Revisiting Shanghai Jewish shelter

The picture was given to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, and Small requested help from anyone who recognizes her former Ama or knows her children.

"Ama made us cloth dolls and lived with us in one room. She spoke English because my mother taught her," says Small, choking back sobs.

Mickey Abraham, who is also in the delegation, remembers his nanny clearly as well.

"Ama would correct us when we do something wrong. She knew Jewish customs even better than some Jews and she worshipped and prayed with us on the Jewish Sabbath," says Abraham, who was born in Shanghai in 1942 and lives in New York City. He is the founder of Wanted Shoes, a fashion brand in the US that imports shoes from China.

They say they had their Chinese neighbors all around and lived in harmony.

"I remember ahead of Sukkot, the traditional Jewish holiday, the Chinese neighbors helped us to find bamboo to build tents," says Small.

She remembers a Chinese watchman, who picked up some English words from her and always greeted her. She was fascinated by the bound feet of the watchman's wife, a custom in old China.

This is Small's second return trip to Shanghai. She also came in 2007.

"My younger brother wanted to come back this time. He was only 9 months when we left Shanghai," she says.

Abraham paid a visit to Shanghai with his brothers and sisters a decade ago. They went to a park and sang hymns, which they did often when they were in the city 70 years ago.

"An old Chinese man said, 'Oh the Jews are back!' when we sang and it was like a reunion of old friends," he says.

Rabbi Joseph Sorotzkin, who was born in Shanghai in 1945, says he has more than 30 descendants, and his parents had more than 100 descendants, because of the kindness and tolerance of Chinese people.

"We are grateful to the city as it preserved our lives and nurtures the Jewish bloodline. We hope that Shanghai continues to be a haven for everyone," says Sorotzkin, who is a professor of theology in the US state of Maryland.