A Chinese Song for Passover Shanghai, a cosmopolitan port city since the 19th century, became a haven for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in the 1930s. Among the thousands of refugees who poured into the city were dozens of Jewish musicians and composers. During their time in Shanghai, these musicians played in clubs and orchestras and taught at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, leaving an inedible mark on the popular music of the Chinese-speaking world. One of these refugees was Wolfgang Fraenkel, a German Jewish composer who escaped a concentration camp and arrived in Shanghai in 1939. Fraenkel became a mentor to many Chinese composers, including Chen Gexin. Chen, who was jailed for patriotic song-writing during the Japanese occupation, is the composer of Rose, Rose, I Love You, the most internationally successful Chinese song of all time. But he is best known for a song he wrote at the end World War II, Gongxi Gongxi (Congratulations). The song celebrates the end of the occupation in metaphorical terms, with lyrics describing the ‘good news’ of the end of a long winter and the beginning of spring. In the tumultuous Mainland China of the 1950s, suspicion of Western-influenced music and Chen’s international success led to his interment and death in a labor camp at the age of 47. Chen’s Gongxi Gongxi was largely forgotten in China. But Chinese refugees who emigrated to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other destinations following the Communist victory took the song with them. Gongxi Gongxi’s ‘coming of spring’ theme led to its adoption as a song for the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year. Today, Gongxi Gongxi has become the most ubiquitous Chinese New Year song in Southeast Asia, with most listeners unaware of its World War II origins and hidden meaning. Anyone familiar with Jewish music is immediately struck by Gongxi Gongxi. It is an unmistakably Jewish-sounding song, with a chord progression very similar to that of Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. The lyrics, celebrating both the end of the horrors of World War II and the coming of spring, are particularly resonant for Jews during the Passover season. In honor of the song’s Jewish connections, I provide a Passover-themed English translation below. Original recording of Gongxi Gongxi, sung by Yao Li and Yao Min (1945): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNSQVfcmu-M Gongxi Gongxi, Passover Edition (Original Lyrics by Chen Gexin. Translation by Rebecca L. Starr) Mei tiao da jie xiao xiang In the streets and alleys Mei ge ren de zui li When two friends are meeting Jianmian di yi ju hua They will give this greeting, Jiu shi “gongxi, gongxi!” “Chag Pesach sameach!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni ya “Chag Pesach sameach to you!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni! “Chag sameach to you, too!” Dongtian yi dao jintou Truly it’s a blessing, Zhen shi hao de xiaoxi Winter’s surely going! Wennuan de chunfeng Soon the earth will waken Jiu yao chuixing dadi To spring breezes blowing. Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni ya “Chag Pesach sameach to you!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni! “Chag sameach to you, too!” Hao hao bingxue rongjie Cold white frost is melting, Yan kan meihua turui See the flowers blooming! Man man chang ye guoqu Long dark nights are waning Tingdao yi sheng jiti Joyful birds are singing! Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni ya “Chag Pesach sameach to you!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni! “Chag sameach to you, too!” Jingguo duoshao kunnan We have suffered so long Lijing duoshao molian Through the endless winter. Duoshao xin er panwang Now our hearts are yearning Panwang chun de xiaoxi For the springtime’s coming. Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni ya “Chag Pesach sameach to you!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni! “Chag sameach to you, too!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni ya “Chag Pesach sameach to you!” Gongxi, gongxi, gongxi ni! “Chag sameach to you, too!” .