The subject is such a passionate one that she decided to write a book, The Jews of Thailand, with friend Stephen Mallinger.

Judaism wasn't even recognised by the Thai government until a few years ago when the Jewish Association of Thailand was formed.

Ruth's husband Michael served as the organisation's president and she was its secretary.

For many years, many Thai people didn't know who or what Jews were.

"It changed during the Six-Day War," Ruth told the Jewish Telegraph from her Bangkok home.

"They learned about Israel and Moshe Dayan and admired them for their courage.

"The Thai people have been very accepting of Jews."

Ruth, 68, was born in then-Palestine to German-Jewish parents.

She met Thai-born husband Michael while they were both studying at university in Massachusetts.

She recalled: "I didn't know much about Thailand and it was difficult enough to move from Israel to America.

"But I fell in love and I was adventurous. It was probably not the best time to arrive in Bangkok, as it was the hot season and a lot of people had escaped to the coast.

"There were not many people my age about, either, and then the Vietnam War started, which saw quite a lot of Americans arrive.

"Many of the Americans had maids, drivers and gardeners, but I wasn't used to that.

"I wanted to dig in and get involved."

RESPECTFUL: Michael Gerson presents King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej with a gift to mark his 60th birthday in 1987

Michael's father, Harry, who was born in Odessa, was serving in the Tsar's army when the Russian Revolution happened. He fled Russia and moved to Italy.

As Italy had been building and renovating buildings in Thailand, he was offered the opportunity to move to either Siam - Thailand's former name - or Argentina.

He chose the former and built up what was to become a thriving furniture company named Gersons.

The Gersons, together with other prominent Jewish families like the Jacobsohns, Djemals, and Eubannis, led an informal gathering of Jews before they eventually formed an official community and opened the first synagogue in Thailand.

Michael, who died three months ago, was a civil engineer, helping to build the road up the mountain to Chiang Mai in the north.

Ruth explained that most of the Jewish families, mainly gem dealers and professionals, formerly lived near Bangkok's first synagogue, which opened in 1966.

The first known Jewish resident of Thailand was Morris Rosenburg, who arrived around 1885 and operated the Hotel Europe.

His daughter Elizabeth stayed in Bangkok, married a Jewish gem merchant from Holland and became the benefactor of the present Jewish community in Thailand.

"Many of the first Jews were from Baghdad," Ruth, who estimates that there are around 1,000 Jews living in Thailand, said.

"One of the first lay leaders was Salim Eubanni, who was from Syria."

The first permanent rabbi, Chabad Lubavitch's Yosef Kantor, arrived in Thailand in 2003.

Ruth added: "Rabbi Kantor also set up synagogues in the north of the country.

"A lot of Israelis come travelling in Thailand and he reaches out to them.

"Many of them explore Buddhism or Hinduism, but Rabbi Kantor offers them the opportunity to explore and return to their roots.

"He is a really broadminded man and we are fortunate to have him."

HISTORIC: Gersons' furniture store in Bangkok

Ruth was urged to write the book by former community president Isaac Djemal.

She had previously written a book on Thai traditions and festivals.

Ruth recalled: "I wasn't ready to write a book about Thailand's Jews until recently.

"My material research involved talking to people.

"I found out that Stephen was writing a similar book and we joined together.

"We wanted to document the history of the Jewish community in Thailand and everything it has been through."

Ruth has four children and four grandchildren, but all of them live in America.

But does she see a future for Thailand's Jewish community?

She said: "It is an interesting phenomenon demographically.

"We also have a lot of elderly Jews, mainly from America, who come to live here in retirement."

Jews in Thailand is published by River Books. www.riverbooksbk.com