The Shanghai Jews

The year is 1939, The Nazis are approaching the Austrian border. In a small rented house in Vienna, the Inslicht family had enough of the Antisemitism in Austria and start packing their luggage and leave.

Leo and Ester Inslicht have two children, two-year-old twin brothers, Michael and Abraham. It is midnight, the Inslichts take their two boys and luggage, go on a train to Napoli and go straight to the harbor to go aboard a ship that will take them to Shanghai.

Life in Shanghai is good to them. Leo opens up a general store, a bit smaller than the one he had in Vienna. Ester stays home to take care of the two young children, who go to Kadduri Jewish School and also compete in boxing events.

It is now the year 1949, a year after the establishment of Israel. After living ten years in Shanghai, including a year and a half of living in a Japanese-made ghetto, the Inslichts are packing their luggage again, this time they are headed to the new state of Israel.

After a five months journey, which included sailing around the entire continent of Africa, they finally reached their destination. Although they barely had money, it seems that nobody is happier than them.

They now live in a tiny house that can only contain their beds and very small kitchen, with toilets that are actually a small pit outside their house, yet they are still happy.

They live very close to the sea, their children go to a school where they feel they belong, Leo, now 39, is doing what he loves, magic shows, with Michael as his assistant, but most importantly, they now live a quiet life without being persecuted.

Michael passed away two years ago when he was 78, he lived his whole life doing what he loved, recycled art. He had a great sense of humor and was a kind person. He was my grandfather.