I was born on June 20, 1927, in a town in Romania known for its famous yeshiva (a school for Jewish studies). I lived there for seventeen years and have fond memories of walking two miles to my grandfather’s home where our entire family would have the Sabbath meal. We were a very religious family.

 

When the Germans arrived, I was in another town tending to the care of a sick aunt.  I was sent to Auschwitz and never saw my siblings or my parents to say goodbye. I remember hearing “death to the left and life to the right.”  

 

I slept and lived with seven women confined on a small bunk. Every morning at 5:00 a.m. we would have to be outside for the count of the prisoners.  One morning my arm was not straight enough and a guard beat my arm so severely that I could not straighten it for a long time. I had one dress and no underwear. Another morning after I washed that dress, it froze, and I was beaten.

 

At Bergen-Belsen I worked in a factory making light bulbs. If I didn’t make my quota, I was beaten.

 

After liberation I walked back to my grandfather’s home and was surprised to find three cousins there. This was an important day because for the first time I did not feel alone. 

 

I went to my home and found the rabbi’s wife living in the larger home in the front.  I felt like I saw G-d.  I told the rabbi’s wife that I wanted to ask the Gentile owners for a picture of my family since none of them had survived.  The rabbi’s wife warned me to bring my male cousin for protection.  The owner of the home had been a friend of my father and told me I could have one picture.  His wife came out of the house and called me a bitch and threatened to kill me if I came into the home.  I never got the picture.

 

From Romania I left for Israel and then New York where I met my husband at a meeting.  We left for Detroit to live with an aunt.

 

Irving and I owned several successful delis in Detroit and the suburbs.  We had three children and six grandchildren. I am always on guard for Jew-haters and because of my Holocaust experience; I can see it in their eyes.        

            

Pray to G-d and have hope. It is up to you what to do.