Abraham "Zachariah" Zhang

[Alexander Yingcheng]

Abraham "Zachariah" Zhang was born to David “Ezekiel” Zhang and Mariam “Devorah” Gao (a Jewish minority from Kaifeng whose family left China in the 19th century and became American citizens) on July 4th, 1952, at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Hospital, Seattle, in Washington State. His father is a physician and philosopher. His mother was a poet and teacher. His father's family settled in the U.S. after the Chinese Civil War, and his great-grandfather was a war veteran of the Nationalist Army. His mother's side of the family left China in 1870, and from an early age, his grandfather took him out into nature, taught him philosophy, and shared with him his Jewish heritage, the Jewish community in Kaifeng, Zionism, and the Three Principles of the People. He also taught him about the origins of their family. And so they’d meet other Chinese and Taiwanese people in Washington's capital, Olympia. He'd learn Chinese Mandarin, Taiwanese Mandarin, Japanese, and some Hebrew, but never to a high level. On his 7th birthday, his parents would greet him with the news that he would have a younger brother, Avishai, who would be born nine months later. Personality-wise, he’d usually be quiet and keep to himself but would talk to people, socialize occasionally, and always be respectful, as he learned to be. Also during this time, he discovered fencing, acrobatics, parkour, Taekwondo, Judo, and Muay Thai. During his teen years, he would learn photography and the proper way of drawing, which made it better for when he went to university. During this time, he would read the Babylonian Talmud- a religious book of Judaism.

On his 13th birthday, he’d have a bar mitzvah. And so, in his teen years, although he is Jewish and isn't ashamed, he is only spiritual, does his best in his studies, and gets good grades. And so, once he turned 16, he and his family would visit Israel for religious reasons, and while there, they learned Hebrew but never applied for citizenship. After they returned, Abraham would meet Zipporah, now his wife, and start dating. And so, at age 17, he chose to return to Israel once he finished high school at the top of his class to become a soldier in the IDF in 1970. And so, after finishing high school, he moved to Israel, with the Rabbi confirming he was Jewish. He’d start his service in the ground forces, joining the 16th Jerusalem Brigade, joining the 7007th Infantry Battalion, given the FN FAL. During the training, he would learn Krav Maga as part of his training. During that time, he would travel to Jerusalem with one of his friends to visit various holy Jewish sites. At other times, he’d join his other friend who lived in the Kibbutz Tzuba, where Abraham joined in the activities of the Kibbutz, such as agricultural work, maintenance, communal chores, and any other responsibilities that support the functioning of the kibbutz community. During his service, he served in the times of the War of Attrition through limited action and in the Yom Kippur War, fighting in the Sinai Front. Once he ended his service, he was given an honorable promotion to Rav Samal, the equivalent of Sergeant First Class at his discharge. He began his new life by moving back to Seattle
 

After serving in the military, he began applying to Washington University School of Medicine, where he pursued his studies for a doctorate in medicine, with a focus on psychiatry. During that time, he’d also met a few people who became good friends during his second year and married soon after. Once they married, they bought a house, started their careers, and had their firstborn son, Solomon, at the age of 22. And so, at age 24, he had his second son, Joshua. And at 26, their daughter, Ruth, was born. During that time, he would carry on doing his job from 1974 to 1978, doing his med studies at Washington University, then from 1978 to 1983, a 4-year residency and a year for specialty trauma patients at Virginia Mason Hospital. After a long life as a psychiatrist, in 2019, Abraham formally resigned at the age of 67 to live the rest of his life in peace in retirement, visiting his grandkids. Then, in 2025, Abraham moved to Los Santos to live there peacefully and quietly.

to be continued