Arnold Rothstein

I confess to having not learned about Arnold Rothstein until I recently the Jewish Museum of Florida, located in Miami Beach. FYI, the museum is on the site of the first synagogue in Miami Beach, created in 1929. One of Rothstein's collections is housed there in a visiting exhibit called "Stranded in Shanghai."

 

Following the end of World War II, many of the surviving Jews of Europe decided to settle elsewhere in the hope of being welcomed or at least being tolerated. Shanghai, China was once such place. The exhibit clearly demonstrated that Shanghai, unlike Warsaw for example, did not create a ghetto for the Jews who moved there. These Jews simply settled in with the poorest of the Chinese residents of China, sharing living quarters, kitchens, storage, work, etc. with them. This was fortuitous, inasmuch as aside from just sparing space, the Chinese and Jewish residents of this ghetto also shared work, entertainment, and - best of all - hope.

 

Although I would have loved to stay at the museum for a much longer time, I unfortunately could not do so. Yet, the time I had viewing Rothstein's work, I was able to conclude that these photos (all monochrome) were professionally crafted and had powerful documentary value. Seeing the two cameras he used which also were on display - a double lens camera and a small bellows camera - made my impression even more meaningful.

 

You can view a sampling of these photos by using this link: Portfolio.

Thanks, Michael. I liked the American West portfolio and particularly liked the Migrant section. So many of the 1930s-era photos of the Depression and migrant workers show the power and lasting nature of important and good photography.

Thanks Michael for sharing these. I like the way in which you described the assimilation of European jews with ethnic Chinese, two groups that are disconnected in culture and origin, at the same time sharing a common history of suffering oppression, in the hands of the Nazis or the Japanese. Through their suffering, they probably found common grounds of tolerance and compassion and embraced one another. I wish, I could see a few more photos from the collection than the ones that are displayed in the link you shared. The five photos that I saw showed the Jewish people mostly by themselves except one which shows a Chinese boy and Chinese alphabets. I am curious to see photos that show more assimilation between the Chinese and the Jews, but for that I probably have to visit the museum itself. Thanks again for sharing and writing the comment.

Thanks again for sharing and writing the comment.

 

You are most welcome, Supriyo. I too wish that the online portfolio had a more diversified sample of images from Rothstein's Shanghai experience.

oops Edited May 10, 2018 by JDMvW

oops

 

Oops, JDM???

Oops, JDM???

 

I was thinking ARTHUR Rothstein....

 

Now why did I come into the kitchen, anyhow?

Now why did I come into the kitchen, anyhow?

 

One of my most often used, and favorite, lines, JDM.