'Shanghai Ghetto' survivor speaks in Syracuse

Posted: 10.24.2010 at 10:14 AM

Talk on Sunday, 3pm at Jewish Community Ctr

Edie Shafer has a 'war story' unlike many: her family was one of the lucky ones to escape Nazi Germany, and lucky enough to find passage to a place that let Jews settle: Shanghai, China. She was born, and lived 7 years there and is now sharing her remembrances with many who've never heard of the Shanghai Ghetto. Though her family was safe, the living conditions were less than ideal: she spent all her time inside the family's small living space--the open sewers made being outside impossible.
She has one doll, her only toy, and the suitcase she brought to America, after her family was sponsored here.
She also has a 'scrapbook' her father made for her, which she's enlarged to show as she speaks.
Edie's at the Jewish Community Center in DeWitt on Sunday afternoon at 3---she says she's talking to share what happened then, and to help people now appreciate what we have.