We've just had a multi-cultural Bar Mitzvah, and now a multi-cultural lunch. First, I'd like to read from the letters to Eli sent by two English friends. Without these two ladies, Shaoping and I would not have met, and Eli would not be here today. Elisabeth Hallett remembers our friendship in China:
"Perhaps your mother has told you that she and I were close friends 20 years ago in Hunan, where I was teaching and she was a postgraduate student--she was always very strong-willed and outspoken. [Comment by Len: "I'll vouch for that!"] And that's one reason we got on so well! I got to know your dad later in Beijing, and as I'm sure you know, it was through my good friend Phyl, who now lives in Oxford, that your parents met each other. You will discover that life is made up of many curious chances and coincidences. Imagine, if I had never gone to Hunan . . . !" And here a line from Phyl's letter, a memory of Eli during our visit to Oxford: "This is amazing: I still see the little boy running down the steps of Oxford Railway Station saying, 'have you missed me?' " Shaoping's family in Chingdao sent a letter of congratulations too, and she will read from it: |
Dear Lin Lin (Eli's Chinese name):Your Grandmother, Uncles, Aunts and your cousins are blessing you from remote east China. We hope you'll become a useful man in the world. Lin Lin, there is both Jewish blood and Chinese blood flowing in your body. You are the essence of two great cultures - Chinese and Jewish. We believe you can embody the virtue of both.
Your Grandmother hopes you remember her home in China. Your Uncles hope you become a good man. Your Aunts hope you will be healthy and become a dutiful son. Your cousins wish you every success in your study. Your photos are always hung on the wall of your Grandmother's house. We all hope you come back to see us as soon as possible. We love you forever. Uncle, Jian Guo |