During the 1930s, Nazi violence and antisemitic policy created a refugee crisis as German and Austrian Jews were desperate to escape. Charles Millett (née Karl Sinai) and his parents Grete and Ernst were among over 17,000 Jews who found safe haven in Shanghai. Though seemingly an unlikely refuge, Shanghai became one of the few routes of escape, due to the large number of countries either limiting or denying entry to Jews altogether. Stripped of their possessions by the Nazis, many refugees arrived in Shanghai with almost no money and struggled to find a way to support themselves. Following Japanese occupation of the city and the outbreak of World War II, many were forced into the Hongkew Ghetto.

Our Vice President of Education & Exhibits, Jordanna Gessler, and our Collection Manager, Christie Jovanovic, explore the little-known history of the Jewish community in Shanghai through the lens of Charles Millett, taking a closer look at some of the artifacts in his collection and this incredible story of resilience and survival.

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