15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Increasing tolerance of religious practice by foreigners ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 18329]

"In a growing number of areas, authorities have displayed increasing tolerance of religious practice by foreigners, provided their religious observance does not involve nationals. Weekly services of the foreign Jewish community in Beijing have been held uninterrupted since 1995, and High Holy Day observances have been allowed for more than fifteen years. Both Reform and Orthodox Jewish services were held weekly during the period covered by this report. The Shanghai Jewish community has received permission from authorities to hold a few services each year in a historic Shanghai synagogue that was converted into a government office. However, officials gave a former synagogue in Harbin to the Russian Orthodox community, causing some tension between the local Russian Orthodox and expatriate Jewish groups.

[...]

There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts against the few citizens who consider themselves Jewish or against the foreign Jewish community. The Government does not recognize Judaism as an ethnicity or religion. Past restrictions on public display of artifacts by the local Jewish community in Kaifeng have ended, and several academic institutes opened centers for Jewish study in the country."

Document(s): Open document

10.2003 - Source: UK Home Office

Country Assessment - October 2003 - Jewish Groups ("Country Report - October 2003") [#49232],  [ID 4009]

"6.152. Jewish groups, though not an official religion, are permitted to meet. The foreign Jewish community in Beijing has been able to hold weekly services since 1995. [2h]"

Document(s): Open document