Sister Cities Lecture: "Jewish Refugees in Shanghai during 1934 – 1941"

Did you know that during World War II, Shanghai, China, became an unexpected haven for 18,000 Jewish refugees fleeing the horrors of the Holocaust? This vibrant city, with its welcoming spirit and an established Russian Jewish community, offered safety and comfort to those seeking refuge. However, life took a challenging turn in 1942 when Japanese occupiers, under Nazi pressure, confined the Jewish refugees to the poor urban areas of Shanghai. After the war, many of these resilient individuals moved on to rebuild their lives in other countries, but their incredible stories live on. In 1997, the Jewish Refugee Museum in Shanghai was established to preserve this remarkable history. Now, you have the chance to experience some of the insights right here at Selby Library! The Sarasota Sister Cities is hosting a special lecture, featuring presenters Qiang Fitzgerald and Kun Shi. Together, they will share professional and personal insights--ranging from overall history, to even a recent delegation trip to Xiamen, their Sister City! Don’t miss this captivating program that connects history, friendship, and global ties.

Qiang "is the founder of Huang & Fitzgerald Consulting (HFC). HFC provides strategic consulting to universities on program and curriculum design with a focus on international students’ career development." Kun "was born in China and spent his first 32 years of life there. He is a recent retiree from USF, the City Director of Xiamen for SCAS, and volunteers for OLLI-USF and other organizations."

Learn more about their Florida Exhibit here: https://www.thefhm.org/exhibits/jewish-refugees-in-shanghai/