At the request of the Chinese government, David Abraham Brown, the head of the U.S. division of the China Famine Relief (1928–33), visited China. Brown was a prominent American industrialist and philanthropist. He was active in the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; he served as the Chairman of the American Jewish Relief Campaign from 1921 to 1922 and the United Jewish Campaign from 1925 to 1928; and from 1930 to 1935, he was the publisher of the weekly magazine American Hebrew.

Brown was hosted by and stayed with Bishop William Charles White (怀履光, 1873–1960) of the Canadian Anglican Mission.

Brown shared with the local kehillah that many of their manuscripts have ended up with the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati, his affiliate institution; he further asked if he could do anything to assist this community.

A member of the Ai Clan told Brown that the Jews' most pressing need was a Jewish school; the congregation had over 200 people who needed to be brought together to re-learn the religion of their forefathers.

Brown recorded that although they had no leader, "in the event that a school or synagogue was projected, they would get together and elect a chief man with full power to represent them."

Ai further added that there were large numbers of Jews scattered throughout China, and if Judaism was ever revived in Kaifeng, many of them could be expected to move to Kaifeng.

Brown noted that most participants in the Jewish gathering looked Chinese, except for the Zhao Clan and one elderly lady, the Widow Shi (石寡妇) — she had an oval-shaped face and wide eyes; Brown felt that she "could pass without trouble for a Baghdad or Indian Jewess, except for her bound feet."

Widow Shi said her late father-in-law, born around 1810, told her on many occasions about everything Jewish that was passed down onto him. There were no galleries in the sanctuary; men and women were separated during worship services; long white gowns were to be worn at prayers, and men wore a turban of sorts; a deceased Jew was wrapped in plain cloth, placed in a coffin, and interred. On the anniversary of the death of an ancestor, incense was burned, and special offerings were made before a plaque was set up in the family home. The person who was to conduct the memorial service was first required to purify himself ritually by immersing himself in a large wooden tub.

The local Jews present at the gathering all indicated their eagerness to reconnect with their heritage if they had the chance.

Brown wrote, "As a body they had no religion; but, when asked of what faith they are, they claim to be Jews." Furthermore, he noted, "They realise they are Chinese, completely assimilated, yet there is pride in the ancient people who are different from the other Chinese in Kaifeng."