20 March 2007
One of Shanghai's oldest and most recognized Jewish sites is undergoing a major face-lift. Authorities in the Chinese city have outlined plans to turn the site of the Ohel Moishe synagogue into a memorial to Jewish refugees during World War II. Work is expected to commence next week, and plans include carving all the refugees' names on a large wall. The project, which is expected to be finished in July, aims to restore the former synagogue to its original state of more than 80 years ago. During World War II, more than 30,000 Jewish refugees fled Europe to seek asylum in the Tilanqiao area of Shanghai.
Meanwhile, the 'Ha'aretz' newspaper reports that former Jewish refugees from China now living in Israel are demanding compensation for their lost property from the Chinese government. According to the report, some refugees from Europe who fled to Hong Kong during World War II have demanded compensation for the loss of a property they bought in the city - now part of China - which is extremely valuable today. Last week, the People's Congress in Beijing passed a law protecting private property.
