Holocaust survivor from ICEJ Home tells Israel her story

By:  Laurina Driesse

Last week on Thursday, 27 January, the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an annual memorial day set by the United Nations in 2005 to remember the Nazi atrocities against the Jewish people and other targeted groups during World War II.

Held on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp on 27 January 1945, it is a day to reflect, as well as to educate the global community, in hopes that the horrors which took place then will never again happen!

To commemorate this day, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem held a special wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem, and also hosted an informative online discussion with experts on fighting antisemitism.

Meanwhile, at the ICEJ’s Home for Holocaust Survivors in Haifa, a small indoor ceremony was held on 27 January in the presence of Knesset Members and local dignitaries. Judith Hershkovitz, a 93 year-old Holocaust survivor and current Haifa Home resident, shared her story with MK Inbar Bezek of the Yesh Atid party. A hologram of Judith’s story is screened in a room at the museum which was opened as part of our survivors’ Home. Looking at one of her family photos on the wall, Judith pointed to herself in the photo and sadly explained that the rest of her entire family perished during the war.

In addition, Israel commemorated the day by projecting the stories of Holocaust survivors onto landmark buildings across the Land. With the number of Holocaust survivors decreasing each year, a social non-profit venture called “Live Forever” has been launched in cooperation with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and other charitable partners to preserve the Holocaust survivors’ memories, as they share their stories so that future generations will remember.

A video of Judith’s personal story was beamed on the massive walls of the Old City in Jerusalem, and other buildings in Tel Aviv, Beersheva, Herzliya and Haifa. She also was interviewed by the media, and her story appeared on several Israeli news channels.

Judith comes from a family of seven who lived together in Tisodada, Hungary. Her grandmother lived with them as well. Her father was a merchant who owned a store, and her mother was a housewife and helped in the store.

At the young age of 11, Judith’s childhood was snatched away from her when the Germans invaded Hungary in 1944.

“Until 1944, we were in our home and somehow our life was tolerable” recalled Judith. “Then our tragedy started. All the Jews were forced to gather in the synagogue. We were allowed to take one suitcase with us. We were put in a ghetto. We lost our home, our store, everything. When the Germans came into our home, we were forced to give them our jewelry and everything we had.”

“After about two weeks we were taken to the train station: destination Auschwitz. The trip to Auschwitz was terrible. I cannot bring myself to describe it. After three days we arrived at Auschwitz. We were separated into two groups, men and women. My sister was 12 years old, and she was taken away with my grandmother and I never saw either of them alive again”, recounted Judith.

“I was taken to Germany to work in a factory. It was also a terrible trip. No food, no air, no water”, continued Judith.

Judith worked hard during this time, from six in the morning to six at night, and she remained constantly hungry as there was no food to eat. She also had nothing warm to wear to protect her from the bitterly cold winters. During her time in Germany, she heard the news that her whole family had perished.

“I was the only person who remained alive from my family. I have a number on my hand”, said Judith.

When the war ended, Judith had to take a very hard three-week journey on foot, after which the Russians released her and she was taken to a German hospital. There she remained for approximately one year.

“There was a very nice nurse there, she was German. Thanks to her, I managed to heal. She treated me like her own daughter”, Judith remembered.

In December 1946, Judith immigrated to Israel and blended into Israeli life. She was eventually drafted into the army. She met her husband, married, and had two children. Both her husband and her daughter have since passed away, while her son now lives in another country.

So, being alone in Israel, Judith greatly appreciates the love and support she receives at the Haifa Home. She has been a resident since May 2013.

Holocaust survivor Shalom Stamberg’s story was also beamed onto the walls of Jerusalem and other Israeli cities. Shalom and his wife, Zelda, had been visiting the Haifa Home almost daily and although they were not yet residents, they were treated and cared for like residents. Shalom and Zelda planned on moving into the Haifa Home, but sadly Shalom passed away just before the move was possible. Zelda moved into the Home 30 days after his death.

Shalom was one of the last remaining survivors of the Warsaw ghetto and had also survived five concentration camps.

According to a Labor and Social Affairs Ministry report released in January, most of the Holocaust survivors left in the world now live in Israel, numbering some 165,800.

Over 90% of these Holocaust survivors are 80 years and older, and the average age is 85 years old. There are 950 survivors who are more than 100 years old.

Among other findings, 60% of the survivors are women.

Approximately 64% were born in Europe, while 36% are from North African states such as Morocco and Algeria. Smaller numbers are from Iraq, Tunisia, and Libya, where local Jews suffered under Nazi-inspired racial laws.

A full 25% currently live in poverty and 30% are living alone.

Most of the Holocaust Survivors in Israel have lived here since the late 1940s and early 1950s. One third arrived in the 1990s from the former Soviet Union.

The ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors is a loving environment where residents can live out the remainder of their years with dignity and ease, knowing all their needs are being cared for by loving staff, including our dedicated team of Christian volunteers.

Please continue to support the ICEJ’s Haifa Home for Holocaust Survivors.