My father, Ezekiel Neimark, is from Poland. He was born in 1889 in a small town called Koden [170 km from Warsaw]. I know that my father's birthday was always marked in March. I know nothing about Father's family. All my father's kin remained in Poland and I never saw them. Father said that his family was very religious. They strictly observed traditions and lead a Jewish way of life. Father went to cheder. Besides, he obtained education in a Jewish elementary school. He finished four or five grades, I don't remember for sure. My father's mother tongue was Yiddish.
- Traditions 11756
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Major events (political and historical)
4256
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Holocaust
9685
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Communism
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Displaying 6121 - 6150 of 50826 results
zsuzsa kobstein
![](/themes/custom/centro/flags/hu.svg)
We married in 1947. We did not have a religious wedding, only a civil
ceremony. We moved into a small flat in Budapest and we found a small place
to set up a mechanics workshop. It was never nationalized because it was
small and we had no employees. My husband repaired only three things:
motorbikes, bicycles and sewing machines.
ceremony. We moved into a small flat in Budapest and we found a small place
to set up a mechanics workshop. It was never nationalized because it was
small and we had no employees. My husband repaired only three things:
motorbikes, bicycles and sewing machines.
When the Hungarian fascists took over the power in October 1944, we were
taken to the brick factory of Obuda. The older people were later sent off
to the ghetto in Pest, and we young people were marched to one of the train
stations, crammed into wagons and sent off to Ravensbruck. We arrived at
the beginning of December and stayed there about 5 weeks.
taken to the brick factory of Obuda. The older people were later sent off
to the ghetto in Pest, and we young people were marched to one of the train
stations, crammed into wagons and sent off to Ravensbruck. We arrived at
the beginning of December and stayed there about 5 weeks.
We arrived
home in the summer of 1945. We found our parents in the old flat in Obuda.
My dear husband, my fiancé at that time, visited my parents every Sunday.
We arrived on a Sunday and he opened the door. "Zsuzsa," he said, "Where
have you been?!
home in the summer of 1945. We found our parents in the old flat in Obuda.
My dear husband, my fiancé at that time, visited my parents every Sunday.
We arrived on a Sunday and he opened the door. "Zsuzsa," he said, "Where
have you been?!
After our liberation, we spent three months in a hospital in Guzen.
My sister Judit married in 1948.
She has a son, Gyuri. When he was at
university, he went to Japan to study Chinese and Japanese, and he never
came back.
university, he went to Japan to study Chinese and Japanese, and he never
came back.
In 1942, the doctor told my parents that we should get out of the house in
Pilisvorosvar because it was bad for my health. This is why we moved to
Budapest. Mother went to see the rabbi of Obuda and asked him to give us a
flat. We got a one-room flat in the community building, which also housed
the Jewish elementary school. The rabbi arranged for my father to work in
the community. We enjoyed living in Budapest. For the first time since we
started to work in the Neumann salon, we didn't have to get up so early and
we had free time to go to the movies after work.
Pilisvorosvar because it was bad for my health. This is why we moved to
Budapest. Mother went to see the rabbi of Obuda and asked him to give us a
flat. We got a one-room flat in the community building, which also housed
the Jewish elementary school. The rabbi arranged for my father to work in
the community. We enjoyed living in Budapest. For the first time since we
started to work in the Neumann salon, we didn't have to get up so early and
we had free time to go to the movies after work.
Our house was on the main street of Pilisvorosvar. It was nicely furnished.
We had two big rooms, a kitchen and a huge garden. In the winter, we only
used the bedroom where we had heat. But from spring to autumn, we spent a
lot of time in the garden. We used to do our homework there and play with
other children from school and the neighborhood. We had Christian friends
as well.
We had two big rooms, a kitchen and a huge garden. In the winter, we only
used the bedroom where we had heat. But from spring to autumn, we spent a
lot of time in the garden. We used to do our homework there and play with
other children from school and the neighborhood. We had Christian friends
as well.
My father went to synagogue every Friday, but on Saturdays he had to work.
But if he was free on Saturday, he went to shul and took us along. My
mother made challah on Friday and she taught us how to light the [Sabbath]
candles and what brochas to say. I still remember some of them. My mother
also made cholent, and we girls had to take it to a nearby Christian baker
and bring it home for Sabbath lunch.
But if he was free on Saturday, he went to shul and took us along. My
mother made challah on Friday and she taught us how to light the [Sabbath]
candles and what brochas to say. I still remember some of them. My mother
also made cholent, and we girls had to take it to a nearby Christian baker
and bring it home for Sabbath lunch.
My sister and I went to the local elementary school. It was a mixed school,
with Jews and Gentiles alike.
with Jews and Gentiles alike.
My father worked as a business agent in the local coal mine. His job was to
collect orders from Budapest. My mother didn't work. She looked after us
and kept the household. She had a young Christian servant. Mother did a lot
of needlework, and she made most of our clothes.
collect orders from Budapest. My mother didn't work. She looked after us
and kept the household. She had a young Christian servant. Mother did a lot
of needlework, and she made most of our clothes.
We didn't go on holiday, but we often went on excursions on the weekends.
Sometimes all of us went, but often only my sister, I and my father went,
and Mother stayed at home. She would do some needlework and socialize with
her friends. My father was on very good terms with the local rabbi and the
Jewish pharmacist, and they would often pop in to chat with him.
Sometimes all of us went, but often only my sister, I and my father went,
and Mother stayed at home. She would do some needlework and socialize with
her friends. My father was on very good terms with the local rabbi and the
Jewish pharmacist, and they would often pop in to chat with him.
I met my husband, Odon Kobstein, in our building. He and some other Jewish
boys who were in forced labor units were put up there for the night. During
the day they worked in a factory near Budapest. They would often come and
talk with us, and they helped us move to the cellar when there was an air
raid.
boys who were in forced labor units were put up there for the night. During
the day they worked in a factory near Budapest. They would often come and
talk with us, and they helped us move to the cellar when there was an air
raid.
I became an apprentice in a little
dressmaking salon in Budapest and I worked there for two to three years.
Then, one day, my mother saw an advertisement in the newspaper from the
Berta Neumann salon. She went to see the owner and asked her to take my
sister and me on as dressmakers. We worked there until the German
occupation of Hungary.
dressmaking salon in Budapest and I worked there for two to three years.
Then, one day, my mother saw an advertisement in the newspaper from the
Berta Neumann salon. She went to see the owner and asked her to take my
sister and me on as dressmakers. We worked there until the German
occupation of Hungary.
My grandparents were quite religious, but my grandmother didn't
wear a shaytl. My grandfather had two kosher butcher shops in Obuda, but I
don't know where. I never saw them. One of my uncles also became a kosher
butcher. Sewing runs in the family. Three of my mother's relatives were
tailors or dressmakers, and Mother also loved to sew and do needlework.
wear a shaytl. My grandfather had two kosher butcher shops in Obuda, but I
don't know where. I never saw them. One of my uncles also became a kosher
butcher. Sewing runs in the family. Three of my mother's relatives were
tailors or dressmakers, and Mother also loved to sew and do needlework.
lydia piovarcsyova
![](/themes/custom/centro/flags/sk.svg)
Some members of our family are buried in Kosice, in the Orthodox cemetery.
It's very sad that there is nobody taking care of this cemetery. I've never
been to Kosice since the war. And we've only visited my grandmother's grave
twice.
Not long after the war I visited Banovce with my husband. The house was in
its place, and they even let me see the apartment where my grandparents
used to live. Later, when I was there on a business trip, I was completely
shocked. Not only that the Jews were all gone - everybody perished in the
Holocaust - but they had also destroyed the town. I mean that literally;
even the beautiful square was demolished during the Communist rule. In
Bohemia they would have never demolished such a beautiful square with its
typical one-storied houses. All the shops were owned by Jews.
The Steiner children who survived the Holocaust, apart from me, because I
didn't live in Bratislava are: Cvi, Cipora, Natan, Shoshana, David, Chana,
Jehoshua. All of them live in Israel now, only Cipora died long ago in
Israel. She was married to an Israeli scientist and her daughter is an
artist.
I worked as a high school professor in Poprad. In 1972 we moved with our
two children Karol and Jana, born in 1958, to Bratislava. I worked there
until I retired three years ago. At present, I work at the Bratislava
Jewish Community Center.
It's very sad that there is nobody taking care of this cemetery. I've never
been to Kosice since the war. And we've only visited my grandmother's grave
twice.
Not long after the war I visited Banovce with my husband. The house was in
its place, and they even let me see the apartment where my grandparents
used to live. Later, when I was there on a business trip, I was completely
shocked. Not only that the Jews were all gone - everybody perished in the
Holocaust - but they had also destroyed the town. I mean that literally;
even the beautiful square was demolished during the Communist rule. In
Bohemia they would have never demolished such a beautiful square with its
typical one-storied houses. All the shops were owned by Jews.
The Steiner children who survived the Holocaust, apart from me, because I
didn't live in Bratislava are: Cvi, Cipora, Natan, Shoshana, David, Chana,
Jehoshua. All of them live in Israel now, only Cipora died long ago in
Israel. She was married to an Israeli scientist and her daughter is an
artist.
I worked as a high school professor in Poprad. In 1972 we moved with our
two children Karol and Jana, born in 1958, to Bratislava. I worked there
until I retired three years ago. At present, I work at the Bratislava
Jewish Community Center.
Slovakia
She filled in the mandatory Jewish identity card with her own handwriting;
she had a very nice handwriting, inherited from her mother. I would like to
donate that photograph to an institution, because I think it has historical
value. I tried to make a copy of it, but the copy wasn't good. The yellow
color of the card must be seen because I think it's symbolical; the
photopaper simply must be yellow.
During the war my grandparents and aunt in Kezmarok took care of me. After
the Slovak National Uprising [2] started and after Slovakia's occupation by
the German army, I stayed in Bratislava. In 1945 I was imprisoned by the
Gestapo and taken to Theresienstadt [3], where I went through atrocities
and sufferings. Finally, after May 1945, I was able to return home.
she had a very nice handwriting, inherited from her mother. I would like to
donate that photograph to an institution, because I think it has historical
value. I tried to make a copy of it, but the copy wasn't good. The yellow
color of the card must be seen because I think it's symbolical; the
photopaper simply must be yellow.
During the war my grandparents and aunt in Kezmarok took care of me. After
the Slovak National Uprising [2] started and after Slovakia's occupation by
the German army, I stayed in Bratislava. In 1945 I was imprisoned by the
Gestapo and taken to Theresienstadt [3], where I went through atrocities
and sufferings. Finally, after May 1945, I was able to return home.
Slovakia
I studied at an Orthodox Jewish school on Zochova Street in my first and
second years, and Vilma Lowyova was my teacher. I remember one girl from
school. She was an orphan; her name was Kaufmanova. She died in the
Holocaust. We weren't friends. The children played together in groups
according to their social status. Children from better-off families were
grouped together and didn't know the others.
My best friend was Sulamit Nagelova. Her father had an antique shop on
Kapucinska Street, but a library is there nowadays. Sulamit was a blonde
girl with blue eyes and I loved her very much. She also died in the
Holocaust. One girl survived; she was called Ullmanova. One of her
relatives was a journalist. She had wavy hair, was so beautiful and so self-
confident - even as a child. I cannot remember the other children because I
grew up in quite some isolation. I had a nanny and wasn't allowed to play
with other children. I always had to play alone.
On Saturdays we used to visit our family, so I knew my cousins, but I
couldn't play with other children; they couldn't come to see us and I
couldn't really go anywhere. I don't know why it was like this. I had to
speak English at home. I could speak English perfectly then because Zigi's
mother was an Englishwoman and she spoke to me in English only. But I was a
lazy girl and I forgot all my English.
second years, and Vilma Lowyova was my teacher. I remember one girl from
school. She was an orphan; her name was Kaufmanova. She died in the
Holocaust. We weren't friends. The children played together in groups
according to their social status. Children from better-off families were
grouped together and didn't know the others.
My best friend was Sulamit Nagelova. Her father had an antique shop on
Kapucinska Street, but a library is there nowadays. Sulamit was a blonde
girl with blue eyes and I loved her very much. She also died in the
Holocaust. One girl survived; she was called Ullmanova. One of her
relatives was a journalist. She had wavy hair, was so beautiful and so self-
confident - even as a child. I cannot remember the other children because I
grew up in quite some isolation. I had a nanny and wasn't allowed to play
with other children. I always had to play alone.
On Saturdays we used to visit our family, so I knew my cousins, but I
couldn't play with other children; they couldn't come to see us and I
couldn't really go anywhere. I don't know why it was like this. I had to
speak English at home. I could speak English perfectly then because Zigi's
mother was an Englishwoman and she spoke to me in English only. But I was a
lazy girl and I forgot all my English.
Slovakia
My father was born in 1895 in Bratislava, Slovakia, then Austria-Hungary.
He also ended his life in the Holocaust, in Auschwitz concentration camp in
1942.
He also ended his life in the Holocaust, in Auschwitz concentration camp in
1942.
Slovakia
My grandparents on my mother's side had three children. The eldest son was
called Viliam. He was an educated man, a pharmacist and a chemist as well.
He was an illegal activist during the war. [Editor's note: He was most
likely an illegal communist] He was hiding, then he was arrested in Ilava
and imprisoned in solitary confinement. He learned several languages there.
He spoke ten languages. When he was released he worked in Smolenice with a
Hungarian pharmaceutical family. He lived there until 1944. He invented a
medicine against chin cough. He gave it to poor children for free. When the
Germans found out, they asked him to give them the medicine. He refused, so
they took him away and deported him to a concentration camp. He died of
typhoid fever in Landsberg concentration camp. I don't know where is it, I
just know that he died there. [Editor's note: Landsberg concentration camp
was situated near munich, today Germany.]
My mother had a twin sister, Irenka, who got married to Mr. Winczer in
Kezmarok. They had a son called Palo. Her husband was killed in a
concentration camp, they threw him down the hill on a pile of stones in a
stone quarry. The boy stayed alone. He lived in Poland for several years
and when they learned he was of Slovak origin from Kezmarok, they contacted
the police and the boy came back to Slovakia. Irenka married for the second
time in Budapest, then she lived in Kosice and died in Bratislava in 1997.
She is buried in the Neolog [1] cemetery in Bratislava under the name
Galambosova. When we went to see Irenka, she needed a lot of nursing: to
iron, to tidy, to do some shopping. There was always very little time, we
were in a hurry and had no time to see the cemetery.
called Viliam. He was an educated man, a pharmacist and a chemist as well.
He was an illegal activist during the war. [Editor's note: He was most
likely an illegal communist] He was hiding, then he was arrested in Ilava
and imprisoned in solitary confinement. He learned several languages there.
He spoke ten languages. When he was released he worked in Smolenice with a
Hungarian pharmaceutical family. He lived there until 1944. He invented a
medicine against chin cough. He gave it to poor children for free. When the
Germans found out, they asked him to give them the medicine. He refused, so
they took him away and deported him to a concentration camp. He died of
typhoid fever in Landsberg concentration camp. I don't know where is it, I
just know that he died there. [Editor's note: Landsberg concentration camp
was situated near munich, today Germany.]
My mother had a twin sister, Irenka, who got married to Mr. Winczer in
Kezmarok. They had a son called Palo. Her husband was killed in a
concentration camp, they threw him down the hill on a pile of stones in a
stone quarry. The boy stayed alone. He lived in Poland for several years
and when they learned he was of Slovak origin from Kezmarok, they contacted
the police and the boy came back to Slovakia. Irenka married for the second
time in Budapest, then she lived in Kosice and died in Bratislava in 1997.
She is buried in the Neolog [1] cemetery in Bratislava under the name
Galambosova. When we went to see Irenka, she needed a lot of nursing: to
iron, to tidy, to do some shopping. There was always very little time, we
were in a hurry and had no time to see the cemetery.
Slovakia
My mother Margita Steiner, nee Abrahamova, was born in Banovce nad
Bebravou. Her father Jakub Abraham was a watchmaker. He was born in Tarnov,
then Austria-Hungary in 1876, came to Slovakia as a businessman and settled
in Zabokreky nad Nitrou. He fell in love with my grandmother Ella, they got
married and lived in Banovce nad Bebravou on the village's beautiful
square. He and my grandmother were both very good-looking people. He was a
Nordic type, blonde with blue eyes. My grandmother was of Spanish origin.
Her family left Spain when the inquisition expelled the Jews; their Spanish
name was Aguilar. She had a typical Spanish appearance, black hair, big
dark eyes and pale skin. In a picture of her, taken when she was fifty, she
looked like Jose Careras. I think they must have had the same ancestors; in
the family there were many singers, even opera singers. Many intellectuals,
university professors, in Vienna and other places, were from that family.
When my grandmother got married they lived in Banovce. From Banovce they
moved to Kezmarok in 1942 to live near their daughter Irenka. They learned
that their son was again wanted by the police and the police wanted to
arrest them as hostages. So they left for Kezmarok to avoid this. Later my
grandmother went to Budapest with Irenka. My grandfather Jakub died during
an operation in 1948; the doctors didn't know that he had high blood
pressure. He is buried in the Orthodox cemetery in Kosice.
My grandparents had a shop and lived with the Weinberger family. There was
a long yard, on one side there was the watchmaker and jewelry shop of my
grandfather, and just opposite was the big grocery store of the
Weinberger's. They were a big family; their daughter was called Renka. All
of them died in the gas chambers in 1942.
Bebravou. Her father Jakub Abraham was a watchmaker. He was born in Tarnov,
then Austria-Hungary in 1876, came to Slovakia as a businessman and settled
in Zabokreky nad Nitrou. He fell in love with my grandmother Ella, they got
married and lived in Banovce nad Bebravou on the village's beautiful
square. He and my grandmother were both very good-looking people. He was a
Nordic type, blonde with blue eyes. My grandmother was of Spanish origin.
Her family left Spain when the inquisition expelled the Jews; their Spanish
name was Aguilar. She had a typical Spanish appearance, black hair, big
dark eyes and pale skin. In a picture of her, taken when she was fifty, she
looked like Jose Careras. I think they must have had the same ancestors; in
the family there were many singers, even opera singers. Many intellectuals,
university professors, in Vienna and other places, were from that family.
When my grandmother got married they lived in Banovce. From Banovce they
moved to Kezmarok in 1942 to live near their daughter Irenka. They learned
that their son was again wanted by the police and the police wanted to
arrest them as hostages. So they left for Kezmarok to avoid this. Later my
grandmother went to Budapest with Irenka. My grandfather Jakub died during
an operation in 1948; the doctors didn't know that he had high blood
pressure. He is buried in the Orthodox cemetery in Kosice.
My grandparents had a shop and lived with the Weinberger family. There was
a long yard, on one side there was the watchmaker and jewelry shop of my
grandfather, and just opposite was the big grocery store of the
Weinberger's. They were a big family; their daughter was called Renka. All
of them died in the gas chambers in 1942.
Slovakia
On the Steiner side, I didn't know my great-grandparents. When I was born
they were already dead. My grandfather Sigmund Steiner was born in Kojetin,
then Austria-Hungary, in 1821. As far as I know he was an Orthodox Jew. He
was married to Josephine Steinerova, nee Bendinerova, my grandmother, who
was born in 1814 and died in 1891 in Bratislava. They had a big family; ten
children: Jozef, my father, who died in Auschwitz in 1942, and then my
aunts and uncles Nely, Wilhelm, Moritz, Siegfried, Esperance, Max, Margit,
Gustav and Josefine.
Three Steiner brothers fought as soldiers in World War I. For some military
achievements - I'm not sure what exactly - they were all awarded medals.
The oldest of the three was Doctor Siegfried Steiner, Zelma's father. The
second was Jozef, my father, and the third one was Max, who was later the
owner of the Steiner bookshop along with my father. All the Steiner
brothers and sisters lived in Bratislava, except for their sister Margit,
who is buried in the Orthodox cemetery in Bratislava, next to my
grandmother.
they were already dead. My grandfather Sigmund Steiner was born in Kojetin,
then Austria-Hungary, in 1821. As far as I know he was an Orthodox Jew. He
was married to Josephine Steinerova, nee Bendinerova, my grandmother, who
was born in 1814 and died in 1891 in Bratislava. They had a big family; ten
children: Jozef, my father, who died in Auschwitz in 1942, and then my
aunts and uncles Nely, Wilhelm, Moritz, Siegfried, Esperance, Max, Margit,
Gustav and Josefine.
Three Steiner brothers fought as soldiers in World War I. For some military
achievements - I'm not sure what exactly - they were all awarded medals.
The oldest of the three was Doctor Siegfried Steiner, Zelma's father. The
second was Jozef, my father, and the third one was Max, who was later the
owner of the Steiner bookshop along with my father. All the Steiner
brothers and sisters lived in Bratislava, except for their sister Margit,
who is buried in the Orthodox cemetery in Bratislava, next to my
grandmother.
Slovakia
jerzy pikielny
![](/themes/custom/centro/flags/pl.svg)
In Belgium he met his first wife, Dennise.
,
Before WW2
See text in interview
After graduation he returned for a short time and started to work at his father and uncle's factory.
,
Before WW2
See text in interview
First he studied at Warsaw University of Technology and later at the mechanical and electrical faculty in Liege, Belgium.
,
Before WW2
See text in interview
As soon as the Legions [5] were formed, Lolek, who was still underage, ran away to the army and so Grandpa went to look for him. He found him brushing horses in some unit. Lolek was a co-founder of the Polish scouting organization in Lodz. The troop was named after Tadeusz Kosciuszko [6] and Lolek was its scoutmaster. He probably served in the army in the 1920s.
,
Before WW2
See text in interview
Grandpa died in the Lodz ghetto [4] on 1st April 1942 and was buried in the Jewish cemetery on Bracka Street. Ghetto Jews were buried in a specially allotted part of the cemetery but my grandparents are buried outside that area - I don't know why. I don't remember the cause of his death but he'd probably got pneumonia, and he also suffered from Graves-Basedow disease [overactive thyroid]. The more important cause of his death was, however, the fact Grandma had died a year earlier and he couldn't bear it.
I only remember one of my grandparents' apartments, the last one, on Radwanska Street. They'd lived on Andrzeja Street before that. Tuwim [3], whom my mother knew personally, lived nearby. The last house was new, they had radiators there, which was a sign of modernity. There was a sizable collection of books at Grandma and Grandpa Drutowskis'. They had the collected plays of Fredro [Aleksander Fredro (1793-1876): author of comedies of manners depicting the life of Polish provincial gentry]. They had a dog for a while, a German shepherd called Lot. But later Grandpa gave it to some forester.
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Before WW2
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I never heard them speak Yiddish, though. We never used that language at our home either.
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Before WW2
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