I want to share a post written by Barbara Topolsky on her site “My Life in my 60’s” and join with her in remembering Isacc Klein’s story.
I pray by keeping his story and others’ stories alive, we won’t forget and will remember them and what they endured. Together, with their help, may we find ways to forgive and love instead of hate.
Yom Hashoa: Holocaust remembrance: Never Forget! Isacc Klein’s story
Jewish prisoners being deported from the Kraków Ghetto. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As time goes on, the Holocaust survivors are dying out. Since this month we commemorate them, I think we owe a responsibility to retell their stories.
Recently, I visited the Holocaust Museum in Miami. A Holocaust survivor, Isaac Klein,was telling his personal story and answering questions.
Stern started out by describing his family life before the Holocaust. His parent’s names were Simon and Pepi Klein. His twin brother Tsvi and him were the eldest of eight children. Before 1938, the family were farmers, and led a normal happy life.
When the Germans took over Czechoslovakia in 1938, the family’s farmland was taken away, and their citizenship revoked. Isaac and his family were deported to Poland.
After a few years they were allowed to return to Czechoslovakia where they worked under Hungarian military officials doing hard labor.
In 1944, their luck ran out. They were put on cattle cars, and were transported to a concentration camp in Auschwitz-Birkenaus. .
Dr. Josef Mengele, known as the “Doctor of Death”, kept the boys in D-lager camp with other sets of twins. He did experiments on them. Most of them were done under anesthesia, so Klein doesn’t remember the specifics.
By the end of March 1944, the Germans knew the Russians were close, so they forced the prisoners on a death march. The destination was Melk, Austria. Somehow Isaac and his brother both survived. On the march they received no food, water, or shelter.
In 1945, they were liberated by the Americans, but that wasn’t the end of Klein’s story. His bother and him went back home to find any relatives, but there weren’t any left.
They both decided to emigrate to Israel. They were smuggled on a boat to Haifa. After the British captured the boat, they were held in a detention camp for 8-10 months. They were finally released into the population.
He served in the Israeli army, navy and merchant marine.
In 1962, he moved to the United states, got married, and raised a family.
Four years ago, he took the path of the March of the living dead with youngsters from all over the world. He thought it was important for them to know about it.
“Who says there’s no life after death,” said Klein.
Klein still believes in God, and is grateful he survived.
♦♦♦♦♦♦
Thank you Barbara for helping us remember. As more and more survivors pass, it’s important to keep their stories alive.
Another story called “Holocaust Day of Remembrance” by April Kempler on her site “Reno Says” helps us to remember in the telling of her father-in-law’s story, Joseph Kempler, a Holocaust survivor.
Please join in the hope and prayers for peace throughout the world ~~ that there will never be another Holocaust.
Pat from the ol’ kitchen table
Thanks for sharing this, Pat. It is a sad thing what Hitler and Stalin did. My heart goes out to all those, Jews, Lithuanians, Germans, etc. that died at the hands of these men. I live in Germany, and there still is much shame amongst the Germans.
Unfortunately, looking at Syria and Egypt, it doesn’t seem like we’ve learned from history. It’s heartbreaking hearing about mass murders of women and children. I do pray for peace throughout the world, but even though these violent places aren’t considered Holocausts, innocent people are being murdered every day, and that’s something we shouldn’t ignore.
Thank you Denise for sharing your perspective now living in Germany. I think living in the states we’re more removed from the violence and hate of the world and perhaps sometimes get a false sense of safety and security. For me, I know it’s harder to understand the brutality and depths of the spirit of hate that drives people and governments to turn on one another in such destruction and atrocities. I see the anger, pain and violence within our own borders but not to this extent.
I pray we will find the answers on how to resolve our differences and come together with respect. At least, that would be a start. I appreciate your sharing and I appreciate you Denise. God bless you and the light you shine there in Germany.
Pat, thanks for sharing this story and keeping the memories alive. Without them, it is difficult to fathom the depth of human suffering caused by this dark period in history.
Beverley – thank you for stopping by, sharing and reflecting with me on the incredible stories of those that seem impossible to imagine. Human nature has changed some but not enough. If we can remember the courage of those brave souls that endured the ugliest of human nature, maybe it will cause a shift and we won’t repeat history.
(P.S. I’m still working on the “Like” button. Having a hard time creating a FB app for an App ID # but it will eventually come.)
Do you know if Isacc Klein speaks at schools? I am a middle school teacher in Miami who would love for my students to hear his story. Please let me know how to get in touch with Mr. Klein if possible.
Thank you
Renee – thank you for stopping by. I’m sorry I have no further information on Isacc Klein but you can inquire with Barbara Topolsky who originally wrote the post I hosted at http://joyat60.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/yom-hashoa-holocause-remembrance-never-forget-isacc-kleins-story/. You will be able to either comment with your request or contact her from her site.
I appreciate your visit and hope you come back again. Please let me know if I can help with any more questions.
Isaac klein is a true humanitarian and sharp in his great mind,And still helps others with his true lifes journey. They should make a movie of his lifes story for being a twin of the angle of death and all the torture he went thru.A true survivor. This would make a GREAT movie that all will learn from.A follow up on the movie “The boys from Brazil” Come on any producer’s out there that want a hit, here he is.Hes already in Steven Spielbergs library. Thank you.Did I mention that Isaac klein was also in the Navy and army in Israel and fought for freedom with blood and more…..Hes a true survivor.
Thank you Dr. Klein for stopping by and leaving your comments. I’d be interested in hearing about your connection to Isaac Klein and how you came about knowing so much about his life.