On December 21st, Ariel Cukierman, chairman of German Suprema Group, visited the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum accompanied by the staff of Shanghai Orient International (Holding) Co., Ltd. As a descendant of Jewish refugees, Ariel revisited the Museum after 15 years. In 2009, Ariel accompanied his mother, Bela Wolff, who took refuge in Shanghai during World War II, to visit the Museum. He remembered that there were only two small exhibition halls and a limited number of exhibits at that time. This time, seeing the huge changes after the expansion of the Museum, Ariel was amazed at the great efforts made by the Museum in terms of exhibit collection and historical exploration over the years.

Ariel visiting the exhibition hall (first from the right)

Ariel said he grew up listening to Bela’s experiences in Shanghai. As a result, he was very familiar with many of the stories, photos and objects displayed in the Museum. When seeing the scenes and moments that his mother had personally experienced, such as fleeing Europe , studying at the Kadoorie School and moving into the ghetto, Ariel couldn't help sharing with the Museum staff the details of his mother and grandparents taking refuge in Shanghai that he knew.

Ariel looking for the names of his mother and maternal grandparents

After the visit, Ariel also showed the staff a documentary made by his family to celebrate Bela's 80th birthday. In the film, Bela recounted that when she was a young child, she didn't think the life of taking refuge in Shanghai was very hard. Instead, it was memorable.

Ariel said that his mother's experience of taking refuge in Shanghai had always made him have special feelings and a deep understanding of China. He and his Chinese partners at the Shanghai Orient International (Holding) Co., Ltd. had also established friendly relations because of this period of history.

Ariel was very grateful to the people of Shanghai for actively preserving, displaying and spreading this little-known yet important history. The history of Jewish refugees in Shanghai is a witness to the friendship between the Chinese and Jewish peoples. He was willing to support the work of the Museum and participate in telling this part of history. He also said that when he got home, he would look for the historical materials left by his mother and donate them to the Museum.

Chen Jian, director of the Museum, presenting Ariel with a photo of Bela's visit 15 years ago

The story of Bela's family taking refuge

In June 1940, Ariel's mother Bela was born into a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. Shortly after her birth, her parents took the infant Bela on a train across Siberia to seek refuge in Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, the family settled down on Ward Road (now Changyang Road). In order to support the family, Bela's father Hans worked as a porter at the Peace Hotel. Bela studied at the Kadoorie School and played in Huo shan Park in her free time. In 1948, her younger brother Gary was born in Ward Road Hospital. Subsequently, the family left Shanghai for Israel and then returned to Germany in 1950.