Elias Green

"Keep the faith."

Name at birth

Elias Czik

Date of birth

11/15/1911

Where were you born?

Czechoslovakia

Name of father, occupation

Gedalyahu Czik

Maiden name of mother, occupation

Fayga Czik

Immediate family (names, birth order)

Parents and children: Moshe Czik, Tuvia Greenberger, Sarah, myself, Avraham, and Yota

How many in entire extended family?

Large extended family

Who survived the Holocaust?

Moshe Czik, Tuvia Greenberger, Sarah, and me

I was an officer in the Czech army and I fought the Germans during World War II. My brother Moshe was also in Czech army.

I met my wife after the war in Czechoslovakia. We immigrated to Israel in 1947.

Where did you settle?

We lived in Israel from 1947 until 1960. We had a small fruit and vegetable market.

How is it that you came to Michigan?

My wife found out that her brother Howard Jacobs was alive, living in Oak Park, Michigan. In Israel, after Shabbos (Sabbath) was over we found out; there was a radio program in which the names of survivors looking for other survivors were read. My wife heard that her brother Howard was alive. Together with my wife’s sister, Rozie, and we all immigrated to Michigan.

Occupation after the war

I had a small patent medicine store

When and where were you married?

1945 in Czechoslovakia

Spouse

Lili Jakobovitz, My wife worked in a fruit and vegetable store.

Children

Sam Green (born in Czechoslovakia in 1947), electrical contractor; Marlene born in Israel, real estate broker

Grandchildren

Elana, Leora, Stacey, Avi, and Amanda Great-grandchildren: Mason, Jacob, Maya, Reena, Isaac, Ariella, Eli, Reese, Makenna, and Cole

What do you think helped you to survive?

My faith.