30th Anniversary Guardians Commemorative Book - Book - Page 220
SAFEGUARDING
FAMILY HISTORY
I was born November 23,
1938, in Berlin. My
parents were deported
March 4, 1943, to
Auschwitz, where I lost them both.
My maternal grandparents died at
Riga. My great aunts and uncles and
my second cousins were all killed at
Auschwitz. The youngest, Ruthie,
was only eight years old. There are no
graves to tend, and I have to guess at
dates when I light Yarzheit candles
for them all, as their dates of death
are unknown or vague. I remain the
only survivor on my father’s side, and
I have no children, so this is the end
of his side of the family.
I am leaving my estate to the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum
to honor the memory of my parents
and other members of my family
who were not as fortunate. As the
sole survivor, my duty to them is
to help maintain the Museum so it
can continue to bring the story of
the Holocaust to the public. Here
in the United States, we are part of
a free nation where we are allowed
218 l UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM LEGACY OF LIGHT GUARDIANS
to practice and live by our Jewish
heritage without fear or interference
from anyone. That must not change,
and hopefully the Museum can be a
part of ensuring that freedom for us.
To remember the Holocaust is
to remember all the victims who
perished. I was unable to help my
family at their deportation because I
was a very small child. But as an adult,
I can at least make certain that their
names and prior possessions will
always be stored at the Museum, to
recognize that they were alive at one
time. The Museum is the safe deposit
box for the mementoes left behind
by my family, and I feel my obligation
to preserve these items for them has
now been fulfilled.”
