Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum

Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum 上海犹太难民纪念馆
Located at the intersection of Changyang Road and Zhoushan Road in the Hongkou District, the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum was established in 2007 with the Ohel Moshe Synagogue (one of the Jewish activity centers in Shanghai back in the early 20th century) as its core body. Since its establishment, the museum has been actively collecting historical materials and conducting academic research.
Through advanced technology such as scenario reconstruction, interactive multimedia, and other display methods, visitors can experience the history of Jewish refugees in Shanghai, and learn how Jewish refugees and their Chinese neighbors helped each other in adversity and difficulties together. While the museum is telling the history of European Jews taking refuge in Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s, the neighborhood where the museum is located in is also the only existing historical site in China that reflects the life of Jewish refugees in the country during World War II.

Field Trip Information
CHIN 406 Debating Issues in Contemporary China: Students gained a better understanding of Chinese culture and its changes over time. It also gave students a chance to observe the architecture of Shanghai and helped them to learn more about Fengshui, which was discussed and debated in class.

TLANG191,TLANG291 Elementary/Intermediate German I and French I: This trip providec a perfect opportunity for students of French and German to gain deeper appreciation for their chosen languages. The benefits were many. First, students were able to practice their languages (French and German) with native speakers, as there are plenty of French- and German-speaking expats in Shanghai, particulary at thechosen venues. This provided students with the opportunity to enhance their linguistic competence and self-confidence speaking the languages. Second, as France and Germany are neighboring countries, they share a similar historical and cultural background. Students thus had the opportunity to learn about the flight of European Jewish refugees to Shanghai during World War II and China’s role during that time period. Lastly, students were exposed to a typical European Christmas market experience where they enhanced their vocabulary and understanding of one of the most important holiday celebrations in France and Germany.