Howard Elias has kindly offered to take us on a tour of the Jewish Cemetery in Happy Valley. It's hidden away so many people don't know about it, even those who live in Happy Valley!
You'll find full details and how to register below, but if you have any questions please let us know in the comments.
I look forward to seeing you on the 28th,
David
When: Sunday afternoon, January 28th, starting at 2 pm. The tour should take about 90 minutes, and there will be time afterwards for everyone to walk around the grounds and take pictures.
Meeting point: We'll meet at the fountain in the cemetery. The cemetery is at 13 Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley. The entrance is located between the school and the Buddhist temple.
The gate will be open so people can just enter and they'll see the fountain when they get inside.
Fee: There is a fee of HK$50 per person with all of the money going towards the upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery. Howard will collect the money on the day.
Register: To reserve a place, please send an email to Howard (howzend@netvigator.com), giving your name and contact number, and how many people will join the tour.
The cemetery: The Hong Kong Jewish Cemetery is now surrounded by high rise apartment blocks, with the entrance flanked on either side by a Buddhist temple and its school. It is one of the few Jewish cemeteries in the Far East that is still in use and in its original 19th century location. A worn Hebrew dedication plaque set into the back wall translates:
For the souls who have departed this life for their Master in the holy community of Hong Kong, may G-d protect it. And this (land) is a gift of our mistress, the Queen (Victoria), may G-d bless her, given with
payment in full a sum of money that was necessary (for construction) by David Sassoon in the year [615]. May he see offspring and have long life.
The tour: Howard Elias, the cemetery’s curator, takes us on a tour of this fascinating part of Hong Kong’s history. Howard will share the stories of some of the cemetery’s more notable residents, which includes members of the Kadoorie, Belilios, Sassoon, Odell and Weill families. He will also discuss religious laws regarding burial, and the work he has undertaken over the past decade to maintain the cemetery grounds.
What to bring: There really are no dress restrictions but Howard usually recommends visitors bring along three items: a hat, some drinking water and some mosquito spray. As previously mentioned, photography is allowed, so you're welcome to bring a camera too.
More to see: For ideas of other places to visit after the tour, please see "A wander through Happy Valley's history".
Thanks to Howard
Today's visit to the Jewish Cemetery was well-attended, and well enjoyed. The cemetery is hidden away, so several people mentioned it was the first time they'd visited, even though they'd lived in Hong Kong for many years.
A big thank you to Howard Elias for welcoming us and leading the tour, despite suffering from a cold. He's done a lot of research into the people buried there, so as well as the background about the history of the cemetery, he has lots of interesting stories to tell.
Here's a photo of Howard talking to the us earlier this afternoon: