Aidan Silverman’s Family Story:

My great Grandma Minnie, whose real name is Minia Storch, was the only one out of her immediate family that survived the Holocaust. Minia was one of six children, and lived with her parents (Yakob) Jakob and Pearl behind a dairy store that they owned and operated. They lived in Lodz, and once the war broke out, they were in the Lodz Ghetto. Minia’s mom, Pearl, and the oldest son Kalman, both died in the Lodz Ghetto. Then Minia’s father Jakob and her remaining siblings, sisters Luba, Chava, Estera, and baby brother Icek (Issac) were all sent on the cattle cars to Auschwitz. It was then in Auschwitz that the sisters were separated from their father and brother, to never see them again. Minia recalls the woman having their heads shaved and having to put on the prisoner clothes. It was then that Dr. Mengele did his selection. He put Minia in one line, and then put her three sisters in another line. That would be the last time that Minia would ever see her sisters, as they were all sent to the gas chambers.

Minia would go on to find two cousins in Auschwitz, Luba and Regina who were both sisters. The three of them were able to stay together through the remainder of the war. They survived multiple death marches, 5 camps, disease and the freezing cold winter months. It was in April 1945 that they were liberated by the British from Bergen Belson. 

After the war Minia was in the DP (displaced persons) camp, and was looking to see if any of her family had survived, they had not. She met a man named Muni Uscherowitz, who was also looking for survivors. Minia and Muni married a year later in April 1946 and then a year later had my grandmother Pearl, who has changed her name to Pauline who everyone calls Gigi. Then two years later the three of them would travel on a ship from Munich Germany to New York City to start their lives over in hopes for a better life. 

Muni lost his brother Aaron, on a death march, before the war ended. He also lost his parents Yosef and Idessa during the war.  Muni was liberated from Dachau by the Americans in April 1945.

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Yohannah Gumpridge - Submitted by Hannah Mikowski '24

Yohannah Gumpridge appeared as a picture portrait of a German woman. Blonde hair, blue eyes. If it wasn’t for the ugly red “J” on her documents, no one would have ever guessed her heritage. When she married her very jewish looking husband in 1936, they had to marry in the back room. Because she was so German looking, she was able to be the in-between person in matters involving her community and the German government. Yohannah and Ernest were unbelievably lucky and got visas to move to England. Ernest went first, and Yohannah stayed behind to gather everything together. Yohannah got the last visa before war broke out, and escaped death or prosecution on the last day possible.
Things got more complicated in England, Ernest was sent to a British war camp in the Isle of Man because the British were afraid he was German. He was released after a year and reunited with Yohannah, who was working as a maid. The two immigrated to the United States in 1940, and settled in San Francisco. They had two children, therefore establishing their roots in the United States.
Unfortunately, both Yohannah and Ernest’s extended family have significantly worse fates. Yohannah’s brother was sent immediately to Auschwitz. Ernest’s mother was drowned in the Baltic. His father was shot on the spot in an argument with an SS man. Although Ernest and Yohannah’s story is one of hope, the people they lost in leaving serve as a constant reminder of the tragedy of the holocaust. If Yohannah waited one more day to get her visa, she likely would not have survived. I am beyond thankful for all the sacrifices made by my ancestors.

Names

On Monday (4/17), we are choosing to read the names of those who perished in the Holocaust when they were young adults, only 18/19/20/21 just like our students. Our hope is that you will remember even just 1 name as we read and say a blessing. 

Additionally, we have added names submitted by students and their families. If you have a family member you'd like listed below, please reach out and we'd be happy to share. 

Menachem Amsterdamski

Eti Akselrad

Chana Ofin

David Erlihman

Yedl Guttmann

Feiga Weisberg

Roland Cohen

Shmul Fudiman

Hane Fuks

Efraim Furman

Fajga Stein

Prosper  Arous

Ferenc Ungar

Fanny Ichenhuser 

Samuel Brand

Bat Schewa Gelles

Abraham Groenteman

Ben Zion Kahan

David Lewkowicz

Bentzion Federman

Yakub Krystal

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Perla Sztorch

Yakob Sztorch
Kalman Sztorch
Luba Sztorch
Estera Sztorch
Chava Sztorch
Itzek (Ieik) Sztorch
Aaron Uscherowitz
Idessa Uscherowitz
Yosef Usherowitz

Baruch Dayan Ha'Emet- May their memory be a blessing.