Holocaust Museum exhibit, opening lecture spotlight stories of Jewish refugees in Shanghai

The Holocaust Museum and Learning Center will feature the exhibit, “An Odd and Improbable Tale: Jewish Refugees in Shanghai,” from Dec. 10 to March 6. A special opening program and reception will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the HMLC, located in the Jewish Federation building, 12 Millstone Campus Dr.

Drawn from the HMLC archives and local collections, the exhibit tells several stories drawn from the approximately 18,000 German and Austrian Jews who fled to Shanghai as a safe haven from the impending threat of the Holocaust. The exhibit focuses on refugees who ultimately made their home in St. Louis.

The opening lecture on Thursday, Dec. 10, entitled “The Holocaust Comes to China: Jewish Refugees in Shanghai,” will be presented by Steven Hochstadt, history professor at Illinois College and author of “Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of Escape From the Third Reich.” A reception will follow the program; dietary laws observed.

To RSVP or for further information, call 314-442-3714 or email [email protected]. This exhibition is sponsored by the Gloria and Rubin (z’’l) Feldman Education Institute of the HMLC, the Regional Arts Commission and UMSL’s Center for International Studies.