Wedding photo of Betty Grebenschikoff and her husband. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai's Hongkou district was home to a Jewish community as early as the late 19th century. During World War II, more than 20,000 European Jews sought refuge in Shanghai and lived in the area. In 2008, the Hongkou district restored the Moishe Synagogue as a memorial museum.
In 1948, Grebenschikoff wore the wedding dress, which was sewn by her mother-in-law, when she married her Russian husband at the Shanghai Park Hotel. Grebenschikoff left Shanghai with the dress in 1950.
Her two daughters have since also gotten married wearing the same dress.
In 2013, the 84-year-old Grebenschikoff returned to Shanghai with her daughter and decided to donate the dress during a visit to the memorial hall.
According to Chen, Grebenschikoff was more than happy when she saw the restored wedding dress via a video.
