I was born in Romania in 1926. Before the start of the war, we had “nice” non-Jewish German neighbors.
When I turned 14, we were forced out of our home and into Ukraine. My family walked from Romania to Ukraine, where we were required to perform forced labor. The Nazis killed my mother, brother, and grandparents. Some of my remaining family and I escaped through the woods. Eventually, we were liberated in Mogulas, Ukraine.
Life [during the Holocaust] was hard, and it still brings me to tears thinking about our experiences. The Nazis confiscated our family home, and we had to leave Romania. We walked hundreds of miles to Ukraine and were forced into labor by the Nazis. The lice were the worst; my mother contracted Typhus and died before the end of the war. We escaped our labor camp and fled into the forest of Ukraine. We were with other escapees and joined the movement to fight against the Nazis. My job was to carry ammunition to those fighting on the front line.
When we returned home after liberation, our “nice” German neighbors had taken our possessions. They initially agreed to give them back but changed their mind. My father, sister and I moved to Israel to escape the Communist government taking over Romania. Israel paid our government to allow us visas and to travel. At the time, the borders were closed. We left Israel as my brotherin-law sponsored us to the US in 1964. By then, I had my own family; a husband and two children.
Now that I have received dental care through the AO-HSC Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program, I can eat! Before I received dental care, I had trouble eating and did not want people to see me without teeth. I am also able to speak more easily! I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Zev Kaufman. We share a history that was very meaningful to learn. His father and I both were prisoners in the same concentration camp.
Shortly after treatment, she passed away at the age of 96.