Newsletter No. 419
Editorial-Opinion
October 23, 2006

 

The following profile and interview with Israeli Ambassador Eli Cohen appeared in the Mainichi Shinbun about three weeks ago. The English translation is by the Shingetsu Institute.

AMBASSADOR ELI COHEN ON THE SIMILARITY OF JAPANESE AND JEWISH MARTIAL ARTS AND RELIGION
By Yoshinori Fukushima

Why do many Israelis practice martial arts? This question became a motive for noticing the similarity of the knowledge and spirit between Japanese and Jews. With his own experience as ambassador, from the perspectives of martial arts, Shinto and Judaism, he wrote his latest book, Japanese and Jews as Seen by an Ambassador (Chukei Shuppan).

“I was impresed when I visited Ise Shrine in 1986.” He knew the unique architectural style, which is called “Yuiitsu Shinmei Tsukuri,” and that it did not use any nails. He felt the likeness to Judaism, in which God forbade the Prophet Moses to use metals when they made an altar.

He was first introduced to Japan through Karate when he was 21 years old. “The real subject of Karate is concentrating our spirits -- not attacking, but for self-defense.” The boy David who became the king of ancient Judah, killed the huge armed Philistine soldier Goliath with a stone. “The Jewish martial arts are originally spiritual, just as those of the Japanese.”

This summer, he met a Lebanese who practised Karate. “He went back to Lebanon to attend his mother, who was in critical condition, even as they were fighting with Israel. I was affected by it.” But he welcomed me with a hug. “Martial arts unite people. Through it, we can understand each other and be friends.”

He is a holder of the fifth grade blackbelt rank. He practices every day, and teaches on Sunday at a Karate ashram in Roppongi in Tokyo. He invited Israeli, Palestinian, and Japanese children there last year. He also supports the activity called “martial arts for peace,” in which an Israeli acquaintance of his is concerned.