On the third day of the Lunar New Year, shortly before 9:00 a.m., American visitor Greg Koppe was already waiting early at the entrance to the museum. As the museum’s first guest in the Year of the Horse, and a descendant of former Jewish refugees in Shanghai, his early arrival embodied an 80-year bond between three generations of his family and this city.

Greg’s family story begins in 1939. That year, his grandparents Albert Koppe and Marie Koppe, together with their young son Peter Koppe, fled Nazi persecution and traveled by ship all the way from Germany to Shanghai. They resided in Hongkou for nearly a decade, leaving for the United States in 1949. Growing up, Greg often heard his elders speak of Shanghai: “From childhood to adulthood, I was raised on these stories—how Shanghai saved our entire family, and what this safe haven meant to thousands of persecuted Jews.” This memory has long been etched into his family’s bloodline.

Greg Koppe locating the three familiar names on the Wall 

Guided by museum staff, Greg located the three familiar names on the Wall of Names. When viewing the reconstructed scene of the Kadoorie School in the exhibition hall, he remarked emotionally that his father had also attended the Kadoorie School while taking refuge in Shanghai. His father’s ability to settle quickly in the United States after the war was entirely thanks to the solid foundation laid by his British-style education in Shanghai, especially in English, mathematics, and other subjects.

“Because of this school,” he said, “the best years of these Jewish children were not wasted. Many ordinary Jewish families are deeply grateful for the excellent education they received at the Kadoorie School in Shanghai.”

After leaving Shanghai, Greg’s father Peter quickly established himself in the United States. He was admitted to a top high school, later studied engineering and contributed to space station research, including the U.S. Apollo program. In midlife, he switched to law and became a practicing attorney. About 20 to 30 years ago, Peter returned to Shanghai to visit the Ohel Moshe Synagogue and his former residence. Now in his 90s, Peter and his wife still enjoy good health.

Greg followed in his father’s footsteps and is now a practicing attorney in the United States. The museum was a key destination on his trip to Shanghai. Eighty years have passed, yet Shanghai remains the hometown in the hearts of this family. Accompanying Greg was his friend Joe, whose father was also a Holocaust survivor who fled Germany to the United States. Bound by this shared historical connection, the two families visited the museum together.

Greg noted that before coming to China, he had seen Chinese communities in U.S. cities celebrating the Lunar New Year with great festivity. The strong New Year atmosphere made him feel even more welcome on his trip to China.

At the end of his visit, Director Chen Jian presented Greg with the museum’s new book Shanghai, Once a Homeland, hoping he would bring the illustrated volume back to Peter and revive his memories of Shanghai.

Director Chen Jian presenting Greg with the museum’s new book