Groups of Jews, who don't understand Chinese, want to express their thanks towards Shanghai in Chinese. They hold signs with writings of "thank you" in Chinese and with full smiles. Even the Prime Minister of Israel is involved. What is the story behind it?
On August 26, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum opened new memorial facilities with a public welfare propaganda film called "Thank you Shanghai." The Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai, Arnon Perlman, hopes it can be shown in more and more public and even in other cities and countries.
In the propaganda films, many of the Jews, who have been to Shanghai, and their descendants, expressed their appreciation to the Shanghai with smiles on their faces. More than 70 years ago, they or their predecessors, once forced from their homes and cast far across the sea, came to Shanghai take refuge.During the Second World War, more than 20,000 Jews, who fled Nazi-occupied Europe, came to Shanghai to seek shelter and finally found a safe haven in Hongkou district. The Jewish refugees and their Chinese friends found friendly coexistence and even if they went throughthe most difficult war, they also shared a joyous time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appears in the propaganda films, and as the last character in the film expressed his appreciation to the Shanghai: "We will always be grateful to you, and will never forget it. Thank you!" In the propaganda films, Mr Netanyahu have only five seconds of air time. However, in another video clip, he was shown for more than 1 minute, sharing their history and expressing more regards.
The Israel Consul General in Shanghai, Arnon Perlman says that when World War II broke out in Europe, the Jews were heavily persecuted by the Nazis and were forced to flee. "At that time, many European countries shut their doors and Shanghai was one of the few countries willing to accept the Jewish refugees in the world."
Coming to Shanghai, he said, the Jews mainly liveed in the Hongkou district. The Jewish refugees lived harmoniously with the local citizens, overcoming numerous difficulties together. "A friend in need is a friend indeed, Jews and Shanghai residents established a deep friendship." After the war, most of the Jewish refugees left China and immigrated back to Israel and or moved to other countries.It is reported, that this more than a minute video that was produced in the last four months, visited the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv, Haifa, recorded hundreds of segment precious video characters, including the Jewish refugees whogrew up in Shanghai, the Shanghai friendly city of Haifa's Mayor Ahab, Nobel laureate Robert John Auman, famous wizard HaiZi dean, scientists, artists, and students, etc.
