The Jewish community of Taiwan dates back to the 1950s, when Jewish servicemen in the American military were first stationed there. As Taiwan’s industrial and trading capacity grew, Jewish businessmen from the United States, Israel and Europe, joined Taiwan’s Jewish community.

Services were held regularly in the U.S. military chapel ordinarily officiated over by lay leaders. The U.S. military chaplain based in the Philippines, would visit Taiwan several times a year. During the 1960s, an informal congregation began to meet at the President Hotel, in Taipei.

By the mid-1970s, the Taiwan Jewish Community Centre was established near where many of the expatriate families resided.  At the community’s peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, membership included more than 50 families and events were held at the Centre several times a week. After this time, the Community began declining due to changes in Taiwan’s economic structure.

Today, no more than 150 Jews live among the 23 million inhabitants of Taiwan. Most of these Jews in Taiwan are foreigners — mainly U.S., Israeli, British and French citizens working as factory managers, financial advisers, English teachers and tour guides.