When History Looks Back at You: A Journey to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

History often feels like something we read in textbooks—black and white dates, distant names, and faded maps. But sometimes, in a city as layered as Shanghai, history reaches out and touches you.

We recently came across a deeply moving video that perfectly captures why we at The Shanghai Squad (TSS) are so passionate about this city’s past. It tells the story of Ben Pollitzer and his son Steven, who traveled from Sydney, Australia, to retrace the steps of their family—refugees who found a rare sanctuary in Shanghai when the rest of the world closed its doors.

A Family of Ten and a Leather Shop

Ben’s story is a testament to the resilience of the Jewish community in Shanghai. His grandfather managed to secure visas from the Chinese embassy in Vienna, bringing a total of 10 family members to safety between 1939 and 1940.

They didn't just survive here; they built a life. Ben’s father, George (then just 17), and grandfather established a leather goods business, working as leather workers to support the family. George even joined the "13th United" Boy Scouts troop, a group primarily made up of Viennese and German refugee children trying to find normalcy in a foreign land.

The Moment the Museum Came Alive

For Ben and Steven, visiting the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum was about more than just seeing where their ancestors lived. It was about validation.

In the video, Ben describes a moment that left him "staggered". While looking at an exhibit of wedding photos from the refugee era, he spotted a familiar couple. They weren't family, but they were his father's close friends from the Shanghai scouts—friends who, decades later, had actually attended Ben’s own wedding in Sydney.

"To see those two faces just pop out in your exhibit... I nearly lost it," Ben recalls.

For his son Steven, the trip transformed family folklore into reality. Standing in the museum, he realized that his family's story wasn't just a singular struggle, but part of a massive "communal experience" shared by thousands who called Hongkou home.

Discover Your Roots with The Shanghai Squad

Stories like the Pollitzers' remind us that Shanghai is more than just a modern metropolis of skyscrapers and neon lights. For many, it is a place of deep emotional significance—a "Noah's Ark" that saved generations.

At The Shanghai Squad, we specialize in helping visitors navigate this profound heritage. Whether you are looking to trace your own family's history like Ben and Steven, or you simply want to pay respects to this incredible chapter of human survival, we are here to guide you.

We can assist you with:

• Customized Heritage Itineraries: Visiting the Jewish Refugees Museum, the Ohel Rachel Synagogue, and the historic lanes of Tilanqiao.

• Walking Tours of the "Ghetto": Exploring the actual neighborhoods where refugees lived, worked, and gathered.

• Logistical Support: Helping you locate specific sites or landmarks connected to your interests.

Shanghai remembers. Let us help you listen to its stories.

[Watch the touching interview here]