In honour of my Bat Mitzvah I have been paired with a girl who perished in the holocaust
In honour of my Bat Mitzvah I have been paired with a girl who perished in the holocaust. Her name is Renia Rosenberg and she perished at the young age of 9. My mother managed to contact the person who gave in the information about Renia to the Yad Vashem holocaust museum. His name is Pavel Lichter, and he was a close friend of Renia. We contacted the JFCS, which is an organisation in Arizona, via Facebook messenger and got a reply! Pawel is a speaker and an activist for the holocaust.
He was very impressed when we wanted to do a project about her. This is what he told us:
Renia was born the same year as me, 1931, to the well to do Rosenbergs. Her father had quite a big lumberyard. It seems to me that I knew her since our birth. My father and mother were friends for ever, and we spend a lot of time with each other, going to both kindergarten and then Hebrew school together. Renia and I were always very compatible, and it was a joy to be together each time. When the families gathered for reunions or card playing, Renia and I would play hide and seek as well as other kids games with great excitement. We were very close. One of my aunts gave me a little golden ring which I gave to Renia. It was said that we would be together for life. To this day I remember and think of her. Why was I spared and not her. I am so impressed and grateful about you’re remembrance and honour to Renia. She is still my promised future wife and is still in my thoughts every day.
Pawel also sent us a photo of Renia (which I printed and put on everyones seats).
I will light a candle to remember her every year on holocaust memorial day and take on an additional mitzvah in honour of Renia and my Bat Mitzvah.
Shabbat Shalom!