The Six Percent: The Woman Who Worked With the Enemy to Save Lives
Summary
Deborah Dwork recounts the story of Laura Margolis, a social worker who aided Jewish refugees in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during WWII. After U.S. visa restrictions halted emigration efforts, Margolis leveraged personal relationships with Japanese officials to secure funding and resources. She overhauled relief operations, building efficient kitchens to feed thousands despite wartime shortages and bureaucratic hurdles.
Topics discussed
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Intro: US isolationism and guest Deborah Dwork
Jewish refugees in Shanghai and Laura Margolis arrives
Inefficiencies in relief efforts and emigration hopes
Visa restrictions and gender barriers for Laura
Pearl Harbor and Laura's social strategy with officials
Negotiating aid with Captain Inutsuka
Building an efficient kitchen with borrowed boilers
Laura's reflections and book promotion
Trailers for Revisionist History, Skyline Drive, and more
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