In January I visited Harbin.
There were many (Russian) Jews in Harbin during the early years of the Eastern Chinese Railway (1898 - 1928).
In 1928, the railway passed from Russian to Chinese control and many Jews left. By the time of the Japanese invasion, not many Jews were left. Some books say that the last Jews "left in 1963", others say "died in 1985".
I visited the Jewish cemetary in Harbin, where I saw from the stones that some Jews were still around well into the fifties.
Also, while the present cemetary is lovingly kept, many graves had been vandalized at some point, with the little enameled portraits defaced.
What I was wondering is what happened between the golden olden days and the present warm friendship between China and the world Jews?













