Nira Rabinovitch : An Israeli in China life story

YNet has a story about Israeli Nira Rabinovitch and her connection with China. Most grownup Israelis adore Nira as their childhood hero because she was playing around with a Kaktus looking dummy called Kishkashta in a show on TV (photo) when Israeli TV only had one channel in black and white. Nira has a wonderful life story that involves China and Chinese culture.

Here’s my quick translation from Hebrew for "China highlights" of this story :

“… If an actor has to bring something of himself to the character, then Rabinovitch can teach most of us a thing or two about the process. A bit over 60, she’s already experienced the death of a loved one and recovery from breast cancer, while finding new life in the field of Chinese medicine and her new love – the soft Chinese martial arts – Qi Gong. As well as practicing Chinese medicine in hospitals, managing the Qi Gong therapy department at campus Broshim in Tel Aviv University and teaching in Chinese medicine schools, she will also be hosting the “relations and communication” course in “Sagol festival” (this weekend).

 

“What’s the connection between Qi Gong to relations and communications?” she asks and then replies : “Qi Gong practices awareness and listening to ourselves and the environment in every moment… “

 

Ever since coming back to Israel after living for five years in Chin and acquiring Chinese language skills, Rabinovitch goes back every year or two (obviously, great Chinese masters of Chinese medicine do not speak English. If you wish to listen to Nira Rabinovitch singing “Mother Dear” in Chinese press here). The combination of a Chinese speaking Jew has impressed her masters who have agreed to teach her the secrets of the national medicine, because – believe it or not – the Chinese believe that Jews are clever. But considering the process that’s overwhelming China being influenced by the west it’s probable that a billion Chinese may go wrong.

 

“The Chinese consider the Jews to be clever, so they ask me “what religion do you believe in?” and I reply “I’m Jewish”. Then they say – “Jews are very clever”, mentioning Einstein and “Labin boom boom boom” and that was before Rabin was assassinated but was known for Israeli wars. They also knew that Jews have brains. If I’m Jewish and I was able to learn Chinese, and they know that Chinese is difficult to master, then they consider me a good investment. The Chinese parents keep telling their kids – “Study hard hard hard”.

 

Q : “That’s what my mother told me as well…” (interviewer)

“Chinese mothers are really like Jewish mothers”.

 

Q : “So why go to China? You can stay here.” (interviewer)

“You’ve got a point. But today’s Chinese have developed ‘competition’ ‘what’s in it for you’ and ‘how to get more money’ instead of ‘how you might evolve emotionally’. I go there every year and I can see the change. When everybody was poor and Communism ruled then they knew that they’re all the same … look how I’m scared of the Chinese. I’m talking and then thinking that maybe I shouldn’t say it… today, you can find a menu in a restaurant with food that was once only available to the emperor, and now everything’s open to the west. Now the kids are fatter, you’ve got McDonalds, Pizza and Mercedes everywhere. When I ask a 30 years old man if he practices Qi Gong he laughs and replies “No way, my grandfather was an expert, but not me”. The young generation if about hi-tech just like ours, and like everything else the Chinese will be able to do it well and fast. Very very fast.

 

Q : “Does that make you sad?” (interviewer)

“Regarding my own ego, I’m sad over every small alley that I loved and was torn down. When I lived in China without knowing the language I really liked the sense of family. It had much to do with certain conditions – the small apartments and the activity in the public parks or next-door neighborhood. You may see a grandmother and a grandchild knitting together, a grandfather teaching his grandson to bounce a feather. You may see street games that I had in my childhood but are no longer there and I miss them. […]