The Sephardi Jewish community of Shanghai, 1845-1939, and the question of identity
From 1845 Baghdadi Jews settled in Shanghai via India and, over a century of existence, their numbers possibly never exceeded eight hundred. During this period they were exposed to great changes in their social, economic and political environment. Traditionalists believed that loyalties to the customs of their Baghdadi forebears, and occasionally even to Judaism itself, were being threatened. In this thesis the actions the Baghdadi Jews in Shanghai took to preserve their Jewish identity is examined, and changes in ethnic identity in Shanghai between 1845-1939 are analysed. Particular attention is paid to: their choice and the significance of the label 'Sephardi'; the religious and communal institutions they established in order to preserve their identity; their contribution to the economic development of the International Settlement; the reasons for their tenacious endeavours to be accepted as British subjects while remaining loyal to their religion; their reluctance to identify with the Zionist movement and their demonstration of solidarity with their co-religionists who sought refuge in Shanghai from Nazi persecution. Notwithstanding the obstacles encountered in consulting documents preserved in the Shanghai
Meyer, Maisie J.
The Sephardi Jewish community of Shanghai, 1845-1939, and the question of identity. From 1845 Baghdadi Jews settled in Shanghai via India and, over a century of existence, their numbers possibly never exceeded eight hundred. During this period they were exposed to great changes in their social, economic and political environment. Traditionalists believed that loyalties to the customs of their Baghdadi forebears, and occasionally even to Judaism itself, were being threatened. In this thesis the actions the Baghdadi Jews in Shanghai took to preserve their Jewish identity is examined, and changes in ethnic identity in Shanghai between 1845-1939 are analysed. Particular attention is paid to: their choice and the significance of the label 'Sephardi'; the religious and communal institutions they established in order to preserve their identity; their contribution to the economic development of the International Settlement; the reasons for their tenacious endeavours to be accepted as British subjects while remaining loyal to their religion; their reluctance to identify with the Zionist movement and their demonstration of solidarity with their co-religionists who sought refuge in Shanghai from Nazi persecution. Notwithstanding the obstacles encountered in consulting documents preserved in the Shanghai
jewish community question identity jews settle via india century existence number possibly never exceed period expose great change social_economic_political environment believe loyalty custom forebear occasionally even judaism threaten action jews take preserve jewish_identity examine change ethnic_identity analyse particular_attention_pay choice significance label religious communal institution_establish order preserve identity economic_development international settlement reason endeavour accept british subject remain loyal religion reluctance identify movement demonstration solidarity seek refuge nazi persecution notwithstanding obstacle encounter consult document preserve