The Blogs: Break Through

Instead of killing them directly, the Japanese isolated the Jewish refugees, restricted their freedom and persecuted them. The Japanese authorities locked over 2,000 Jews up in blocks without water and electricity supply, attempting to starve them to death. But the kind Shanghai people and some Jewish charitable organizations hated to see the Jewish refugees so miserable and starving to death, they spontaneously deliver and send food to the blocked area in a secret way. Under the great efforts of Shanghai people, the Jews who were isolated in the blocked area survived at least possibly. Shanghai citizens, when facing poorer life than Jewish refugees, offered to help Jewish people as long as they could according to their standard. Such love and care are beyond measure.

Oil painting, Break Through (CC - BY Zhang Ping, Chinese Jewish Cultural Foundation) — Oil painting, Break Through (CC – BY Zhang Ping, Chinese Jewish Cultural Foundation)

Poor Chinese lived in HongKew Ghetto (Photo Credit: CC - BY Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum) — Poor Chinese lived in HongKew Ghetto (Photo Credit: CC – BY Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum)

Special thanks to Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum for providing the sources of literature and photo on this topic. Further contact with Chinese Jewish Cultural Foundation (CJCF) via email:postmaster@cjcf.org.cn‍.