Jewish Passport of a Polish Man engraved in the Shanghai Wall List
Mendel Finkielsztjn is engraved on the Shanghai List Wall with other, 18000 names of former Shanghai Jewish refugees!
The Shanghai List Wall plus sculptures are 37 meters long, of which 26 copper plates are 34 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. This is the only survivor memorial wall with the theme of salvation in the world. As far as we know, the number of Jewish refugees who came to Shanghai for asylum at that time was about 20,000. Currently, there are, 18000+ Jewish refugees on the wall.
In December 2020, the museum completed its expansion and renovation project and reopened to the public after closing for over 6 months. After the expansion, the size of the museum is enlarged by 3 times.
Two residential buildings that were on the south and west sides of the Ohel Moshe Synagogue are now incorporated as new components of the museum, while their original architectural feathers were retained.
The primary objective of the museum is to discover and share the experiences of Jewish refugees, shedding light on their lives during their time in Shanghai.
Their narratives come to life through an extensive collection of historical artifacts, photographs, and generous contributions from former Jewish refugees. The museum showcases over 1,000 exhibits, including multimedia presentations, and dioramas illustrating living conditions. Furthermore, personal accounts, are all aimed at portraying the compelling stories of these resilient individuals.
The museum excels in offering comprehensive and precise English-language translations alongside the Chinese text, ensuring accessibility for all visitors. Additionally, audio guides are readily available, enhancing the overall experience for those exploring the exhibits.
Polish Jew Shanghai List Wall
Stanislaw Kostarski
Polish diplomat, Charge de Affairs of the Republic of Poland in Nanjing, press counselor of the Embassy of the Polish People’s Republic in London, long-term head of the foreign department, and Paris correspondent of Życie Warszawy. During World War II, Kostarski was a lieutenant of the Home Army and participated in the Warsaw Uprising. (born 1920, died August 11, 2007).
In 1939, Poland was an ominous place for a Jew
The country was divided after the Nazi invasion that started World War II. With Germany claiming the western half and Soviet Russia claiming the eastern half.
Neither of these occupiers was friendly to Jews, and the many Jewish citizens of Poland had to figure out their best means of survival. Because their time was running out, Polish Jews decided escaping from Poland was the safest option. Polish Jew Shanghai List Wall
The outstanding passport of Mendel Finkielsztjn
documents his departure from Shanghai and his emigration to the United States from 1946 to 1947. According to an entry in his passport on page seven by the Polish Attaché STANISLAW KOSTARSKI, we can see he had an earlier passport issued by the Polish Legation in China on Dec 12, 1941.
There is a Ledger listing in handwriting persons registered at the Polish consulate in Shanghai, 1934-1941 online, which lists Mendel under entry number 1374. Mendel was from the town of Kilkijow, Volynia region. His village was destroyed by Ukrainian nationalists back in 1943. This area had plenty of Polish Jews. The passport also includes a Canadian Pacific Railway stub stamped Dec 18, 1947.
An outstanding and rare document of Holocaust and passport history! Many thanks to fellow collector Pawel Kruszewski (†) who researched several data on this document. Read more in the book “Exile in Shanghai” edited by Sonya Muehlberger.
Polish Jew Shanghai List Wall
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
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