On This Day, I Remember

On this day, Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day, I remember my husband's grandparents - all four of them. They were murdered in Auschwitz, never to know that some of their children survived. Those that did, went on to name their children after them - and so where one Yeshaya and one Yeshaya Zev (both called Shaye) were murdered, at least eight were named after them. Each has been brought into the current generation, honored and remembered. May the memories of my husband's grandparents be blessed and may my husband find comfort for never having known a grandparent's love. I think of that often when I see him play with our grandchildren. Such a gift we have been given. On this day, I mourn that he was denied their love and that they were denied the opportunity to see all that has come from them.

On this day, I remember my husband's uncle, Benyamin Elimelech. He was taken by the Nazis towards the end of the war, shortly after he was married. Even

before the rest of the family was taken...he was gone. They had just shared the Passover festival together, when the Nazis came and took him and his young wife. Neither was ever seen again. I believe he died in Auschwitz, forever denied the chance to begin the family they must have dreamed of. Today, my oldest son carries his name - in honor, in pride in strength. He is a wonderful husband, father, son.

May the memory of Benyamin Elimelech Krauss be blessed.
On this day,  I remember my husband's uncle, Shmuel. He was trying to escape the Nazis with a cousin, running in the forest when eh collapsed. Unable to go on, he begged his cousin to leave him there. My middle son, Shmuel Meir carries the name of Shmuel with him and honors him, in pride and strength.

My son is a wonderful husband, father, son - all the things young Shmuel didn't have a chance to be. May the memory of that Shmuel Stern be blessed.

On this day, I remember my husband's uncle, Yehoshua. The oldest of my father-in-law's brothers, Yehoshua risked his life to save his youngest brother. He climbed into a building, pushing his brother out the window...and then was caught and murdered by the Nazis. Someday, I hope to have a grandson carry his name. It will not be forgotten. May the memory of Yehoshua Stern be blessed.

On this day, Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day, I remember Gavriella. She was 12 years old when she was murdered by the Nazis. Today, my granddaughter carries her name - Michal Gavriella.

Gavriella was my husband's aunt. She was murdered in Auschwitz, never to grow into an adult, never to marry, never to have children of her own. What can I say of a child murdered so young? 

What memories can I share? I know that she was survived by two sisters and a brother and they carried her memory with them, passing it on to the next generation. 

May God bless the memory of Gavriella and over one million Jewish children murdered by the Nazis.