Where Understanding Begins with Encounter: The Times of Israel Features the Story of JCC Taiwan

Where Understanding Begins with Encounter: The Times of Israel Features the Story of JCC Taiwan

For many people, their first impression of Jewish culture comes from history books or the news. Yet genuine understanding rarely begins with what we read—it begins with personal encounter.

Recently, The Times of Israel published a feature article titled "A Modern Sanctuary in Asia: The Story of the Jewish Community Center of Taiwan," highlighting the vision behind the Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association (JTCA) and the Jeffrey D. Schwartz Jewish Community Center (JCC). More than simply introducing a community center, the article explores how cultural exchange, education, faith, and community engagement have come together to create a place where understanding can flourish.

The story begins with JTCA Founder Jeffrey D. Schwartz, who has called Taiwan home for more than five decades. Inspired by the encouragement of his late wife, Na Tang, who once reminded him that what truly distinguished him was "his Jewish soul," Schwartz embraced a renewed sense of purpose. Together, they founded JTCA with the hope of creating a place where Jewish life could thrive in Taiwan while opening a meaningful window for Taiwanese society to experience Jewish culture firsthand.

That vision eventually became the Jeffrey D. Schwartz Jewish Community Center (JCC).

As The Times of Israel illustrates, JCC is far more than a building or a religious institution. It is a place where cultures meet, conversations begin, and mutual understanding takes root.

From Shabbat services and Jewish holiday celebrations to the synagogue, kosher dining, the mikveh, children's education, the museum, and a wide range of cultural programs, JCC supports the full spectrum of Jewish communal life in Taiwan. At the same time, it welcomes people from all backgrounds, offering Taiwanese visitors a unique opportunity to experience Jewish traditions not through textbooks, but through authentic personal interaction.

For many visitors, their first encounter with a Torah scroll, their first taste of kosher cuisine, their first experience of Jewish music, or even their first conversation with members of the Jewish community happens at JCC. These moments transform curiosity into understanding and unfamiliarity into meaningful connection.

The article also emphasizes that JCC serves not only Taiwan's Jewish community but also the broader public. Students, diplomats, academics, business leaders, travelers, and local residents gather here to explore Jewish history, traditions, and contemporary Jewish life through exhibitions, guided tours, educational programs, lectures, and cultural events.

One sentence from the article beautifully captures the spirit of JCC:

"Misconceptions rarely survive genuine encounters."

This simple yet profound observation reflects the philosophy that has guided JTCA from the very beginning. Cultural exchange is never a one-way presentation—it is built through dialogue, shared experiences, and authentic human connection. Every exhibition, educational program, holiday celebration, museum visit, and shared meal becomes another opportunity to replace assumptions with understanding.

Over the years, JTCA has continued to strengthen cultural education, museum programming, public events, international exchanges, and Holocaust remembrance initiatives, helping more people in Taiwan gain a deeper appreciation of Jewish history, heritage, and values. At the same time, it has created a welcoming home where Taiwan's Jewish community can gather, celebrate, and preserve its traditions.

Through this feature, The Times of Israel introduces international readers not only to JCC Taiwan, but also to a vision that extends far beyond a community center. It tells the story of a place built on understanding, respect, and human connection—a modern Jewish home in Asia where cultures meet, friendships grow, and every genuine encounter helps build a bridge between people.

Read the full feature in The Times of Israel:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-modern-sanctuary-in-asia-the-story-of-the-jewish-community-center-of-taiwan/