Romanian survivor, granddaughter, sound Holocaust memorial alarm
In an historic act of closure, Romanian Holocaust survivor Avraham Zalmenovich and granddaughter, IDF soldier Sgt. Gal Rut, sounded annual memorial alarm Thursday morning; 'I want the soldiers to appreciate what they have,' Avraham said; 'Sounding the siren together with him is an act of closure, for few people have such an exciting opportunity,' his granddaughter said.
Romanian Holocaust survivor Avraham Zalmenovich, 87, sounded the annual memorial siren Thursday morning to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Zalmenovich was flanked by his granddaughter, Sgt. Gal Rut, who is serving in the IDF's Home Front Command.
Avraham lived in a small house with his family and uncle. On the first day of summer vacation, the Germans bombed his city and took over the family's small general store. That very day his father was taken to a forced labor camp.
A few hours later, the rest of the family, along with the townspeople, were taken to a far away train station where they were to be transported to labor camps. They waited three months for trains and the family rented a small storehouse where they lived during the wait.
Their living conditions were very difficult and they subsisted on a very meager amount of food, water and proper shelter. They were forced to wear the yellow badge, identifying them as Jews, in the street. In the mornings, they shoveled snow and at night they returned to their shelter and did their best to survive.
Due to the difficult labor conditions, his father fell ill and his mother tried to get him released from the work detail. For financial reasons, they were not able to treat him with proper medicine and doctors. They could only conceal him until he succumbed to the disease at the age of 40.
In 1964, Avraham, his wife Sidonia, and their son Norris immigrated to Israel. They gave birth to a daughter in 1969, Orly. Avraham found work as a truck driver to support his family.
Thursday morning he came to the Home Front Command center where his granddaughter serves. “It is so exciting for me to sound the alarm alongside my granddaughter Gal,” he said. “I am glad I have made it to this moment, that I was given the opportunity to see my granddaughter serving in the IDF. I want the soldiers to appreciate what they have, the state—that is in our hands—and they should continue to defend it for us.”
His granddaughter Gal said, “My grandfather is one of the most precious people in my life. I am thankful for every moment I can hear his tales of bravery. I was lucky to grow up with the option that many will never have, to be able to hear his story firsthand. He is worthy of emulation.
“Every day with him is another lesson for life. Sounding the siren together with him is an act of closure, for few people have such an exciting opportunity. Today, I am honored to raise my head proudly together with my grandfather for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.”
