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Saturday, August 17, 2013

Jewish Refugees Museum, Shanghai 04072013

Our last stop was the Jewish Refugees Museum. We had a hard time looking for it because suddenly we got disoriented for some reason when we came out of the subway.

The Jewish Refugees Museum has an entrance fee of CNY 50. My friends and I think that's expensive considering that there isn't much to see in this museum. Even a historian would be bored with it though the last part may be of interest to scholars who want to research on how Jews who sought refuge in Shanghai fared after the war.

The coming of Jews to Shanghai was made possible by Consul General 何鳳山 (Ho Feng Shan) in Vienna, Austria. He issued visas to Jews, risking his career. 

The museum is building a database of all Jews who went to Shanghai to escape the Holocaust.
Jewish altar inside the second exhibit hall
 The Holocaust is one of the most horrible human invention in the history of mankind as it sought to eradicate a race by means of torture. The exhibit narrates the events that led to the Holocaust and describes adequately how the Jewish people suffered under the Nazi regime. Jewish children were used as guinea pigs in scientific experiment, a clear dehumanization and objectification of fellow humans which can lead one to ponder on morality, ethics, and humanity at large.

The second part of the exhibit is about the life of the Jews in Shanghai during the World War 2. The Jews were very grateful for the refuge in those trying times.  

The third part, on the other hand, is about the Jews who stayed even after the war. Many started a new life in Shanghai. 

message of grateful Jews to Shanghai
The building is easily seen due to its unique architecture, the only one with red bricks. On the right are flags of nations which supported the Jewish cause during the WW2. I'm proud to see the Philippine flag.
Read more about my 2013 Shanghai Adventure

This is written while listening to Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight". "Shadow of the Day" playing as I was making the final touch.

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