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Goodbye Shanghai: A Memoir
During his seventeen years in Shanghai, Sam experienced wars, changing regimes, different currencies and a variety of schools that reflected the evolving political landscape. In a world obsessed with conflicting nationalism, his family survived as stateless residents, neither beholden to, nor the responsibility of, any country. They were instead, sustained by their Russian Jewish culture and community. Through Sam's memories of early life and his love of history, we learn of Shanghai's uniqueness as a home and haven to thousands of Jews over many centuries.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 9, 2018
Samson Moshinsky's family were Russian Jews who migrated from Vladivostok to China. The inventive mind combined with wide commercial opportunities brought to the family a large measure of wealth and ease. Prior to the Second World War, Sam even went with his grandparents for regular holidays in Japan.
The Jews of Shanghai were by no means unified - Sephardi and Ashkenazi mixed reluctantly. But events in Europe were to change that. After the Evian Conference (in the French town famous for its drinking water), few nations were willing to shelter the Jews of Europe wanting to flee Nazi tyranny. Australia was one of the few to offer sanctuary but visas were slow in arriving. A flood of refugees therefore poured into Shanghai - a outpost of European settlement in the Far East where no visas were required.
Zionism was by no means unknown in China, even prior to this influx. Nissim Ezra, who helped found the Shanghai Jewish School, pioneered the concept in China and introduced it to Dr Sun Yat-Sen, the revered father of modern China, who is on record as supporting a Jewish homeland.
As a result of the Cultural Revolution, the family lost their business, home and holdings and they made the difficult decision to come to Australia.
This memoir is a grandfather's record for his grandchildren - but it contains many insights into a lost era.
The Jews of Shanghai were by no means unified - Sephardi and Ashkenazi mixed reluctantly. But events in Europe were to change that. After the Evian Conference (in the French town famous for its drinking water), few nations were willing to shelter the Jews of Europe wanting to flee Nazi tyranny. Australia was one of the few to offer sanctuary but visas were slow in arriving. A flood of refugees therefore poured into Shanghai - a outpost of European settlement in the Far East where no visas were required.
Zionism was by no means unknown in China, even prior to this influx. Nissim Ezra, who helped found the Shanghai Jewish School, pioneered the concept in China and introduced it to Dr Sun Yat-Sen, the revered father of modern China, who is on record as supporting a Jewish homeland.
As a result of the Cultural Revolution, the family lost their business, home and holdings and they made the difficult decision to come to Australia.
This memoir is a grandfather's record for his grandchildren - but it contains many insights into a lost era.
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January 17, 2017reviews from amazon site
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovingly told story of turbulent times
By Veronica Albin on October 30, 2015
Format: Audible Audio Edition Verified Purchase
This book is not a scholarly book on the Shanghai Jews. It is nothing more than a personal memoire, a gift from a grandfather to his grandchildren narrated (I bought the audio book) by that grandfather himself. Sam Moshinsky, todah. It is precisely what we most needed to hear. By 'we' I mean the children of Russian (specifically Odessan) Jews who fled Stalinist Russia for Siberia (Vladivostok) and then crossed to Manchuria. We, the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren of those Jews who went to China needed to hear this story from one who was willing to tell it whole. On behalf of the now departed Harbin Jews: Moses Albin and Xenia Subkis, and of my father-in-law, Boris who is still with us at the age of 91 (who all left Harbin for Japan and then for Mexico), THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. You filled a void of what was really like for Boris, my father-in-law, to be a child in those times. Todah, chaver.
5.0 out of 5 stars A book everyone must read.
By Amazon Customer on February 7, 2016
Format: Hardcover
If you look for Goodbye Shanghai in a Library, it would probably be found under "autobiography". However, this book is far more than that. It is a social history of a turbulent time in the world, a geography lesson, a fascinating personal journey from what is now the Ukraine to Shanghai culminating in a wonderful life in Australia.
4.0 out of 5 starsI really enjoyed it.
By Bruce Wiggins on December 4, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I found this book to be a very intimate look at life in Shanghai during the war years. I felt I was there with Sam walking the Bund and crossing Garden Bridge. I really enjoyed it.
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
By Tom Lowe on September 4, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Excellent
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovingly told story of turbulent times
By Veronica Albin on October 30, 2015
Format: Audible Audio Edition Verified Purchase
This book is not a scholarly book on the Shanghai Jews. It is nothing more than a personal memoire, a gift from a grandfather to his grandchildren narrated (I bought the audio book) by that grandfather himself. Sam Moshinsky, todah. It is precisely what we most needed to hear. By 'we' I mean the children of Russian (specifically Odessan) Jews who fled Stalinist Russia for Siberia (Vladivostok) and then crossed to Manchuria. We, the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren of those Jews who went to China needed to hear this story from one who was willing to tell it whole. On behalf of the now departed Harbin Jews: Moses Albin and Xenia Subkis, and of my father-in-law, Boris who is still with us at the age of 91 (who all left Harbin for Japan and then for Mexico), THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. You filled a void of what was really like for Boris, my father-in-law, to be a child in those times. Todah, chaver.
5.0 out of 5 stars A book everyone must read.
By Amazon Customer on February 7, 2016
Format: Hardcover
If you look for Goodbye Shanghai in a Library, it would probably be found under "autobiography". However, this book is far more than that. It is a social history of a turbulent time in the world, a geography lesson, a fascinating personal journey from what is now the Ukraine to Shanghai culminating in a wonderful life in Australia.
4.0 out of 5 starsI really enjoyed it.
By Bruce Wiggins on December 4, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I found this book to be a very intimate look at life in Shanghai during the war years. I felt I was there with Sam walking the Bund and crossing Garden Bridge. I really enjoyed it.
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
By Tom Lowe on September 4, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Excellent
February 14, 2014
A first-hand memoir on how a Jewish boy living in WWII Shanghai.
February 27, 2015
what a snoozefest. the only interesting part was the intro.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews