watch are the South Africans. They are going all over and they know how to work in AFrican conditions.
There is a bit of a fog, though. Has everyone forgotten about Hong Kong? The Chinese made money hand over fist, free of communist control. These people were all relatives of the mainland Chinese for crying out loud, not some exotic fringe tribe of Chinese. The know-how is there. It’s probably just that Jews seem more exotic and therefore more trendy to be studying that kind of book. Here in the US, Japanese war strategies were all the rage in business. No one wanted to buy a book on Billy-Bob’s Rough n’ Tumble for Profits. Japanese Samurai strategies, well that’s cool. (Brushing aside the problem of hari-kiri when you screw up).
naliaka on February 9, 2007 at 5:02 PM
Well…. so long as they’re not chanting “Death to Israel Death to America” in the streets, I’ve got no problem with Chinese stereotypes if the chinese don’t have a problem with americans thinking that “All Asians are good at math“.
Jones Zemkophill on February 9, 2007 at 5:02 PM
I can’t find the link now, but a couple years ago there was an academic article published that did a detailed study of intelligence among Jewish people. It is only the Jews of European ancestry that have higher than average IQ. In other areas Jews are average. The article claimed to show that there are genetic diseases suffered by European Jews that cause greater cognitive ability at the expense of increased mortality. They say that is due to persecution that forced Jews into banking, etc or starve. But to be a successful banker or businessman you need higher IQ. So artificial selection raised the IQ of the surviving Jews. Be very afraid when the Chinese discover that is better than the one child rule.
pedestrian on February 9, 2007 at 5:03 PM
That would make a pretty funny Mel Brooks film.
And when they all decide to move to the Holy Land, it pretty much settles the Arab/Palestinian problem too.
LagunaDave on February 9, 2007 at 5:10 PM
As a Brooklyn Jew this doesn’t really offend me. My people have always had a special love and admiration for “Cooking, the Chinese way.” So I guess this makes us even.
greggish on February 9, 2007 at 5:14 PM
The biggest thing here is that it reinforces the idea that Chinese people aren’t afraid to talk about the traits embodied in other cultures. Americans can’t even mention another race by name without getting attacked, where the Chinese just don’t mince words about what kind of experiences they have interacting with other groups. I see it every day at work. It’s a practical matter.
askheaves on February 9, 2007 at 5:15 PM
Forgive me but “Ching chong!” (ka ching!)
Oy!
Kokonut on February 9, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Great. Now the Chinese are zionists. What ever happened to good ol’ fashioned communism?
Rick on February 9, 2007 at 5:23 PM
I’m not Jewish, but Jewish or otherwise, if I didn’t know anything about the Chinese people, their society or culture, I’d certainly find it creepy.
Fortunately, I do, so I don’t. That said, I do agree with your opening discussion. On the other hand, they have enough history of similar treatment that I think they’d tend to be sceptical of those who might try to turn the admiration into resentment, not to mention that various improbable changes would have to occur for that to make it past the laughable on the Chinese radar screen.
Dusty on February 9, 2007 at 5:35 PM
ching chong ching chong -you call that a profit- ching chong?
JetBoy on February 9, 2007 at 5:38 PM
Dude, you win.
ScottMcC on February 9, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Uh, just to bring people down to Earth on the Chinese. They’re regular people, but with a materialist culture, very, very obsessed with “luck.” A typical Chinese opinion of Africans, that is blacks, can be jaw-dropping, cringing awful. I’m not talking USA, I’m talking Chinese as in mainland and Hong Kong, and Africans. Have no idea as to the state of relationships between the two groups in the USA.
naliaka on February 9, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Why should China learn Jewish usury when they have a sucker like us pouring our guts out into their economy.
Unless they are thinking ahead to a future when we are no longer a resource.
Besides China is a Borg hive, they’ll just assimilate the Jewish conciseness into the collective.
Resistance is futile.
Speakup on February 9, 2007 at 5:53 PM
I don’t think it is meant as an insult. It is saying we are productive, intelligent, money making people as I think many of the Asian people are and we witness in our daily lives. Despite, through out the centuries and currently people hating us. We do have many admirers.
Example, I am am registered for online dating at Jdate, I get involved in the social chatting. There are many people, non-Jewish who want to date us.
Hopefully there aren’t people posting here who are turning very stone, and listening to every nuance searching at the edge of their seats waiting to be offended and yelling anyone who says something in not exactly the right way is an antisemite. We have too many liberals like that who think they are defending other people.
StuLongIsland on February 9, 2007 at 6:16 PM
I’m Jewish, and I’m proud to say I did NOT find “The Passion of the Christ” to be anti-semitic, and I’d like to think that I’m NOT one of those Jews who looks for perceived slights along with some other minority groups (who will remain nameless at this time).
But I do find this offensive. Just like when I’m talking to some Chinese who have emigrated to America, who have told me how much the Jews control the American media, which they found especially impressive because there’s not that many Jews in America.
Somehow, I didn’t take this as a generous compliment.
asc85 on February 9, 2007 at 6:39 PM
Speaking of waiting to be offended, I think “learn Jewish usury” qualifies as anti-semitic. That idea was used to force Jews into banking as I described in my comment above. It ignores of course all the Christian money-lenders and applies a special standard to the Jooos. In the middle ages the Christians would even disguise themselves as Jews when they wanted to lend out money at interest, and people who wanted a lucrative position in the Church would be happy to borrow money in order to buy a bishopric and pay back the money out of Church coffers.
Just saying.
pedestrian on February 9, 2007 at 6:40 PM
But, doesn’t Isreal get their military equipment from us? Only makes it creepier.
thedecider on February 9, 2007 at 9:58 PM
I’m not 100% positive but that comments reeks of the lie told over and over agin by anti-semites about Israel.
The equipment Israel sold to China was 100% develpoed in Israel by Israelis, not the U.S.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 9, 2007 at 10:32 PM
Oy vey, ching chow, ching chow, matzo ball soup!
Very interesting that they want to emulate the group of people that EVERYONE loves to hate.
It may seem to be complimentary but it’s anti-semetic because it goes back to the ‘money grubbing jew’ stereotype.
hotdax on February 9, 2007 at 11:31 PM
I don’t think it is the “money grubbing Jew” stereotype, but the “Jew as successful businessman” stereotype. Given that the Chinese clearly perceive Jews as a group to be highly successful at business, it makes sense to want to learn how they do it. It’s a lot better than deciding to hate the Jews and kill them off to eliminate competition. Also note that these books concentrate on business skills and not the usual Jewish conspiracy theories.
By the way, has anyone noticed how anti-Semitism is practically a “reverse” racism? Racism usually insists that the hated race is inferior, dumber, weaker, lazier, etc., than the “master” race, but if you listen to anti-Semites start detailing their complaints about Jews, it sounds like they are making the Jews out to be superior. One Jew on the Supreme Court, and He runs the show-overrides the eight Gentiles. Is there a Jew anywhere in the President’s cabinet? Then the Jews must run the whole government. A relative handful of Jews manage to run the lives of billions from the shadows. Who else could accomplish such feats but a superior race?
Okay, I’m done going off-topic. Just had to get that out.
Okay, I’m done off-topic.
Lancer on February 10, 2007 at 12:35 AM
I have Ashkenazim Jewish heredity, “Learn Jewish usury” isn’t anti semitic unless history is offensive.
Beginning in the middle ages, Jews in Europe were not allowed to farm and Christians were not allowed to practice usury (loans with interest) with other Christians.
The Jews in Europe had no choice but to learn making money from money lending and from other business efforts.
If Christians wanted to borrow money they went to Jews because there was no reason for another Christian to loan it and Jews loaned money in order to survive.
Hence the term “usury” (definition=organized banking).
Speakup on February 10, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Considering my indebtedness to Allan Bloom, Leo Strauss, and Martin Zweig, to say nothing of others, it would be ridiculous for me to propose that the Jews are “just folks.” I want to sequence the Ashkenazi genome and get me some of that–minus the Tay-Sachs disease, of course.
Kralizec on February 10, 2007 at 3:18 AM
It seems best to distinguish a question of nature and a political problem here. As for the question of nature, either the Ashkenazi have higher average intelligence or they do not. As for the political problem, Allahpundit points it out well enough. However, although discussing in public a question of the Ashkenazi Jews’ higher average intelligence may have this or that political consequence, no political consequence seems to have a bearing on the theoretical matter itself.
Kralizec on February 10, 2007 at 3:37 AM
If they really want to know how to succeed in business, why don’t the Chinese ask their relatives who are making piles of money in the USA?
So, it’s just a trendy, exotic business gimmick of the year to keep them occupied rather than convert China to a free market economy instead of the static, statist dead weight communism they are clinging to. That move would eject them into the economic stratosphere.
Wouldn’t use this example to determine the existence or state of anti-semitism in China today. The trends to watch would be the effectiveness of the Muslim radicalization in China’s Muslim-dominated regions. Just look at a map of the old Silk Road and see how it provides a corridor thru Afghan, Paskistan, Kashmir, all the way to the heart of China. With communism failing, and its false idol of the State as god, and people yearning for spiritual fulfillment, the field is ripe for other influences to take over, positive and negative.
naliaka on February 10, 2007 at 11:11 AM
In todays society, many square miles of far too thin skin helps create and perpetuate the political correctness that’s literally killing us.
Even though there are past causal effects for sensitivity, the entire world (us first of course) must gain a tolerance for slight in order to move on to a less dangerous and even a more ethnic tolerant society.
The ability for all of us to laugh it off and realize that 90% of what’s said that might be offensive, doesn’t mean anything, can’t be understated.
It starts with the kids and that starts with the parents a readiness to be offended is learned behavior and besides laughing at offenses works as well as anything else.
Maybe that’s too simplistic, but it’s a start.
Speakup on February 10, 2007 at 11:21 AM
It’s a bit creepy but on the whole I think it’s immensely positive.
Like Andy says in the 2nd post up top.
Aylios on February 10, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Psst… China, here’s the Protocol secret:
“Jesus Saves; Moses Invests.”
(Or, in semito-Chinese:
Buy Lo-Mein; Sell Moo-Goo Gai-Pan..)
profitsbeard on February 11, 2007 at 12:34 AM
So much for communism. I guess even the Chinese no long believe in the adage: “from those according to their abilities; to those according to their needs.”
I wonder how long it will be until you see a Chinese commercial featuring a guy wearing a suit covered in question marks advertising his new book on how to get free money from the government? Or a bunch of self-help gurus running around with unwashed robes and long hair?
RedinBlueCounty on February 11, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Here’s a sample from MY new book: The Ten Steps of How to be Successful in China!
Step One: Dump Communism.
Step Two: Adopt Free Market Reforms.
Step Three: Write a “How to be Successful” book.
Look for my new book on display at Chin and Bao Book Store located at a mall near you.
RedinBlueCounty on February 11, 2007 at 2:09 PM
No they wouldn’t. After all, the Saudi’s (as well as most Arabs and most Russians and other Europeans) are anti-semitic to the point that they almost make German attitudes towards the Jewish people look benevolent in comparison.
Almost (but not quite).
Emmett J. on February 11, 2007 at 2:26 PM
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