Remnant of war becomes family treasure

A file photo of the Jewish Museum in Shanghai.

During the 1930s and 40s, many Jewish refugees fled to and found refuge in Shanghai. And evidence of that bond they formed with their adopted city can still be seen today.

An old style residential neighborhood built in 1929 in Shanghai is full of “l(fā)ane houses.” During World War II, many Jewish refugees lived there. There were about 100 Jewish households living in the lane at that time, even more than local residents, so it was known as “the Lane of Foreigners.”

Ge Zhengrong moved to a house in the lane 67 years ago, when he was only eight years old.

"When we moved to this house, the war was over. Many Jewish refugees started to leave Shanghai. And they had to leave many belongings that they couldn't take with them. My father found a nice painting hanging in the house," Ge said.

Ge's father loved the exotic painting and held on to it through years.

"My father always told us to take good care of this painting and pass it on. He just found it special,” Ge said.

“Only recently, someone told me the painting is related to a famous biblical story. I read the story and found similarities with those Jewish refugees in Shanghai, which makes it even more meaningful."