Sydney Jewish Museum October 2001 - August 2002

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Origins Russian & Sephardic

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Sephardi (Oriental) Jews The Shanghai Jewish community was established in the 1840s, as merchants and traders arrived from India and the Middle East. Among them were the Sassoons, Kadoories and Hardoons, Iraqi Jews who soon built wealthy commercial empires.  In 1883 the first synagogue Beth El was opened and other communal facilities were established. The first Jewish School was built in 1900, together with the Sheerit Yisrael Synagogue. In 1908 Jacob Sassoon built the Ohel Rachel Synagogue in honour of his wife and in   1930 the Kadoories donated money to build a new school, the Shanghai Jewish School, on the same site. A full compliment of teachers prepared the students for the Senior Cambridge Examinations. These buildings became the hub of the community, helping to make it close-knit, and Jewish festivals and special family occasions were celebrated there. Children participated in many sporting activities and grew up in a happy and secure community, making lifelong friends. (153) Russian Jews Russian Jews came to Shanghai in several waves, the majority via Harbin, a Russian enclave in Manchuria. The earliest arrived after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, fleeing persecution and pogroms in Tsarist Russia or seeking new opportunities. More sought refuge in China from the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the ensuing Civil War.  Thousands came to Shanghai in the wake of Japan’s occupation of Manchuria in 1931, to escape Harbin’s economic decline, the takeover of their businesses, banditry and antisemitism.  They were welcomed and supported by the established Sephardi community. Together they formed the Jewish Scouts, the Jewish Recreation Club, the Jewish Hospital and a Shelter House for the aged and poor. At its peak the Russian Jewish community in Shanghai numbered over 5,000 and boasted a range of religious and cultural institutions. These included a large synagogue in the French Concession, a school, a Burial Society and Yiddish and Russian newspapers. Social life centred on the Jewish Club, a venue for concerts, plays, lectures and communal meetings.  In Shanghai, Russian Jews established a firm economic base in business and retail. Support for a Jewish Homeland was strong in this community, represented by the Zionist organizations, Kadimah and Betar.

 

Object: Lender: Date: Notes:	Business Registration Permit Bard, L 1933 Paper For Bard & Co. with photo of Leo Bard	No image available
Object: Lender: Date: Notes:	Graduation certificate Bard, L 1927 Paper From Harbin High School; in Russia
Object: Lender: Notes:	Kiddush cups Moalem, D Silver	No image available
Object: Lender: Date: Notes:	Photo album Krouk, E & N 1930s; 1940s Wood showing Shanghai junk and Chinese characters for shang-hai
Object: Lender: Notes:	Prayer book Moalem, D Paper Owned by Danny Moalem's father who was the Shamas or warden of a synagogue
Object: Lender: Notes:	Prayer shawl & bag Moalem, D Fabric For prayer shawl; royal blue satin, embroidered with Chinese floral design and Magen David
Object: Lender: Notes:	Silver bowl & rosewood base Moalem, D Silver, wood The family entered the camp.  Retrieved 3 1/2 years later
Object: Lender: Notes:	Tefilim bag Moalem, D Silk Belonged to Moalem family in Shanghai

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