July 10, 2016

Today we arrived at the Lodz Jewish cemetery. Luckily our new friends Lilia and Jim met us there and led the Kaddish and the rememberance prayer for us because the Rabbi never showed up. Seeing the tombstone in the exact spot where Liba (my grandmother) was buried was extremely emotional!! My mom finally got a chance to thank her for her life and being a wonderful mother. She introduced Mark, Anne, Lori and Jeff to her. She spoke about her grandchildren! There was not a dry eye there😂. 

 Next we visited the spot where her brother Mosjze was buried. 

He was only 17 when he died. He resembled Mark and Aaron. 

Next we went to Raedegast Train station where my mother, Aunt Felicia and their brother Sruelik Israel were forced into railroad  cars headed to Aushwitz. My mother showed such strength here! 

Then we checked into Novotel Hotel in Lodz, and  ate at the mall. In the evening we located the area where my mom lived. It was painful to see the run down area and  decrepit conditions. 

One residence was Reiter Strauss 13 flat 1. Building 13 was missing but we saw building 11 and 15. We met a young couple with a baby entering their apartment in building 11. My mom asked if they were aware that this used to be a ghetto and they said yes. I wanted to see their place but we never asked to go up!

This was Prusa 12. Another one of her residences. Nothing looked familiar to her. 

Then we took mom back to the hotel to sleep, and we strolled down the streets of Lodz. 

We ate at Anatefka, a Jewish restaurant. There were many Judiaca items in the restaurant.