On October 21st, Dinah Feldman, a theater producer and descendant of the former Jewish refugees from São Paulo, Brazil, visited the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and shared with us the creative process of a theatrical work that was "born both in the museum and in Shanghai".

Dinah sharing at the Museum

In 2019, Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and the Jewish Museum of São Paulo, jointly held the exhibition "Jewish Refugees and Shanghai". William Jedwab, a cousin of Dinah and also a descendant of refugees, was deeply touched after visiting the exhibition and donated his grandmother's old suitcase and a collection of family historical materials to the Jewish Museum of São Paulo, Brazil.

A photo of Dinah (first from the left) and William (second from the left)

During her time working at the Jewish Museum of São Paulo, Dinah discovered that the story of William's grandmother could keep audiences riveted for forty minutes, thus confirming that this story deserves to be staged. Dinah told us that the family history of William "had been like a sealed secret", and "all the documents were kept in that box". These documents written in German and Chinese became important materials for her subsequent creation.

The relevant historical materials of the Jedwab family in Shanghai

Ghetto Pass

Card of identification in China

Report Card of Shanghai Jewish Youth Association School

A ship ticket to Shanghai

In March 2024, " O Vazio na Mala" premiered on stage in São Paulo, Brazil, and has since attracted 40,000 viewers. This work centers around an old suitcase filled with family memories and secrets, presenting a profound journey "interwoven with pain, love, and transformation”. It has earned unanimous praise from critics and audiences, and has also been nominated for several drama awards. Dinah said that students, teachers, Holocaust survivors, and descendants of the Jewish refugees in Shanghai have actively participated in discussions and other activities organized by the production team, because "each such exchange demonstrates the resonance of the historical narrative of Jewish refugees in Shanghai and inspires the younger generation."

A still from "O Vazio na Mala"

“In the past, all we often heard about was the number of victims... But now we have the opportunity to share the real life of people in Shanghai.”Dinah believes that "O Vazio na Mala" has changed the way the history of the Holocaust during World War II is told, and the exhibits of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum complement the play in a mutually reinforcing way. The two preserve and convey this precious heritage in different yet unified ways.

Dinah and William both look forward to the play being staged in Shanghai. Through the museum, Dinah got in touch with Cathy Barbash, an advisor to the Shanghai International Arts Festival, and they have collaborated to bring this story that originated in Shanghai "back to where it all began".

A photo of Dinah with Cathy Barbash (right)