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As churches and schools were built by the family and Jewish teachings were honored, the revenues that funded these philanthropic acts simultaneously stemmed from human suffering and addiction. Jewish identities were maintained even as the family profited from exploitation, reflecting a stark contradiction between ethics and commerce, faith and avarice.
Generational Transformations and Expansions
Upon David Sassoon's death in 1864, his sons, Albert and Elias, inherited not only the family’s enterprises but also the moral quandaries presented by their operations. While Albert focused on expansive ventures, including cotton mills and banking, Elias relocated to China, enhancing their commercial stratagem amidst the pressures of war and social upheaval.