Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

By Zack Rotbart, National Library of Israel

An[dropcap] original signed letter in which Dr. Sun Yat-sen expresses his strong support for Zionism has recently surfaced at the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem and is now online for the first time.

In the letter, the pre-Communist era Chinese leader venerated until today as the father of the Chinese nation calls Zionism one of the greatest movements of the present time.

All lovers of Democracy cannot help but support whole-heartedly and welcome with enthusiasm the movement to restore your wonderful and historic nation . . .

The message, dated April 24, 1920, was sent to N.E.B. Ezra, founder of the Shanghai Zionist Assn.

Sun served as the first provisional president of the Republic of China, established in 1912 following the fall of the last imperial dynasty, prior to the Chinese Civil War and Communist Revolution.

While his support of Zionism is well-documented and the letters text was previously known, the original signed copy has only now been rediscovered, over a century after it was written.

The letter surfaced as part of a National Library of Israel initiative to review and describe millions of items in its archival collections, including personal papers, photographs and documents from many of the 20th centurys most prominent figures.

[dropcap]Born in Lahore (modern-day Pakistan), the letters recipient, N.E.B. Ezra, was a Jewish scholar, writer, publisher and activist who lived most of his life in Shanghai.

In addition to founding the Shanghai Zionist Association, he edited its mouthpiece, Israels Messenger, for decades.

Sun and other members of the Chinese leadership had warm relations with local and international Jewish communities and figures, many of them cultivated during years of exile prior to the ultimate fall of the Qing dynasty.

Their support of the Zionist movement stemmed from both ideological and practical considerations.

Prof. Gao Bei, an expert on Shanghais 20th-century Jewish community, said, Iit is very exciting that this original letter from Sun Yat-sen to N.E.B. Ezra has been unearthed. It is one of the seminal documents that illuminate the Chinese Nationalist governments early support for the Zionist cause.

Full text of the letter:

29 Rue Moliere,24 April.1920.

Mr. N. E. B. Ezra,

Shanghai.

Dear Mr. Ezra:

I have read you [sic] letter and the copy of Israels Messenger with much interest, and wish to assure you of my sympathy for this movement which is one of the greatest movements of the present time. All lovers of Democracy cannot help but support whole-heartedly and welcome with enthusiasm the movement to restore your wonderful and historic nation, which has contributed so much to the civilization of the world and which rightfully deserve [sic] an honorable place in the family of nations.

I am,

Yours very truly,

[Sun Yat-sen]

Related

Read the original:
Father of the Chinese nation supported Zionism | IJN - Intermountain Jewish News

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