Nina and I have something significant in common. It’s not our looks, think again. Figured it out yet? We are both CHINESE JEWS. Now, pick your jaw up off the floor and let me explain.

My name is Chan Friedman. I am half Chinese, half Jewish. Sound strange? It’s certainly no stranger than a Mexican from Australia or a Finnish African.

And I live in Hollywood, so no one raises an eyebrow anyway.

Even though it’s 2008, and we should be past the very idea of a “preconceived notion”, I know that some of you need a little bit of perspective, which I can offer by way of paraphrasing an elder Chinese statesman, Wu Ting Fang. Fang said:

“The Chinese and the Jews have always been friends and not enemies. Both have been persecuted and despised… The Jews and Chinese are despised not on account of their vices… but on account of their virtues, on account of their industry, economy, perseverance, thrift.”

So despised perhaps that they find comfort in the only society not casting their nose down at the other? Perhaps. But perhaps it’s something deeper. Perhaps it is their unified philosophy of thrift – the true bind between the Chinese and Jewish.

Now, the philosophy of thrift is deep. Centuries deep. Remember that Israel and China go back as far as time. To understand it fully you must be born half Chinese, half Jewish. Or you must read my blog over time. Immerse yourself. You’ll get it sooner than you think.

And remember one of Chan’s favorite sayings: There’s nothing standing in-between China and Israel besides Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.