From the middle of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, the Jews in Shanghai became the largest Jewish community in the Far East. The total number of Jews in the city amounted to thirty-one thousand. The Hongkou area is well known as the main asylum for Jewish refugees. Fleeting from Austria, Poland, Russia and Germany, these immigrants had to leave all their possessions behind and came to Shanghai penniless. The designated area was bordered on the west by Gongping Road, on the east by Tongbei Road, on the south by Huiming Road and on the North by Zhoujiazui Road.
Jewish Shanghai is a unique community once thrived in Shanghai.
There were at least seven synagogues, and many Jewish hospitals and schools. Most of which have been completely or partially demolished. Founded by Jacob Sassoon, father of Victor, in his wife's memory, it was consecrated in 1920. Now it is occupied by the Shanghai Education Bureau. The original synagogue was founded in 1907 and moved to this site in 1927.