Talmud Study now Mandatory in South Korea

Posted by Jameel @ The Muqata at
3/27/2011 08:00:00 AM

The following fascinating article was translated by
The Muqata from
YNET.

Close to 50 million people live in South Korea, and almost everyone is
taught the Talmud at home by their parents. "We tried to understand why the
Jews are geniuses, and we came to the conclusion that we think it is because
they study Talmud," said the Korean ambassador to Israel, Mr. Young Sam Ma.
And this is how "Rav Papa" became a more well known scholar in Korea than in
Israel.

It is doubtful if the Amoraic scholars, Abbaye and Rava imagined their
discussions of Jewish law in the Beit Midrash in Babylon would be taught
hundreds of years later in East Asia. Yet it turns out that the laws of an
"egg born on a holiday" ("瘟・ �ｬ繻邃 瘟纃 蒹眥) is actually very
interesting to the South Koreans who encourage Talmud learning at home.

Almost every home in South Korea now contains a Korean-translated Talmud.
But unlike in Israel, the Korean mothers teach the Talmud to their children.
In a country of close to 49 million people who believe in Buddhism and
Christianity, there are more people who read the Talmud - or at least own
their own copy at home - more than in the Jewish state. Much more.
"So we too will become geniuses"

"We were very curious about the high academic achievements of the Jewish
people・ explains Korean Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Young Sam Ma, who was
hosted on the channel 1 TV programme 鼎ulture Today・"

"Jews have a high percentage of Nobel laureates in all fields: literature,
science and economics. This is a remarkable achievement. We tried to
understand what is the secret of the Jewish people? How they - more than
other people - are able to reach those impressive accomplishments? Why are
Jews so intelligent? In our opinion, one of your secrets is that you study
the Talmud・

"Jews study the Talmud at a young age, and it helps them, in our opinion, to
develop mental capabilities. This understanding led us to teach our children
as well. We believe that if we teach our children Talmud, they will also
become geniuses. This is the rational to make Talmud a part of home
education in Korea.

Ambassador Ma says the he himself studied the Talmud at a very young age:
"It is considered very significant study," he emphasized. The result is that
more Koreans have Talmud sets in their homes than Jews in Israel.

的, for example, have two editions of Talmud: one my wife bought and the
other I got from my mother in law・ [Jameel adds: Almost like the Jewish
tradition of the parents of the bride buying a set of Talmud for their
future son-in-law...]

Koreans don't only like the Talmud because they see it as promoting genius,
but because they found values that are close to their hearts.

"In the Jewish tradition, family values are important," explains the South
Korean Ambassador.

"You see it even today, your practice of the Friday evening family meal. In
my country we also focus on family values. The respect for adults, respect
and appreciation for the elderly parallels the high esteem in my country for
the elderly."

Another very significant issue is the respect for education. In the Jewish
tradition parents have a duty to teach their children, and they devote to it
lots of attention. For Korean parents, their children's education is a top
priority. ( YNET)

The photo above of a Talmud translated into Korean,
is courtesy of the South Korean Embassy to Israel.