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In The News Q&A

‘I was victorious – I’m still here’

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Ella Blumenthal is a Holocaust survivor and at 103 years old, lives in Cape Town. She was born in Poland, and survived the Holocaust and three concentration camps, including Auschwitz. To commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the SA Jewish Report speaks to her.

What do you want the world to know on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz?

That history repeats itself, that tolerance and understanding is the only way to move forward, and that if we tried to understand each other, we would find that we have more in common than what divides us.

What do you want the Jewish people to remember on this anniversary?

That remembering the Holocaust is even more relevant given that the second Holocaust has just happened in Israel.

Your survival has made you an icon for South African Jewry. What’s your advice for those who have been through hell in this regard?

Never give up, not ever. Enjoy every day, and believe that tomorrow will be better than today.

What do you believe got you through the Holocaust?

I had faith in G-d, and a strong will to live – it was burning in me. I wanted to see the sun come up the next day.

For some, hope is meaningless. What would you say to the person who feels that?

Hope is everything. Hope means that you can try and try again. Throughout my life, I have always had a sense of hope, and that’s what has got me through every day.

Over the past two weeks, we witnessed young women hostages returning home to Israel. What are your thoughts about this? What would you say to them?

My heart is full of happiness to see the young women back with their families, to see them back with their loved ones after the hell they’ve endured.

I want to tell them that I have been following their progress every day, and that I feel like they are like my own children. Like any mother, I really wanted to hold and protect them.

Looking at Israel today, with the hostages, soldiers, and others who have been through hell, what is your advice about moving forward?

I know that Israel and her people are strong, and together, we’ll win.

As in the Holocaust, we faced terrible hardships, but I believe that we Jews will always survive. During the Holocaust, we Jewish people didn’t have a mother, now we have a mother, the state of Israel.

Looking at your life to date, what were your finest and darkest moments?

My darkest moment was when I was standing in the gas chamber in Majdanek looking up at the shower heads, waiting for the gas to come out. Waiting for a sure death, and telling my niece not to worry, at least death would happen quickly.

My finest moment – and I have many – would be the victory that I’ve had over the Nazis. I won, and I’m still here. I get to celebrate every day with all my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Why is it so important for us to tell the story of the Holocaust?

Because the hate is here again. Hate is occupying the world. The lessons of the Holocaust haven’t been learnt.

What are your thoughts about rising antisemitism in the world today. How should we deal with it?

I see it happening all over again, and it scares me. It scares me because I know where this is leading to. I’ve seen it, and I’ve been a victim of it. When hatred is allowed to fester, the whole world will suffer.

With 80 years having passed since the liberation of Auschwitz, what are your abiding memories of that deadly place?

I went back to Auschwitz with my daughter and son-in-law some years ago. I walked on the train tracks. I remembered where my bunker was. I walked through with my head held high. I was victorious. I was here. I am here.

What would you like to tell South African Jewry today?

I want to thank this warm community for taking me in and allowing me to live my life to the fullest. I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community which has been so generous and hospitable.

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