By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
MARLBORO – The story of Jews who survived World War II by living in what was known as the Shanghai Ghetto will be told by one of those survivors at the Marlboro Library on Sept. 22.
Henry Meisel, 85, is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. He will describe his flight from Europe to the city on the east cost of China.
In an interview, Meisel said that in the late 1930s, individuals who wanted to flee Nazi occupied territories in Europe faced a roadblock because they needed a visa to enter countries such as the United States and England. When people learned Shanghai was a place that could be entered without a visa, the city became a destination for thousands of refugees.
Meisel, who was from Vienna, Austria, said he was 8 years old when he moved to Shanghai. He said Shanghai was not under the control of any nation and only a boat ticket was needed to gain entry.
Meisel said he lived in Shanghai for 10 years, during the time when the city was controlled by the Japanese. He said more than 20,000 Jews managed to survive in Shanghai.
“It was not easy in the slightest bit,” he said. “It was an extremely difficult situation and the conditions were quite shocking.”
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese occupied the Hongkew district of Shanghai. Meisel said that in the end, the Japanese saved the refugees.
“The Japanese forced the Jewish population to live in the ghetto, not because we were Jews, but because we were stateless,” he said.
Meisel said he has been speaking about his experiences for several years. His presentation includes a showing of the documentary “Shanghai Ghetto,” which features interviews with survivors, including Meisel.
In 1948, Meisel emigrated to the new independent state of Israel and served in the Israeli army for two years. During his final year in Israel he worked for the Israeli Air Force.
He moved to Vienna for one year before reaching the United States in 1953. He was drafted and spent two years in the Army.
“By the time I was 25, I had served in two armies and worked for the Israeli Air Force,” Meisel said.
Following his service in the Army, Meisel used the G.I. bill and went to college. He worked for the Muriel Cigar Company while he attended Baruch College in New York City at night and eventually earned a master’s degree in business.
After Meisel married his wife, Elaine, the Muriel Cigar Company merged with another company and he got a job as a sales representative for Commerce Clearing House. Meisel moved to New Jersey and has lived in Old Bridge for 40 years.
Limited seating is available for Meisel’s presentation at the Marlboro Library. Those who wish to attend the program may call the library at 732-536-9406 beginning on Sept. 8 to reserve a seat.
