In Bergen-Belsen DP-camp Holocaust survivors remembers the Piotrków Trybunalski Holocaust Victims.

The document above is from the Bergen-Belsen DP-camp where many of the Polish Jews gathered after the liberation in 1945. It is an information about Yizkor, a special memorial prayer for the departed. The document is written in Jiddisch and the numbers are the total number of the Jews from the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto that perished during the Holocaust (28 000). Numbers on the right, 160 and 542 are related to the two shooting in the Raków forest.

In 1942 the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto was sealed and the overcrowding intensified as also Jews from the surrounding towns were deported to the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto. It was already known what happened during Great Action in the Warszawa Ghetto that was carried out until the third week of September 1942.

After Action in Piotrków some 2000 Jews got work permit and stayed working in Piotrkow factories.
However, several hide. Several action to find them were carried out. Jews caught in the work block without a work permit were gathered in Piotrków Trybunalski’s synagogue where they remained for several weeks. In the winter of 1942-1943 these Jews – numbering perhaps a few hundred – were taken to a forest near Raków and shot. The shootings took place on several separate dates.


The document above is from the Bergen-Belsen DP-camp where many of the Polish Jews gathered after the liberation in 1945. The document is written in Jiddisch and the numbers are the total number of the Jews from the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto that perished during the Holocaust (28 000). Numbers on the right, 160 and 542 are related to the two shooting in the Raków forest.

"Ciocia Erka" - Wonderful Woman - My Guardian Angel - The water of the Ob river flows.

On my visits to New York, I always get very special gifts from her related to my work. First, I received from her, the photograph she got from Nathan Rapoport of parts of the "Ghetto Fighters Memorial" featuring my big hero, Mordechai Anielewicz (on the right). Last year in May, when she learned that I was working on a book about children from the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto, I received a painting by Adam Muszka, a Jewish artist born in that city. One of the few Jews from Piotrków Trybunalski who survived the Holocaust (on the left).

This Wonderful Woman who turns 100 on January 8th would not be able to carry me currently but she used to do it before....The photo was taken in New York in May 2024.

This Wonderful (and beautiful) Woman who turns on January 8th 100  would not be able to carry me currently but she used to do it before....

Nowadays, when I think about it, Ciocia Erka is the only person in the world who remembers me as a child and as well my parents.

The special thing is that we are close family despite completely different DNA. However, we have similar characters and when we meet, we usually talk seriously and it happens often that we have different opinions about things. Her brain works 120% and it is therefore so nice and uncomplicated to spend time with Her.

She is my Guardian Angel*, especially after 1967, even though I haven't had to use her help so far. However, the knowledge that she is always behind me has followed me throughout my life.

On my visits to New York, I always get very special gifts from her related to my work concerning the Holocaust and the survivors. First, I received from her, the photograph she got from Nathan Rapoport of parts of the "Ghetto Fighters Memorial" featuring my big hero, Mordechai Anielewicz, the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Last year in May, when she learned that I was working on a book about children from the Piotrków Trybunalski ghetto who survived the Holocaust and came to Sweden with UNRRA White Boats, I received a painting by Adam Muszka, a Jewish artist born in that city. One of the few Jews from Piotrków Trybunalski who survived the Holocaust.

When in New York, I am always trying to get some information about "Ciocia" during WWII. Ten years ago I wrote a short story in Swedish describing one week of her life: 

https://jimbaotoday.blogspot.com/2015/11/fran-leningrad-till-novosibirsk-1944.html

with Love and Admiration,

Yours

Romek

* A Guardian Angel is a type of angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person.

Podwórka Domu Sierot Janusza Korczaka - Krochmalna 92.