From 1933 to 1941, Shanghai accepted over 30,000 Jewish refugees coming from war torn Europe. The city contained 25,000 Jewish refugees when the Pacific War erupted in the latter part of 1941. In July 1942, Colonel Josef Meisinger of the Gestapo arrived in Shanghai and put forth the “Final Solution in Shanghai” to Japanese authorities. Although the plan was not put into effect due to various reasons, the Japanese proclaimed “The Designated Area for Stateless Refugees”, ordering all Jews who had arrived since 1937 to move into the area within a month. The Jews remained within the confined area in a perilous position for nearly four years, threatened by execution. In the above ghetto, world famous yeshivot as Mir, Habad and others flourished with many students studying torah for long hours. In their haste to escape the European mayhem all books were left behind, necessitating the printing of the current lot.

(אוצר החסידים ליובאוויטש, קובץ שלשלת האור, היכל ד, שער א) דפוס-צילום של זיטאמיר תרכ"ד , בתוספת דברי הקדמה קצרים מאת ר' מנחם שניאורסאהן ו"מפתח".