Studying Talmud in China

I have become friendly with a Taiwanese exchange student, and I go out with him a few times a week.  This Taiwanese friend, who goes by Michael, introduced me to his roommate Shuhai.  Shuhai is a business student from Hong Kong and is spending one semester in Shanghai.  Surprisingly, Shuhai is very interested in Jewish philosophy and culture.  He has studied the Talmud very carefully and can quote many parts of it.  I asked him what he thought the biggest difference was between Jewish culture and Chinese culture.  While I was expecting a general answer having to do with business culture, Shuhai started talking about Jewish Theology and Ethics.  He explained that while the Chinese generally don’t strongly value human life, Jews believe that “He who saves one soul it’s as if he saved the entire world.”  That is a direct quote from the Talmud.  Of all the things I was expecting to experience in China, discussing Talmud with a Chinese student was not one of them. 

Impressed with his answer and knowledge of the Talmud, I asked Shuhai why a secular Chinese business student decides to study a nearly 2000-year old text on Jewish law. 

Why?  To do Business.  Since the Jews have been successful in business, it is important to understand their thoughts and culture.  In this respect, many other Chinese try to understand Jewish thoughts and culture.  But very few go as far as Shuhai.  Even fewer study Talmud.