Daniel Moalem, a historical artifact donor to the Museum, passed away peacefully in Australia on March 29, at the age of 95.

Born in Shanghai, Daniel’s father, Reuben Joseph Moalem (1892-1955), succeeded his father Joseph Moalem in 1930 as the caretaker of the Ohel Rachel Synagogue, also known as Seymour Synagogue. During World War II, Reuben devoted himself to assisting Jewish refugees in Shanghai and helped settle the first wave of Jewish refugees fleeing to the city.

Reuben married Girgee Ghazai at the Ohel Moshe Synagogue in 1929, and the couple had three children. Their eldest son Daniel was born on Huoshan Road in Hongkou District in 1930. The Moalem family left Shanghai for Australia in June 1950.

In 2008, at nearly 80 years old, Daniel donated six volumes of Jewish prayer books, treasured by his family for generations, to the Museum. As precious cultural relics bearing family memories and deep bonds with Shanghai, these artifacts serve as vital evidence for the Museum to recount this unique period of history and remain on display in the exhibition halls to this day.

Daniel in front of the Ohel Moshe Synagogue

Deeply grateful for the warmth and shelter Shanghai had afforded his family, Daniel once wrote in a letter:

Because our family lived in Shanghai since 1875 we all blended into the community over time and we found it easy to mix with the local Chinese population. Although I went to a foreign school, the Shanghai Jewish School, at University I spent time at lectures and sport with Chinese students. I liked them because they were friendly and easy to socialise with......Our family which had over 50 members, continually socialised with and got along well with them. We had the highest regard for them and their skills.

Shanghai to me was a wonderful city and offered me an excellent education, sporting, religious and social experience. The city had a wide range of activities and had experiences which we would never have had elsewhere. The Chinese culture and way of life was so unique that we appreciated it immensely.