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Support for Chinese community a worthy exercise

When I first heard about the visit of a delegation from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies to China Mall, I was apprehensive about its motives, but when I learned that it was, in fact, to show support for this Chinese community, I was deeply appreciative.

Published

4 years ago

on

Ivan Schlapobersky, Johannesburg

As the architect of China Mall, I have worked closely with these people for the past 15 years, and have come to admire their work ethic and integrity.

We mustn’t forget that when Jews were fleeing persecution in Germany and Austria in the late 1930s, and when most countries closed their doors to Jewish refugees, Shanghai opened its doors to receive about 30 000 Jews who settled there and built a vibrant community.

Some of them remain there to this day. Also, I have never been aware of any anti-Semitic sentiment coming out of China. In fact, China and Israel have a close working relationship. As Jews, let’s remember that. 

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