The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is located in Shanghai’s historic Hongkou District, an area that was once home to a thriving Jewish community dating back to the late 19th century. Built around the 1927 Ohel Moshe Synagogue, the museum stands in the former “Shanghai Ghetto,” where approximately 20,000 European Jewish refugees sought refuge from Nazi persecution during World War II. Today, the museum preserves their history and tells the story of their lives, struggles, and experiences in Shanghai.

I would like to thank the esteemed Sophia Tian, Head of the Exhibition & Research Department Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, for her support and guidance.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is a significant historical site that preserves the story of Jewish refugees who sought safety in Shanghai after fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. Located in the former Ohel Moshe (Moishe) Synagogue in the Tilanqiao Historic Area of Hongkou District, the museum commemorates the experiences of approximately 20,000 Jewish refugees who lived in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation.

Through photographs, documents, films, and personal belongings, the museum offers a glimpse into the challenges, resilience, and everyday lives of these refugees. It also provides an important reminder of Shanghai’s role as a place of refuge during one of the darkest periods of the twentieth century.

Synagogue and the Historical Sites of the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Community

These places are generally referred to as historical sites of the Shanghai Jewish refugee community. They include the Moshe Synagogue, White Horse Inn, JDC Site, Huoshan Park, and Roy Roof Garden, each reflecting an important part of refugee life in Shanghai during World War II.

The Moshe Synagogue, located within the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, is one of the two remaining synagogues in Shanghai. Built in 1927 with funds raised by Russian Jews, it became an important place of worship and gathering for Jewish refugees during World War II. In 2007, it was renovated according to its original design and became the central building of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

The White Horse Inn opened in 1939 and was founded by Rudolf Mosberg and his wife, Jewish refugees from Vienna. It became a popular gathering place for Jewish refugees in Shanghai. Originally located at Changyang Road and Lintong Road, it was demolished in 2009 and rebuilt in 2015 at No. 67 Changyang Road using some original building materials and furniture.

The JDC, or American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, opened its Shanghai office at No. 119-121 Huoshan Road in 1938. It played an important role in helping Jewish refugees by providing funds for refugee camps, soup kitchens, hospitals, and other essential services.

Huoshan Park and the Roy Roof Garden were also important gathering places for Jewish refugees. Huoshan Park provided a place to rest and socialize, while the Roy Roof Garden, established on the rooftop of the........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)