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RELIGION
Hong Kong's Jewish community worship at the synagogue in Robinson Road which was constructed in 1901 on land given by Mr Joseph Sassoon and his family. Mr Sassoon built the synagogue in memory of his mother Leah and it is therefore known as the Synagogue 'Ohel Leah'. The Jewish Recreation Club and the resident rabbi's apartments are on the same site.
There are about 300 people in the congregation and they belong to families who originally came from the United Kingdom, China, India, Eastern and Western Europe, the United States as well as people born in Hong Kong. Reform services are held every Friday and Orthodox services on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. With the exception of the summer months, Sunday school takes place on Sunday mornings. The first confirmation was held in 1963.
For many years the congregation was led by a resident teacher and for the past two years by ordained rabbis. Affiliated activities include a Jewish Benevolent Society.
The great majority of the populace in Hong Kong, however, still adhere to traditional Chinese beliefs and there has been a notable revival of Buddhism and Taoism in recent years, mainly due to the immigration of Buddhists from China. Of these two ways of life, Buddhism appears to have more followers in Hong Kong, but they both maintain a strong hold among the older Chinese and are far from dying out amongst the younger people. Outwardly, there is little difference in their religious ceremonies. Buddhists pay homage to Buddha, whilst Taoists venerate deities who were either mortals, or legendary figures deified. Taoists also practise divine writing in sand. The Hong Kong Buddhist Association is the main Buddhist organization. A similar Taoist Association has recently been formed.
Religious studies in both ways of life are conducted in a large number of monasteries and nunneries, and in hermitages built in secluded places where a dozen or more inmates may reside and devote themselves to quiet meditation. Because of their accessibi- lity, hermitages at Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan are popular with people living in the urban areas. However, the better known monasteries are situated in the more remote and scenically pleasing parts of the New Territories. Thus the Po Lin monastery (Buddhist) at Ngong Ping, Lantau, is reputed to have the best view of the sunrise and is much visited at week-ends and holidays.
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