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The Sino-Judaic Institute has been a pioneer in the field of Chinese-Jewish relations for over 30 years.

We are a virtual institute, based in the U.S.A. but with members the world over.

We offer this website as a resource to all who are curious about various aspects of Chinese-Jewish relations and want to learn more.

SJI is a membership organization.  We welcome your participation and involvement.

Our fields of work include:

• The study of the ancient Jewish community of Kaifeng, where Jews have been living now for over a millennium, and assisting the Kaifeng Jewish descendants to reconnect with their cultural heritage as appropriate.
• The study of Jewish life in Shanghai, Harbin, Tianjin, Hong Kong and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• The study of cross-cultural issues such as literary influences, comparative diasporas, religion, intermarriage and family matters, etc.
• The support of Jewish Studies programs in China and fostering scholarship in this field.
• Promotion of tourism to Kaifeng and other cities and to make current exhibits on the Jews of China more accessible to the public.
• Publicaton of Points East, a journal that comes out three times a year, and Sino-Judaica, an occasional scholarly publication.

Please Help in This Research: 

RE: 1930’S HONG KONG--WEILL FAMILY, HARRY ODELL, TIES TO FRANKEL/CLUMECK FAMILY AND LESTER GOODMAN IN SINGAPORE

Dear Sino-Judaic Institute,

I have researched and written about my Jewish family history in Singapore. My cover story in "Asian Jewish Life" attracted attention because I included a family portrait of Albert Einstein posing with my family at Menasseh Meyer's estate on his fundraising tour for the Hebrew University. Here is the link: http://www.asianjewishlife.org/pages/articles/AJL_Issue_15_Oct2014/

AJL_Issue15_CoverStory_Worlds_Apart_in_Singapore.html

A marvelous and unexpected result of the public attention has been to be connected with archival film footage I never knew existed. The British Huntley Archives has film footage of my family from 1931-2 on their Siglap Estate. Recently, I was referred to new footage of a boat leaving Singapore for Hong Kong. One title card reads "Repulse Bay with the Weills". I have been searching for the connection between the Weill family and my family. When I learned that Sophie Weill married Harry Odell, I wondered if perhaps Harry Odell is the filmmaker, since he founded a film company (and theater) in Hong Kong. The film is more professional than an amateur home movie.

So far, the two people we have possibly identified in the Hong Kong film from my family are: Lester Goodman and Ned (Nathaniel) Clumeck. 

I am hoping to find descendants or friends of the Weill/Odell families or historians who have any insight into the film footage and/or possible connection to my Singapore family.

Please email me directly with any leads: ginsburg10@gmail.com.

Thanks so much. Lisa Ginsburg 

Below are the links to relevant HUNTLEY FILM ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE:

1. Boat trip to Repulse Bay, Hong Kong to visit the Weill family, 1930’s.

http://www.huntleyarchives.com/film/6357

2. Frankel/Clumeck family on their Siglap Estate, Singapore, 1931-2 (approx.)

http://www.huntleyarchives.com/film/97286

3. Scenic footage of arrival in Singapore harbor, 

including "Lester Looking Warm" (possibly Lester Goodman), 1920’s?

http://www.huntleyarchives.com/film/97281