Family Remembering Family

 

In that devastating catastrophe that decimated the European Jewish community during the Second World War, my grandmother lost most of her family. The only family names my mother knew were her father's, her mother's first name; 'Helena,' and mums own descendants. Separated from Helena shortly after her birth in 1943, mum didn't meet my grandmother again until the mid-'60s. Following this reunion, she wrote poignantly 'My mother's sister, somewhere in Canada. The rest all murdered, or so I believe’.

Over the past 5 years, Helena's sister, Irena's descendants, have been traced, living in the USA, and we have recovered some of the names of family members who perished in the Holocaust. We have come together, as a family to read their names. We will remember each one of them.

Included in this remembrance is Holocaust survivor, Adam Adams (Izrael Melamed). Adam reads the names of his beloved parents and sisters. Whilst we read names to which we have no faces, Adam remembers; he alone survived. (Adam sadly passed away shortly after this video was recorded. )

In this strange time of lockdown, let us remember those who had no hope, who were isolated, starved, hidden, hunted down and murdered, and let us stand with those incredible survivors who after losing everything, continued in life and gave hope to the next generations.

#RememberingFromHome #ShoahNames #FragmentsThatRemain #YadVashem

 
 
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the foundations of generations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
— Isaiah 58:12
 

Our family names start at 32:20