The Last Kings of Shanghai, by Jonathan Kaufman

The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties that Helped Create Modern China, by Jonathan Kaufman (2020)

This book is about the Sassoon family and the Kadoorie family, both from Baghdad, Iraq, who built tremendous business empires in Shanghai, China.  They arrived in Shanghai at a time when was becoming an international city.  Europeans were beginning their colonization of the city.

 The Sassoons were a wealthy business family in Iraq, but due to political influences in the early 1880s moved their enterprise, first to India, and then to China.  They increased they wealth in the Opium Wars.  This book gave a clear explanation of the origins of the Opium War, and how the Western world help to feed and exploit the opium trade in China.

 The Kadoorie family arrived in Shanghai a few decades after the Sassoons.  They built their empire from the ground up.  They opened up lavish hotels and began one of the largest electric companies in the country.

 During World War II, the Kadoories build shelter and fed numerous Jews fleeing from Nazi Germany.  China was one of the very few countries open to Jews during this period.  The city also came under Japanese occupation during the War.  The families survived through this occupation and then sided with Chiang Kai-Shek as the Nationalist and Communist faced each other.  Ultimately, Communism won and the two families lost virtually everything.

 It was an interesting slice of history.  I wish this book had been published a few years earlier and I could have read it prior to my visit to Shanghai.

 Read:  September 17, 2020

 3.5 Stars

Kristallnacht ~ November 9, 1938

Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, was a massive anti-Jewish attack staged by the Nazis, that took place on November 9~10, 1938. Throughout Germany and Austria, synagogues were set afire and Jewish-owned shops were broken into and vandalized. The name, Kristallnacht, or Night of the Broken Glass, is a reference to the many broken windows of synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses and homes that were destroyed by the plundering by the Nazis. Jewish cemeteries, and schools were also destroyed, all under the watchful eye of police. In addition to the physical vandalism, at least 91 Jews were murdered in the streets during this violence.

Kristallnach was a turning point in world history. It solidified the Nazi anti-Jewish policy that would eventually lead to the Holocaust with the systemic, state-sponsored murder of millions of Jews.

The attack has been attributed to the retaliation following the assassination of a German official by 17-year old Herschel Grynszpan. Grynszpan, who was living in Paris, entered the German Embassy in Paris and shot and killed a German official. He was protesting the harsh treatment his family suffered under the Nazi regime in Germany. A few weeks earlier, over 15,000 Polish Jews living in Germany had been rounded up and transported back to Poland. Grynszpan’s family had been in this group.

SS leader Reinhard Heydrich reported that over 7500 businesses, mostly Jewish-owned, and 267 synagogues were burned, some totally destroyed. In addition, over 90 Jews were killed in the rioting. Hermann Goring issued an edict stating that the Jews would be billed for any and all damages caused by the riots. Any insurance claims were confiscated by the government.

Although Kristallnacht produced shockwaves throughout the rest of the world, nothing was done to halt the Nazis from their continued attacks on Jews. The United States reacted by recalling its German ambassador.

The 12 Tribes of Israel

According to Biblical tradition, the 12 Tribes of Israel are descended from the 12 sons of the Patriarch Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons through his 2 wives, Leah and Rachel, and his 2 concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah. Jacob also had at least one daughter, who we know as Dina.

Jacob's sons with Leah were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar and Zebulun. Leah was also Dina's mother.

His sons with Rachel were: Joseph and Benjamin.

His sons with Bilhah were: Dan and Naphtali.

His sons with Zilpah were: Gad and Asher.

After the Exodus from Egypt, the families of these 12 sons had congregated into clans, or tribes. The 12 Tribes of Israel refer to the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was also known as Israel. Later, when the Israelites entered into the Promised Land, Joshua divided the land into portions with each tribe getting a portion. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. His descendants received a double portion, and his tribe was divided into 2 tribes named after his two sons ~ Ephraim and Manassah. The tribe of Levi became a priestly class and did not receive a portion of land.

The tribes are named for each of the sons. The Land of Israel was divided as follows:

Eastern Portion:
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun

Southern Portion:
Reuben
Simeon
Gad

Western Portion:
Ephraim
Manesseh
Benjamin

Northern Portion:
Dan
Asher
Naphtali