Shanghai Torah: Yuanfen

by Briana London

As World War II erupts, a young Jewish scribe flees Lithuania with his most prized possession, his in-progress copy of the Torah, setting him on an unusual collision course with a family of Chinese calligraphers living under Japanese occupation.

A stranger in a strange land, Moshe’s faith in his religion and his devotion to his beloved Elana is challenged by the carnal attraction of Ming, the young daughter of the renown poet, Zhao Heng.

Under Master Zhao’s tutelage, Moshe learns the power he wields when he sets his words onto parchment.

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 2, 2018

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad my daughter turned me onto this incredible book, and even interviewed the author, Briana London recently. She painstakingly researched the travels of the little "baby" torah, from its inception by a sofer (writer) of the characters carefully printing each letter by hand on thin parchment from Vilna, saving it from a devastating fire in the syngogue, and wrapping it, carrying it across the ocean to Shanghai, and eventually making its way to San Francisco. From there it is now housed at Steven S Wise Temple in Los Angeles, after many decades. Ms London includes the Holy rituals of the Sabbath, and the sacred traditions of the Jews that have been carried on for over 2000 years. It is a remarkable book, and I am thrilled to have read it, and hope to meet the author someday soon.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling story of the journey of Moshe, a Jewish scribe, and his encounter with a Chinese family of calligraphers. I thoroughly enjoyed the almost lyrical narrative that explored themes of love, faith, and the potency of words. However, I found myself wanting more. The richness of Moshe's experiences and the cultural clash deserved more exploration, adding layers to the intricate relationships. Although the novel beautifully captures words' transformative power and their indelible impact on hearts and history.

[Faith Mischel Golden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book since it is a true story. It wasn’t very well developed and I think it left more questions than answers about the Torah and how it ended up in Los Ange. At times I was totally lost regarding how the characters transitioned from one scene to another. This could have been an excellent story but it felt flat to me

[Herbert H Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful journey!

A fascinating completely different tale of a families flight from the Nazis. The story gives you an emotional understanding of the Torah, especially the Shanghai Torah, which is the thread that carries the reader along this well written love story.

[Mindythebookyenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Read my review here:
https://mindythebookyenta.com/2019/07...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, and the fact that it’s a true story makes it all the better. I learned so much about two different cultures.