The image of Frieda Kliger appeared on the screen, holding an album of black and white photographs. On her forearm, five tattooed numbers were still visible nearly 80 years later.
Sitting in her living room in Holon, Israel, Kliger looked into the camera, steadied herself and spoke with confidence.
kAm“x 2> uC:652 z=:86C] x H2D 3@C? |2C49 `c[ `ha`[ :? (2CD2H[ !@=2?5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96C6[ D96 AC@466565 E@ D92C6 96C 92CC@H:?8 DE@CJ] xE DE2CE65 H:E9 96C 49:=59@@5 H96? D96 =@DE 96C >@E96C]k^Am
kAm“%92E H2D E96 7:CDE EC2865J @7 >J =:76[” D96 D2:5 @7 96C >@E96C’D 562E9 H96? D96 H2D d]k^Am
kAmqFE D25=J[ :E H@F=5?’E 36 E96 =2DE — 72C 7C@> :E[ :? 724E] q67@C6 =@?8[ (@C=5 (2C xx H2D @? E96 72>:=J’D 5@@CDE6A] p7E6C E96 }2K:D :?G2565 !@=2?5[ z=:86C 2?5 bg_[___ @E96C y6HD H6C6 7@C465 :?E@ 2 4C2>A65 DA246 E92E 42>6 E@ 36 <?@H? 2D E96 (2CD2H v96EE@] t:89EJ E9@FD2?5 y6HD 5:65 7C@> E96 56A=@C23=6 4@?5:E:@?D E96C6]k^Am
kAmqFE 6G6? :? E96D6 56DA6C2E6 E:>6D[ z=:86C 7@F?5 2 3C:89E DA@E] $96 H2D :? =@G6 H:E9 2 3@J ?2>65 w6?:6<] q@E9 :? E96:C 62C=J a_D[ E96 4@FA=6 H2?E65 E@ 36 >2CC:65] %96J 6G6? DE2CE65 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 C233: E@ A6C7@C> E96 46C6>@?J] yFDE EH@ 52JD =2E6C[ 9@H6G6C[ E96 (2CD2H FAC:D:?8 3682? 2?5 E96 }2K:D 2EE24<65 E96 42>A]k^Am
kAmp7E6C C6D:DE:?8 7@C af 52JD[ E96 }2K:D @G6CA@H6C65 E96 y6H:D9 7:89E6CD] z=:86C[ w6?:6< 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D H6C6 D6?E E@ E96 |2;52?6< 4@?46?EC2E:@? 2?5 6IE6C>:?2E:@? 42>A :? t2DE6C? !@=2?5]k^Am
kAmw6C D:DE6C 2?5 J@F?8 ?6A96H H6C6 >FC56C65] z=:86C 2?5 96C @E96C D:DE6C H6C6 6G6? AFE :?E@ E96 82D 492>36C[ @?=J E@ 36 C6>@G65 3642FD6 E96 }2K:D ?66565 >@C6 H@C<6CD] %96J ;FDE 92AA6?65 E@ 36 4=@D6DE E@ E96 5@@C]k^Am
kAm%96 EH@ H6C6 D6?E E@ >F=E:A=6 4@?46?EC2E:@? 42>AD[ :? 2 A2EE6C? D:>:=2C E@ p??6 uC2?<’D[ :?4=F5:?8 pFD49H:EK\q:C<6?2F 2?5 =2E6C q6C86?\q6=D6?]k^Am
kAmz=:86C DFCG:G65 E96 H2C 3FE 5:D4@G6C65 =2E6C E92E 96C 36=@G65 w6?:6< 5:5 ?@E] w6 H2D <:==65 2E |2;52?6<] $96 H2D 962CE3C@<6? — 3FE 56E6C>:?65 E@ 8@ @?]k^Am
kAmp7E6C =:36C2E:@?[ D96 2?5 D@>6 7C:6?5D D6E FA 2 A@DE @77:46 2E q6C86?\q6=D6?[ H9:49 3642>6 2 A@:?E @7 4@?E24E 7@C E9@D6 D62C49:?8 7@C 72>:=J >6>36CD 5:DA=2465 5FC:?8 E96 w@=@42FDE] %96C6[ D96 >6E 2?5 >2CC:65 2 >2? ?2>65 #@>6< :? `hcd]k^Am
kAm“w6 925 G6CJ D25 6J6D] x E9@F89E E@ >JD6=7[ ‘x’5 =:<6 E@ 3C:?8 =:76 E@ E9@D6 6J6D] p?5 x 5:5[’” D96 D2:5 :? E96 G:56@ H:E9 2 D>:=6]k^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6 C6=@42E65 E@ xDC26= H96C6 E96J 925 EH@ 49:=5C6?[ r92?2 2?5 tKC2]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ z=:86C DE:== =:G6D :? xDC26=[ :? w@=2?[ 3FE 96C D@?[ tKC2 z=:86C[ :D 2 >6>36C @7 %6>A=6 q6E9 %67:==@9 :? qCF?DH:4<] %96 H@C=5 C6?@H?65 G:@=:?:DE D6EE=65 @? E96 4@2DE 2 76H J62CD 324< H:E9 E96 8@2= @7 3C:?8:?8 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 4F=EFC6 E@ E96 2C62]k^Am
kAmw:D 49:=5C6? 2?5 8C2?549:=5C6? 2C6 =@42E65 @? E96 H6DE 4@2DE 2?5 >2?J @E96C 72>:=J >6>36CD 2C6 D42EE6C65 24C@DD E96 8=@36] %96J 925 2== D92C65 E96 9@A6 @7 82E96C:?8 :? xDC26= E@ 46=63C2E6 z=:86C’D >@>6?E@FD `__E9 3:CE952J[ H9:49 :D $F?52J]k^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ EC2G6= C6DEC:4E:@?D 5F6 E@ E96 A2?56>:4 H@F=5?’E 2==@H E92E] x?DE625[ E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ >66E FA @? +@@> :? E96:C C6DA64E:G6 E:>6 K@?6D 7@C 2 G:CEF2= A2CEJ] x? xDC26=[ 9@H6G6C[ 7=@H6CD H:== 36 56=:G6C65 2?5 2 4:EJ 56=682E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 >2J@C[ H:== A2J 2 D@4:2==J 5:DE2?465 G:D:E]k^Am
kAmtG6? D@[ E96 72>:=J :D D2556?65 E92E E96J H@?’E 36 E@86E96C 7@C E96 3:8 52J]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 3:8 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E] xE :D[” tKC2 D2:5] “qFE H6’G6 56D:8?65 2 AC@8C2> 7@C 96C] p== E9C@F89@FE E96 A2?56>:4 H6’G6 925 2 C@E2E:@? H96C6 2 5:776C6?E 72>:=J >6>36C 42==D E@ E2=< H:E9 96C 6G6CJ52J[ 2?5 :E’D H@C<65 @FE]”k^Am
kAmxE H2D 2 962CE\HC6?49:?8 56G6=@A>6?E 7@C E96 6?E:C6 z=:86C 72>:=J] tKC2 D92C65 E92E H:E9 2 76==@H E6>A=6 4@?8C682?E[ |@==J z?@H=E@?] $96 925 962C5 23@FE uC:652 z=:86C >2?J E:>6D 367@C6 2?5 6G6? H2E4965 E96 *@F%F36 G:56@ @7 96C DE@CJ 4C62E65 3J *25 '2D96>[ E96 w@=@42FDE >FD6F> :? xDC26=]k^Am
kAm“tKC2 DE2CE65 E6==:?8 >6 23@FE 9:D >@E96C 2?5 E96? x H2E4965 96C DFCG:G@C’D E6DE:>@?J W‘x7 (6 $FCG:G6 %9:D (2C’X D96 82G6 7@C *25 '2D96>] p?5 2D J@F H2E49 :E[ J@F E9:?< 23@FE 9@H 96C DE@CJ :D E@E2==J F?:BF6 ]]] 3FE :E :D 2=D@ D@ F?:G6CD2=[” z?@H=E@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 H2D ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 23@FE 96C DA:C:E E92E H2D 2>2K:?8] $96 ?6G6C 5H6=E @? ‘H9J E96 y6HDn’ ‘(9J 5:5 E9:D 92AA6? E@ FDn’ $96 925 E9:D G:D:@? E@ 86E E@ !2=6DE:?6[ 6G6? E9@F89 D96 =@DE 6G6CJ@?6 3FE @?6 D:DE6C ]]] :E ;FDE E@F4965 >6 A6CD@?2==J]”k^Am
kAmqFE z?@H=E@?’D 4@??64E:@? 8@6D 566A6C E92? ;FDE 36:?8 >@G65 3J E96 A@H6C7F= *@F%F36 G:56@] w6C 72E96C ;@:?65 E96 p>6C:42? u:6=5 $6CG:46D 2D 2? 2>3F=2?46 5C:G6C 2?5 H2D DE2E:@?65 :? tFC@A6 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx]k^Am
kAm“|J 525 H2D `g :? `hcb[ 2?5 96 H6?E E@ D:8? FA] qFE 96 925 2DE9>2 D@ E96J H@F=5?’E E2<6 9:> ]]] 96 D:8?65 FA H:E9 E96 7:6=5 D6CG:46D :?DE625] w6 H2D 2 5C:G6C 2DD:8?65 E@ 2 F?:E @7 qC:E:D9 7@C46D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmz?@H=E@?’D 72E96C H2D H:E9 E9@D6 qC:E:D9 D@=5:6CD @? pAC:= `d[ `hcd[ H96? E96J =:36C2E65 q6C86?\q6=D6? — H96C6 z=:86C H2D 36:?8 96=5]k^Am
kAm“%92E 492?865 9:> 7@C6G6C] w6 ?6G6C E2=<65 23@FE :E 2?5 2== H6 <?@H 23@FE 9:D E:>6 :? E96 H2C :D 7C@> 2 4@FA=6 @7 =6EE6CD E92E H6 7@F?5 27E6C 96 5:65] $@ 2== @7 2 DF556?[ x :>28:?65 D66:?8 9:> 2?5 96C :? E92E D2>6 42>A] x H2D ;FDE 3=@H? 2H2J[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C >2<:?8 E92E 4@??64E:@?[ z?@H=E@? H2D 56E6C>:?65 E@ 96=A >2<6 uC:652’D `__E9 3:CE952J DA64:2=] $96 8@E @? E96 9@C?[ 2D<:?8 7@C 2D >2?J 9@>6>256 42C5D 2D D96 4@F=5 86E]k^Am
kAm“x 42==65 tKC2 2?5 D2:5 ]]] ‘H6 92G6 E@ D6?5 96C `__ 3:CE952J 42C5D]’ $@ E92E DE2CE65 :E] x C624965 @FE E@ >J 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D] (6 AFE E96 42== @FE @? u2463@@<[” D96 D2:5 H:E9 2 =2F89]k^Am
kAmz?@H=E@? 2=D@ 4@??64E65 H:E9 =@42= E62496CD H9@ 2D<65 E96:C DEF56?ED E@ DE2CE >2<:?8 42C5D]k^Am
kAm“y6? (2E6CD[ z2EJ v:??[ E96 AC:?4:A2= 2E $E] $:>@?D t=6>6?E2CJ[ 2?5 r2E96C:?6 $BF:C6 2E uC656C:42 p4256>J H6C6 2== G6CJ :>A@CE2?E] !6@A=6 DE6AA65 FA 7C@> 2== @G6C 2?5 D6?E 42C5D] x D42??65 D@>6 7@C tKC2 E@ <66A E@@[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp== E@E2=[ z?@H=E@? D9:AA65 >@C6 E92? E96 A=2??65 `__ E@ z=:86C :? xDC26=] $96 9@A6D E92E E96J 2CC:G6 :? E:>6 7@C E96 3:8 52J 2D 2 46=63C2E:@? 7@C E96 =:76 @7 2 H@>2? H9@ 92D DFCG:G65 D@ >F49]k^Am
kAm“%96 @E96C 52J[ tKC2 D6?E >6 2 A:4EFC6 @7 9:D >@E96C 86EE:?8 96C r~'xs G244:?6] $@ J@F D66 96C 86EE:?8 E96 D9@E 2?5 J@F 2=D@ D66 96C E2EE@@ 7C@> E96 4@?46?EC2E:@? 42>A[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 ;FIE2A@D:E:@? H2D A@H6C7F=[ 2?5 z?@H=E@? 766=D :E D6CG6D 2D 2 C6>:?56C @7 A6CD6G6C2?46 2?5 DEC6?8E9]k^Am
kAm“*@F 92G6 E96 =:76\E9C62E6?:?8 E2EE@@ 2?5 E96 =:76\ D2G:?8 D9@E[” D96 D2:5[ 2?5 A2FD65] “x C62==J 9@A6 D96’== 86E E96 42C5D :? E:>6 7@C 96C 3:CE952J]”k^Am
kAmu@C tKC2[ 9:D >@E96C’D C6D:=:6?46 92D 366? 2 567:?:?8 492C24E6C:DE:4 @7 96C DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“$96’D 2 C6=:8:@FD A6CD@?] $96’D 2 8:G:?8 A6CD@?] $96’D 2 F?:BF6 A6CD@?] p?5 56DA:E6 6G6CJE9:?8 D96’D 366? E9C@F89[ D96’D DE:== 2? @AE:>:DE:4 A6CD@?[” 96 D2:5] “$96 ?6G6C D2H 96CD6=7 2D ‘E96 G:4E:>]”k^Am
kAmpD AC@@7[ 96 82G6 96C 2 C:?8 2E 96C 9@>6 :? w@=2?] p7E6C 2? 6I492?86 :? w63C6H[ uC:652[ ?6G6C @?6 E@ D66< E96 DA@E=:89E[ DF>>65 FA 96C 46?EFCJ @? 62CE9 :? 96C 492C24E6C:DE:42==J D:>A=6 2?5 9F>3=6 H2J]k^Am
kAm“$@>6E:>6D x 5@?’E H2?E E@ E9:?< 23@FE E96 A2DE 3FE[ x DE:== D92C6 >J DE@CJ] x’G6 8@E `__ J62CD] }@E E@@ >2?J A6@A=6 C6249 E9:D 286[” D96 D2:5 :? t?8=:D9[ @?6 @7 96C 7:G6 =2?8F286D] “qFE x’> 5@:?8 8@@5] |J 962CE :D DEC@?8 ]]] 2?5 :E :D @A6? E@ 6G6CJ@?6]”k^Am
