The Jewish Community of Tianjin
天津市
Formerly romanized as Tientsin
A coastal city in northern China
21ST CENTURY
As of 2013, the building that once housed the synagogue remained standing.
HISTORY
Jews began arriving in Tianjin early in the 20th century, after the city was named a treaty port in 1860. In 1904 there were 10 Russian-Jewish families listed as living in Tianjin.
A larger group of Jews began arriving in 1917, who left Russia due to the antisemitism and persecution prompted by the Russian Revolution. These new arrivals established the Hebrew Association of Tianjin, which organized the construction of a synagogue, employed a rabbi and a kosher butcher, and initiated a number of social and cultural activities for the community.
A Benevolent Society was founded in 1920 to help Jewish refugees acclimate to their new home. Other Jewish organizations included a Jewish hospital and an old-age home. The Zionist Organization of Tianjin was established in 1921, and a drama society was established in 1928.
The Tianjin Jewish School was established in 1925. The curriculum was based on the British grammar school system; lessons were taught in English, and there were also classes in Hebrew. Tuition was free for most students. In 1935 there were 95 students enrolled in the school: 79 Jewish students and 16 non-Jewish students. In 1936 enrollment was up to 110.
During the 1930s the Jewish community continued to grow and establish various social and charitable organizations. A charitable society was established in 1930, as was a chapter of WIZO. The Jewish Agency began its activities in Tianjin in 1932, though it would not become official until 1936. The Beitar youth movement also began to be active in 1932. Four short-lived journals were established between 1930 and 1939, including the weekly supplement "Yevreyskaya Stranitsa" ("The Jewish Page") of the Russian daily "Nash Golos" ("Our Voice"). Beginning in 1934 the Hebrew Association of Tianjin acted as the umbrella organization for these groups, and served as the central organizing body of community life in Tianjin.
Another influx of Jews began in 1935, as many began escaping Nazi Europe. By 1939 Tianjin was home to about 3,500 Jews. At its peak, the city’s Jewish population reached 5,000. During the 1920s and 1930s Tianjin had the third-largest Jewish population in China.
After the end of World War II (1939-1945), with the economic and social situation in China becoming more precarious, the Jews of Tianjin immigrated and the community ceased to exist.
NOTABLE FIGURES
Israel Epstein (1915-2005) was born in Warsaw and came to Tianjin with his parents in 1920. Epstein was a writer and a journalist who eventually became the editor-in-chief of “China Today.” Epstein was one of the only foreign-born citizens of non-Chinese origin to become a member of the Communist Party in China.