Sole Center Ministers to Jewish Community
By JR Breen
Contributing Writer
Tucked away in a residential back street of Dongbinggo-dong, near Itaewon central Seoul, the only center of worship for Jews in Korea appears, apart from the sign that hangs outside, like any other house.
With no synagogues in the country, Chabad House offers the only space in all of Korea, aside from U.S. military bases, for people of the Jewish faith to meet, study and worship together.
Established April of last year, Chabad House provides essentials for the Jewish community, such as food that has been appropriately prepared, known as kosher food.
The House was established by Rabbi Osher Litzman ― who came from New York in response to a request made by the small Jewish community in Korea.
The call from Korea came after the decision to relocate the main U.S military base in Korea from Yognsan, in Seoul, to Pyeontaek. The chapel on the base has, up until now, been the only center for practicing Jews in Seoul, where the bulk of the Jewish population resides.
``There are about 500 Jews in Korea, and we get about 2,000 visitors to the center each year,'' said Rabbi Litzman. Most are U.S army soldiers on short tours.
Rabbi Litzman is an emissary from the Orthodox Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which was founded in Russia in the 18th century and has 3,000 centers around the world.
His role, he explained, is to minister to the needs of the small expatriate Jewish population and not to convert Koreans. ``We are here to serve the existing community, not to convert people. If someone tells me they want to convert I tell them 'no', unless they were really serious then I would help direct them; It has to be done in Israel. I can't do it,'' said Litzman
The center moved from its original site to meet expansion in the community, and now has plans to move again, to a larger site.
``As more people came we moved to this location, and we will move to a larger location, nearer a subway station,'' said Litzman.
French businessman Pierre Cohen, a resident of Korea for 28 years, applauds the arrival of the Chabad House. For the first 26 years of his time here he had to use the American army service.
Litzman lives in Korea with his wife, Mussy, with their daughter Yehudip, 3, and 15 month old son Menachem.