tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52781527131662654362024-03-13T00:03:01.525-07:00Poland 2016Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-36749024996795364672016-07-15T17:07:00.000-07:002016-09-23T19:59:11.336-07:00Some of the differences in Poland vs USAPoland is predominately Catholic. I saw one African American, 0 muslims, 0 Chaldeans, and a small amount of Jews. <div><br></div><div>There are tons of beautiful churches and only a handful of synagogues. <br><div><br><div>There are not many expressways. Therefore what should taken 2-21/2 hours to travel can take 5 plus hours.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Water must be purchased at a restaurant. When i bought 2 large bottles of water i spent 39 zlotes which is equivalent to approximately $9.00 It is cheaper to buy wine and beer. Maybe that is why Fetal Alcohol syndrome is so prevalent in Poland. </div><div><br></div><div>I feel lucky to be living in the usa!! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-57614163382719406042016-07-15T16:29:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:02:07.564-07:00July 15, 2016And so her dreams of going to Zakopane high up in the Tatra mountains came to fruition! <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8loIgkg5XaQ/V4l4DYnjcLI/AAAAAAAAAhg/MA60aUv17_I/I/photo_32401.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mYeTbYh1uTs/V4l4DtY5B_I/AAAAAAAAAhk/N844_H1Fzzk/I/photo_975236.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>When we arrived we saw beautiful challets nestled into the mountains. There was a bustling down town filled with ski shops, clothing stores, restaurants, and tons of people.</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a_WFpW0H_0o/V4l4D2Q7kBI/AAAAAAAAAho/SZtdDKITgUk/I/photo_1218.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>We bought cheese from the young polish girls outside. It was a smoked cheese made from goat's milk. It looked like loaves of bread and corn on the cob. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1RQUPAUOShs/V4l4EH_MB2I/AAAAAAAAAhs/uS9pl0y_hZc/I/photo_576886.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Next we mingled with a polish woman selling her goods. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iaDuHQATAqw/V4l4EjDiboI/AAAAAAAAAhw/vgHJwoV2KCQ/I/photo_941375.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>We went on a ski lift high up in the moutains. What a spectaculor view. My mom decided to sit this one out. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EK8lWi9SMjo/V4l4E8Q5ENI/AAAAAAAAAh0/gQDVj3B0zKo/I/photo_893867.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Next the driver took us to a lovely chapel and to a near by town with all homes made up of log cabins. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FUguaXs65tU/V4l4FXmxYoI/AAAAAAAAAh4/Zw4RFLL360M/I/photo_311290.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>He took us through another country, Slovakia which looked like Poland. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d-SgV0kq0fM/V4l4FrigmQI/AAAAAAAAAh8/fMRseTqfrB0/I/photo_18773.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>So after seeing this beautiful town of Zakopane it is hard to believe there is such wealth there while some of the other cities have such poverty. Also, it was not destroyed in WW2 while Warsaw was brought down to rubbles. What a hidden treasure! </div><div>And now our journey is coming to an end. We made the long drive back to Warsaw and we are flying home tomorrow. </div><div>As i reflect on the past 10 days of this journey i felt such mixed emotions. I got a totally different perspective of all the lessons i read about and heard by experiencing it first hand and through my mother's eyes. It still boggles my mind how such atrocities happened to innocent, loving people. I hope it brought some closure to my mother! I along with Jeff, Mark and Anne felt so blessed to have had this opportunity to come to Poland! My mom is thrilled that many different nationalities come here to get educated about the atrocities that occured so history will not repeat itself. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-41733770646919833382016-07-14T13:58:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:06:00.464-07:00Spiritual postI have always been fascinated with mediums and people like Rebecca Rosen. While I have been in Poland I have been asking for some confirmation that my grandparents, uncles and dad know we are here and feel our presence. <div><br></div><div>Each day something has happened. </div><div>It started when i opened my suit case to pack for the trip and found a dime in the luggage, which signifies a grandparent is watching over me. </div><div><br></div><div>When in Warsaw's Ghetto a feather fell on my shoe and each day i have found feathers on the ground. </div><div>Another day i found 2 feathers on the seat in our van. Anne said Aunt Felicia and Uncle Roman are sitting with us in the van, so i better not sit on them! </div><div><br></div><div>When i woke up in the morning there was a feather on my luggage. I asked Jeff if he put it there and he said no! </div><div>When we were at the Polin Museum i saw 8 ladybugs. When we went to the cemetery for my grandmother there were butterflies flying over my head. </div><div>When in Aushwitz Jeff and my mom went to the restroom and he said there were 2 butterflies flying over their heads. There are no flowers there so one typically does not see any butterflies. </div><div>As i mentioned in an earlier post, when I headed to my dad's home town in Sosnowiec i asked for confirmation that he knew we were there, to see his house and schools. A big truck drove next to me that said "Bernard and Bernard" in huge letters all over the truck. I felt comforted by all these signs, even if my mom thinks I am a bit crazy! 😛</div><div><br></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-15859480060377192142016-07-14T02:57:00.000-07:002016-09-23T21:07:26.347-07:00July 14, 2016Today my mom and i went to the synagogue in the Jewish Quarters and we saw a beautiful plaque on the wall in memory of Miriam Ferber's husband's family. My mom plays kanasta sometimes with Miriam. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qjzeSskqHu8/V4f32dZlYLI/AAAAAAAAAc0/013VbKwth-I/I/photo_141899.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>Then we explored the Jewish Cemetery. I asked a young man with a yarmukah where he was from. He told me New York and I told him i am from outside of Detroit. He said wait here and he brought two others from Detroit to join us. One was Rabbi Burman . They asked my mom to share what she remembered most about being in Aushvitz. They could not believe she made this trip and survived. He brought a whole group of young Jewish students with him. It was comforting to my mom to know thousands of people, Jews and non Jews come to Poland to be educated on the Holocaust. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tEZ6rpbXAsM/V4f34tiIVKI/AAAAAAAAAc4/cO2WAMVkMoY/I/photo_939840.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ETV3d9LEGzc/V4f38Q-b7nI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Zll4mkDt5YM/I/photo_132753.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>In the afternoon we went to Shindler's Factory . Oskar Shindler saved thousands of jews from death by having them work in his factory, by giving them jobs, protecting them and giving them food. </div><div>We are standing near the gate of Shindlers Factory.</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l-YUfNyayJg/V4f39ar7m5I/AAAAAAAAAdA/PHErhwfjLX0/I/photo_892989.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Below is a photo of 1,100 Jews he rescued. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-149M5taPtw0/V4f3_7vmSCI/AAAAAAAAAdE/Y7Wl0kqsZRo/I/photo_938491.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>The museum also featured the history of the occupation of Nazis in Krakow and other cities in Poland. </div><div><br></div><div>This is a photo of Oskar. If you have not seen the movie Shindlers List it would be worth your time to view it! </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DSPctdkTV6Y/V4f4Be-omYI/AAAAAAAAAdI/uzSfvkEkjZ4/I/photo_564069.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>I learned the swastka used to be a positive symbol and was used in India and several other countries until Hitler used the symbol in WW2 and made it notorious. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fx-ZyiKOsr8/V4f4B_whKeI/AAAAAAAAAdM/hmiu32yqYis/I/photo_794759.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>When The Nazi's invaded Poland they germanized the town by changing street names, changing the towns names and more. Lodz became Litchmanstad. This sign portrays this change. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jmrtpxyTeMI/V4f4EWXAtaI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/EpUvoAZDsJk/I/photo_588231.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>The germans spread horrible propoganda about the Jews having Lice and Typhis. They were not allowed to continue their education. This sign states "Professors were arrested by the Germans."</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m2UGEjZPw1k/V4f4F4ryNgI/AAAAAAAAAdU/FvM0VP5IN0o/I/photo_240322.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Toys were created to be demeaning to the Jews.</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxUUimwWGso/V4f4GgnUkiI/AAAAAAAAAdY/AC7SAg9roFQ/I/photo_100522.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>The museum attempted to replicate the Jewish Ghetto. Tombstones were broken up and used to create walls in the Ghetto. </div></div></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V_ApcVZzub8/V4f4Hkiu4UI/AAAAAAAAAdc/n6ZroTh1QCM/I/photo_308748.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>It is so painful to hear these stories and know my loving parents endured unimaginable suffering! </div><div><br></div><div>In the evening we wanted to end on a positive note so we went to the Chabad house and listened to a Klezimer concert. </div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dbIWIo9p5Fg/V4f4IOEFQ8I/AAAAAAAAAdg/Vaon_q-eIVo/I/photo_536046.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div>The music brought back memories ofmy dad! He and my mom loved many of these songs. </div><div>Now i am looking forward to tomorrow's trip to the mountains in Zakapone. When my mom was a little girl she always heard of this place but never ever imagined she would go. So we hired a private tour to take us in the mountains! </div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-41025441636245788742016-07-13T13:46:00.000-07:002016-09-23T21:00:17.492-07:00July 13, 2016This morning we took a tour on a golf cart to three parts of Krakow: The Jewish quarter, the Old Town and Market square and the last one was the Jewish Ghetto and Shindler's Factory. Here are some photos from the Old Town and market square. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCAN28stbuo/V4ax4BLmcrI/AAAAAAAAAW8/xIohuglE7AY/I/photo_733246.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-loV8POc-2vc/V4ax44mZdrI/AAAAAAAAAXA/URt6l2vkSaU/I/photo_225038.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yIWreZ8xbug/V4ax5pNHC9I/AAAAAAAAAXE/0EOrmWnxUjM/I/photo_140670.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N4pLm7vIRTc/V-X6UJiIp_I/AAAAAAAAAjE/-Zh3cJa7D0s/I/photo_567805.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>In the afternoon we went to Aushvietz concentration camp and Birkenau death camp. My parents both miraculously survived Aushvietz. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-leOfIwKazp4/V4ax6pCxJoI/AAAAAAAAAXI/4KESLW6V4rs/I/photo_73463.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>The sign in German means if you work hard you will survive, but in reality the Nazis wanted to kill all the Jews and anyone else who was not Arayian. </div><div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBmXQ2te08M/V4ax7dQ3pFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/oU_8FPWadYc/I/photo_135718.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>The rail road tracks were used to transport millions of Jews in cable cars. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Iw__MMLrMA4/V4ax8PiA3PI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/Yf-pxvxpI34/I/photo_981134.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4xgW9orOdLc/V4ax9iqfkzI/AAAAAAAAAXU/r3V0s3k2N8g/I/photo_701502.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Next we went to Birkenau where no one survived. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CYiTRlpLv5Y/V4ax-ZwOl3I/AAAAAAAAAXY/IgCAJ-QnT0M/I/photo_288994.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Below is the crematorium where they poisoned the prisoners and burned them to ashes. The Germans burned these down before liberation so there would be no evidence left! </span></div><div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E3WwyRgMztM/V4ax-2VddPI/AAAAAAAAAXc/0qnPcbUPKg8/I/photo_880178.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>My mother showed such amazing strength and courage to go back to Aushvitz . Her goal was to search for a photo of her brother there. Unfortunately we searched the photos on the walls and there was not a photo of Israel Sruelik. She said good bye to him today! We would have loved to have met him and i know all of us would have loved him. </div><div><br></div><div>On a positive note the Rabbi and the young professionals from New York's J. Roots Journey sent us the following photos: </div><div>1. My family with all of them at the synagogue in Piotrokov </div><div>2.) all the young adults and Rabbi visiting our grandmother's grave site in The Lodz Cemetery. They said prayers to lift her soul! We were all so touched by this loving act of kindness. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Skv_0xzruIw/V4ax_jZxnCI/AAAAAAAAAXg/o0qRJ-FdzfA/I/photo_668648.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R0lyV9TGP38/V4ayAZyTg_I/AAAAAAAAAXk/zt_q9FRVh-o/I/photo_682116.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-79804500896435797942016-07-12T20:07:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:56:16.110-07:00July 12, 2016Today we went to Piotrokow, the city where my mother was born! We met with Jacek the genealogist again because that was his home town as well. He showed us the spot where my mother lived with her family and the spot where her Jewish school used to be. It was so hard to believe we walked in the same places where she and her family lived. It was the brown building, lower level. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hcenq9GNj_o/V4Wxqm0wdnI/AAAAAAAAARU/kS3XwlcdGBA/I/photo_526976.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>We walked into the synagogue where her family used to go to pray. Prior to entering something magical happened! We met a group of young adults from New York with their Rabbi. When the rabbi found out my mom was a survivor he asked her to speak to his group. She shared her life story and touched everyone's life at that moment! She along with the other survivors defeated Hitler!! It was an empowering moment to witness by everyone!!</div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4T-i2XHb-9U/V4WxrCQQfVI/AAAAAAAAARY/u36FSO3tDCI/I/photo_42456.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jM8MmuEmsh0/V4WxruqnVzI/AAAAAAAAARc/_WxaTOVJIF0/I/photo_418195.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I_-Gngr6ft4/V-X5X74lERI/AAAAAAAAAi0/T1x2DAzMc4A/I/photo_152039.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>Next Kasha our wonderful driver took us to see my dad's home town. Once again i asked for confirmation that he knew we were coming to see him. A few minutes later i got it!! </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--RB8PO2PSNE/V4WxscVy2AI/AAAAAAAAARg/xpdYXcfxb3A/I/photo_831016.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>There was a large truck with my dad's name written all over it!! We love you dad❤️. We saw where he and his friend's Morris Huppert , Jack Feder and Ted Pilcowitz went to school. Although the school is no longer there, there was another building in its spot. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1szzsSJDxnk/V4Wxs5ahH7I/AAAAAAAAARk/Y6VovsZv91I/I/photo_230874.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>It was on Ostgogerska 9. We saw some plaques and monumentsdocumenting the exact spots where the Nazi's hung the Jews and where they were forced to gather in the park (the Jewish Ghetto) </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B1w1xPMHQT0/V4WxtRFftRI/AAAAAAAAARo/jOOA6SoEhAA/I/photo_558935.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Finally we arrived in the most beautiful and medieval looking city, Krakow. It was not destroyed in WW2 and as a result of this the buildings remained as they were. We walked through the Jewish quarter and the city square. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y9te2ib-85Y/V4WxuYLi-TI/AAAAAAAAARs/gkd1w74X0Gg/I/photo_215678.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xMxCq_UTUs4/V4WxvC4DSCI/AAAAAAAAARw/B0LnIhFV7RE/I/photo_969978.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <div> </div><br><br> <br></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-11349877789501648402016-07-11T13:48:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:21:00.081-07:00July 11, 2016Today we met with Jacek, the geneologist during breakfast. He came with us to a synagogue in Lodz. The rabbis have been using it as a synagogue for the last 20 years. Prior to that it was used as a Jewish Community Center. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QZwW0YduY5g/V4QInEc-aLI/AAAAAAAAAPU/Tb9m9X1MdKk/I/photo_129923.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>After that we went to the government building where all the historical records are kept on microfilm. Jacek found the birth dates of my mom's family. We finally got her family's true dates of birth. </div><div>We went to the Survivors Park where survivors of Lodz will have a tree planted in honor of them (my mom and aunt). Also a brick with their name will be placed on the ground of the park. Each season we will get a photo of what the tree will looks like. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rbfzw6xXUFo/V4QInETGPdI/AAAAAAAAAPY/_CBq2khSPt0/I/photo_179606.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZLn5szeqYeA/V4QInd6xXsI/AAAAAAAAAPc/VwRJwjOQ1kM/I/photo_745902.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-letqOs2pUUQ/V4QInZK8dHI/AAAAAAAAAPg/yrOmrDGxw5A/I/photo_680253.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>After that we went to Karol Poznanski's Palace. He was the largest textile manufacturer in all of Poland. We toured his mansion. It is now a museum with artifacts from well known famous residents of Lodz.</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p8eev0sg7rI/V4QInsjyzCI/AAAAAAAAAPk/YzxE_YLVdRg/I/photo_596000.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MqZtpHegcGE/V4QInxYwn0I/AAAAAAAAAPo/BosoN8eRjvs/I/photo_311013.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OmzHSM8RVxA/V4QInzvYRFI/AAAAAAAAAPs/3ZeSrOU8fw8/I/photo_240047.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>After that we met Charles Silow good friend Mirka and her family at Manufactura. It is a huge mall now but it used to be a textile manufacturing plant. We ate dinner at Anatafkwa.</div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AKYiMFRWxis/V4QIoObGeZI/AAAAAAAAAPw/v9axg_q8lRA/I/photo_668475.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_mDsfMkPxtc/V4QIoZoPFEI/AAAAAAAAAP0/7w6zYtNyMOA/I/photo_545417.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iBE-c7fFN_c/V4QIoQsAxlI/AAAAAAAAAP4/F-1MHfprEdY/I/photo_237897.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Mirka invited us over to see her lovely home and meet her family. </span></div><div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cDDm6iwL0O0/V4QIomosm4I/AAAAAAAAAP8/NsZH-lAGico/I/photo_320007.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-13590412996037647822016-07-10T14:02:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:50:50.301-07:00July 10, 2016Today 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😂. <div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AXK8TqIn2d4/V-X4FZ6AswI/AAAAAAAAAig/BOqf8OwcgQ4/I/photo_117846.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HrD245xnekA/V-X4Gba5kEI/AAAAAAAAAik/LZybAK7E5ho/I/photo_902352.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br> Next we visited the spot where her brother Mosjze was buried. <div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2vOXzoAZ7RE/V4K4-16cNwI/AAAAAAAAAMU/sf8VMz7Dqc0/I/photo_698904.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>He was only 17 when he died. He resembled Mark and Aaron. </div><div><br></div><div>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! </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ACBacQSZfzg/V4K4_GA9H7I/AAAAAAAAAMY/QXi8YBmp9FA/I/photo_559507.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dvRrvTKVV_M/V4K4_GHMIgI/AAAAAAAAAMc/-PcrJaX454Q/I/photo_216687.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>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. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ojGkJOnKxcU/V4K4_cBU_zI/AAAAAAAAAMg/hmu4kcvy-gA/I/photo_34881.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>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!</div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b8I2QBv0LEM/V4K4_UR752I/AAAAAAAAAMk/r-5O7l39vmA/I/photo_485510.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>This was Prusa 12. Another one of her residences. Nothing looked familiar to her. </div><div>Then we took mom back to the hotel to sleep, and we strolled down the streets of Lodz. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jt6I0HPx-gA/V4K4_pQ08yI/AAAAAAAAAMo/yaajcLHUWWs/I/photo_219562.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Afw3Vd3gbV8/V4K4_q8lskI/AAAAAAAAAMs/uR9ChBUxiiU/I/photo_915249.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WebzJcpkG98/V4K4__f2VjI/AAAAAAAAAMw/spFupzrtWyg/I/photo_189324.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>We ate at Anatefka, a Jewish restaurant. There were many Judiaca items in the restaurant. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5fnC6nSMPSs/V4K5AA0Dt0I/AAAAAAAAAM0/VPLj7RHA_vs/I/photo_9131.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-19150054805408693892016-07-09T11:37:00.000-07:002016-09-23T21:03:52.007-07:00July 9, 2016Today we went on the Jewish Heritage Tour of the Warsaw Ghetto. We rode in our retro taxis.<div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m2v4YR77iyM/V4FSTdEvdoI/AAAAAAAAAJc/FPeTHPE4Yj8/I/photo_138050.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>The warsaw ghetto placed the jewish population ( approximately 400,000 jews) within the closed walls and then added an additional 100.000 jews which were from outside of warsaw. Brick walls with barb wire prevented the jews from leaving the ghetto. <div><br><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5y-SBI0uvwc/V-X7J9T5bpI/AAAAAAAAAjY/_7RfdTDh-Yc/I/photo_328781.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br></div><div>Look at the bullet holes in the wall from the polish Partisan Warsaw uprising in April 1944. The year before, In April 1943 was the Jewish uprising. </div><div>The only building to survive in the rubble was the Catholic church because this was where the Nazis stored the Jewish possessions. </div><div>Facts about Warsaw: 100,000 jews perished of starvation and disease. Almost all others were transported to the death camp Tryblinka. We walked the path to the UmSchlagplatz, where the people were crowded into cattle cars to their death. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38d0iB17nmU/V4FSUMpw7HI/AAAAAAAAAJk/OS2_tsBw50s/I/photo_449661.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div> We saw Mila 18, which was the headquarters of the Jewish</div><div> underground and is the bunker where the Jews who survived the Uprising chose to end their own lives instead of having the Nazis do it. "Life without freedom was nothing"</div><div> </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ks73qNiRAiU/V4FSUtMw5UI/AAAAAAAAAJo/m64MQCLcyuw/I/photo_957923.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XzhJxfk8gss/V4FSU0uoVHI/AAAAAAAAAJs/0unJY74nqvA/I/photo_168863.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Emanuel Ringelblum was a historian who hid chronicles of life in the ghetto in three places. An apartment, Number 28 marks the spot where one of these sets of papers were found underground. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KPJQxNL19RE/V4FSVjJXA6I/AAAAAAAAAJw/QgQfBimFP1c/I/photo_571288.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>This photo is a monument to attest to the brave Jews who used the sewers to procure weapons, food and supplies. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DQJVbfavGnA/V4FSVqeNTsI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/DE9g9oSilZQ/I/photo_872195.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>We went to the Polin Jewish Museum to experience the 1000 year history of the Polish Jews. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZxtBvlbic_c/V4FSV3T2XyI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Ds1BkgzDmDU/I/photo_150167.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Here is a monument of the Ghetto heros. The original monument is in Yad Veshem and this is a replica of it. The stone was purchased by Hitler to represent his expected victory , but in the end it was used to mark the victory of the Jews! </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3jTn14N2HHE/V4FSWnee0bI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/TU8JP8uZVlk/I/photo_663107.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><br> <br> </div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-24569306257112860582016-07-08T21:37:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:38:49.556-07:00July 7 and 8, 2016We arrived at Detroit Metro at 3:00 and found out our 6:20 flight was delayed 3 times until 7:45 p.m. We were not sure if we would make our connecting flight from Toronto to Warsaw. We got a wheel chair for my mom and Jeff ran and pushed my mom while the rest of us ran to our gate. We got to the gate as they were boarding!! We made it. <div>We made it to Warsaw on July 8 at 12:20 their time! </div><div>We saw 3 air force one planes at the Chopin Airport so we knew President Obama had arrived on July 7. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lgDEYhh0dLA/V4B_p5WAQpI/AAAAAAAAABo/bJZEv0-NUJM/I/photo_673942.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br>Obama was staying across from us at the Marriot Hotel. The "Policiza" were at every corner and roads were closed! </div><div>The 28 NATO heads of state from different countries were invited to participate in the summit meetings. Albania, Greece, France, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Poland, USA, Turkey and more.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The city was very cosmopolitan. There were high rise buildings, McDonalds, KFC, HM, Deloite and more. </div><div>Much of Warsaw was rebuilt after the war. There was the City Center with an Orthodox synagogue still there. </div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q3DCxDfm928/V4B_qKpxcsI/AAAAAAAAABs/pI2kSBHub30/I/photo_56011.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BRYYbWfdBbk/V4B_qu5HPyI/AAAAAAAAABw/IVHI9hdSr6g/I/photo_245339.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>In the evening we went there for Shabbat services. It was a very moving Orthodox service. My mom met a woman from France and her mother was a survivor of the Holocaust. My mom met another woman who was born in Lodz and now lives in Orlando. </div><div>We also went to Frydereyk Chopin's Museum. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sQTu2pHf2Vw/V4B_qkwKj-I/AAAAAAAAAB0/xDujSfZvGvM/I/photo_765279.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Our taxi took us to Chopin's house and University as well. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r7jXi_nCcns/V4B_q4nmUJI/AAAAAAAAAB4/QMsb5gsVWRI/I/photo_891609.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gzQ53wMWVwI/V4B_rFpDbnI/AAAAAAAAAB8/kV6KEZqdy3g/I/photo_86895.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div>Here are a few more photos in Warsaw. </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qF58oQ7peq0/V4B_ruFqVlI/AAAAAAAAACA/_t4ca2XPuxs/I/photo_885326.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zkFYg_fgjiw/V4B_rznsRRI/AAAAAAAAACE/Qa9eoeO2MvQ/I/photo_798070.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> <br></div><div><br></div><br><br> Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-15984435669847852772016-07-05T12:07:00.000-07:002016-09-23T20:40:38.488-07:00july 5,2016Today, July 5, 2016 is 2 days prior to our trip and I am feeling both excitment and trepidation. The tombstone turned out perfect and i showed it to my mom today. She said it makes her feel good because her family will not be forgotten! I can't wait to be there and see it in person. The rabbi will meet us there and say Kaddish and a hebrew remembrance prayer. <div><br><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lT3BIpTQ-5o/V3wKvi-_6PI/AAAAAAAAAA0/ZZF7rvnl6oM/I/photo_570421.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div>It is also sad that Aunt Felicia passed away right before our trip. She would have loved to have seen photos and hear about our trip 😂<br><br><div><div>I just found out july 7-9 President Obama will be in Warsaw for his final summit with NATO leaders . I am anticipating extremely tight security, road closures and some major delays as a result of this! </div></div><div> </div><div>Also today my mom met with another survivor and dear friend, Leo Beals. He is 94. All the survivors are getting up there in the years. Let's hope they continue to feel good and live a long healthy life! </div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3A8u17gLHi4/V3wKwQPPzVI/AAAAAAAAAA4/ZRnYcHZpxcw/I/photo_455496.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <br></div></div>Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-16263614238846857922016-06-16T07:37:00.000-07:002016-06-16T07:37:00.592-07:00Getting Ready for PolandJune 2016<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hello everyone,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am now getting ready for my adventure to Poland with the family. I am excited to blog all my adventures</span>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsvmGJ298IMIFlIxJThjJIX5xUb1jawMUYvUnEiwHUveupBtCC4vnlpUPiIfdPWhiNJ2Kq7aeqpHhnkG2bzpllZ6tmwQZr-kV9LwcZt-AQ6wFFnIJ5D_irdP5TGSgo7sCmkJvy609A4n3/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsvmGJ298IMIFlIxJThjJIX5xUb1jawMUYvUnEiwHUveupBtCC4vnlpUPiIfdPWhiNJ2Kq7aeqpHhnkG2bzpllZ6tmwQZr-kV9LwcZt-AQ6wFFnIJ5D_irdP5TGSgo7sCmkJvy609A4n3/s320/IMG_3195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278152713166265436.post-49052149596985390392016-06-16T07:27:00.001-07:002016-06-16T07:27:52.970-07:00Poland 2016Welcome to my Blog. I am getting excited to go to Poland. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaRAZOwZRusVp90426TubtUTLPdqtFvHlElTVk4mTwfXpxlvDT5uP6EglEpvkqWgAHigAP9PitTSiwX6kTR0Nkx3cvOOb6XgksltqL4nikkC6dZ2TZdYjqiS38S9XY4eZisppbQe0-vQO/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaRAZOwZRusVp90426TubtUTLPdqtFvHlElTVk4mTwfXpxlvDT5uP6EglEpvkqWgAHigAP9PitTSiwX6kTR0Nkx3cvOOb6XgksltqL4nikkC6dZ2TZdYjqiS38S9XY4eZisppbQe0-vQO/s320/IMG_3195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Lori Ellishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14326121323161468952noreply@blogger.com0