Shoshanna Lajta
Holocaust Project Katzenelson High-School ISRAEL
mail: yuvaly3189@walla.co.il
k.yuval@walla.co.il
relationet2014@gmail.com
First Name: Shoshanna
Last Name: Eytan
Previous Name: Lajta
Date of Birth: November 21th
1931
City of Birth: Budapest
Country: Hungary
Sister: Edit, year of birth 1926
Sister: Edit, year of birth 1926
This
project is dedicated to the 6 million Jews who were murdered during the
Holocaust.
These sculptures were made by Shoshanna and are presented in
her exhibitions. The six faces in this display represent the six millions
Jews. |
" לזכרם ,In Memoriam Emlékük"
|
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. Its total territory is 525 km² -
it is the largest city in Hungary. In 1873, the two cities, Buda and Pest,
which were separated by the Danube River, merged into one big city-Budapest.
In 1848, the Hungarian Revolution broke out. This revolution developed into a
war for independence from the Habsburg Monarchy. The Jews of Budapest who were
devoted to their fatherland decided to volunteer to the civil defense. Therefore,
the Germans citizens of Pest attacked them and hurt the Jewish community.
Between the two World Wars, the Jewish population was estimated of about 204,000
people. They took part in the development of industry and built many structures
which served their community, such as synagogues, Jewish schools, hospital and the Budapest
University of Jewish Studies.
In 1935, the anti-Jewish restrictions,
Nurnberg Laws, were published. These laws affected the Jewish community. The
number of Jews who were employed was restricted. Many Jews lost their income
and place of work.
Through the years, the anti-Jews policy in Hungary was worsened. On 19th
March 1944, the German troops occupied Hungary. After a few days, Regent Miklós
Horthy appointed
a collaborating government ready to serve the Nazi interests.
In April that year,
the government forced the Jews who lived inside and outside of Budapest, to concentrate
in ghettos and concentration camps. The Jews lived under bad sanitary and economic conditions. In November 1944, more than 70,000 Jews were forced to march to camps
in Austria. During their journey to Austria, many Jews died because of starvation, the cold weather conditions and exhaustion.
the government forced the Jews who lived inside and outside of Budapest, to concentrate
in ghettos and concentration camps. The Jews lived under bad sanitary and economic conditions. In November 1944, more than 70,000 Jews were forced to march to camps
in Austria. During their journey to Austria, many Jews died because of starvation, the cold weather conditions and exhaustion.
In addition, thousands were shot by the Nazis on the Death March. At the
end of the war, Hungarian Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis near the Danube
River in Budapest.
They were lined up along the riverbank and were shot. During the entire war, more than
a half million Hungarian Jews were murdered.
They were lined up along the riverbank and were shot. During the entire war, more than
a half million Hungarian Jews were murdered.
The Soviets, who fought the Hungarians, captured Budapest on 13th February, 1945.
In 1949, Hungary was ruled by a
communist government. By 1950, the state controlled most of the economy. The
Hungarians weren't satisfied and decided to revolt. The tension reached its
peak on 23rd October 1956 when thousands of people demonstrated in the streets.
Many people (180,000) left Hungary by 1957 to search a better place.
Nowadays, more than 1.774 million
people live in Budapest and it is considered one of the most beautiful cities
in Europe.
To the
memory of the victims shot
into the Danube in 1944-45.
into the Danube in 1944-45.
|
 |
| Shoshanna'a parents |
Shoshanna's Childhood:
Shoshanna Eytan was born on November 21th 1931 in
Budapest, Hungary. In her childhood she was known as Zsuzsi, her last name was Lajta
and her Jewish name was Miriam.
She grew in the 7th quarter with her family: her mother, her father who was a
haberdashery salesman and traveled across the country and her older sister, Edit. They belonged to the middle social class.
The family from her mother's side was a traditional Jewish one,
from whom she absorbed the Jewish tradition. However, the family
from her father's side was an assimilated one.
The family from her mother's side was a traditional Jewish one,
from whom she absorbed the Jewish tradition. However, the family
from her father's side was an assimilated one.
 |
| Shoshanna and Edit |
In her childhood, Shoshanna was educated in a Jewish school.
She went to the synagogue with her class, her mother lit candles
on Friday's nights and she even celebrated her "Bat Mitzvah" along
with the girls from the Jewish Gymnasium. Alongside maintaining
a Jewish lifestyle, Shoshanna's family was involved in the Hungarian society.
During the War:
On March 19th 1944, the Germans conquered Hungary."It was Sunday and I was at school.The principal came and said: 'The Germans occupied Hungary! Don't panic, go back to your families and stay calm" Only two months later, the Jews were obligated to wear a yellow star on their clothes. On July 1st, Shoshanna and her family were forced to move from their house to a building which was populated with many other Jews and was signed with a yellow star. Her family from her mother's side was living in a provincial town while her father and his brothers were working in a labor camp. On October 15th an anti-Semitic prime minister- Ferenc Szálasi took reign in Hungary. It caused an exacerbation in the policy against Jews. The sights in the streets were horrifying: Soldiers started to march Jews with their hands raised and threatened them with their guns. When Shoshanna's father who was on a day of leave, realized what was going on, he decided that he wouldn't go back to the labor camp.He stayed with his family and declared: "My fate will be as yours".
Shoshanna recalls the day when the
German soldiers took all the Jews from her area and concentrated them in a brick
factory.
The Jews went through a selection and were separated into
three groups. Kids under the age of 16 and adults above 45 were not taken with the Germans. Shoshanna's parents, who were under 45, decided to join the oldest group in order to survive. Shoshanna and her family were taken to the ghetto, while the other Jews were marched by the Nazis in the "Death March". This "Death March" is known as a horrifying one where thousands of Jews perished.
The Jews went through a selection and were separated into
three groups. Kids under the age of 16 and adults above 45 were not taken with the Germans. Shoshanna's parents, who were under 45, decided to join the oldest group in order to survive. Shoshanna and her family were taken to the ghetto, while the other Jews were marched by the Nazis in the "Death March". This "Death March" is known as a horrifying one where thousands of Jews perished.
After a period of surviving the
horrible conditions in the ghetto, Shoshanna wanted to get out of it.
Therefore, her mother sent her to the "Red Cross Children's Homes".
After a while, Shoshanna and
her mother understood that they could not leave apart and they needed each other in order to pass this rough time. Shoshanna's mother asked an unfamiliar woman to go to the Red Cross house and take her little girl. Only two days after Shoshanna reunited with her mother, all the Children from the Red Cross House were taken to the Danube River and were slaughtered.
her mother understood that they could not leave apart and they needed each other in order to pass this rough time. Shoshanna's mother asked an unfamiliar woman to go to the Red Cross house and take her little girl. Only two days after Shoshanna reunited with her mother, all the Children from the Red Cross House were taken to the Danube River and were slaughtered.
On December 24th,
Christmas Eve, a shelling had begun. There were
continuing fights in the streets and finally, on January 18th 1945, the
Soviets released the ghetto. A few days later, Shoshanna and her parents came
back to their first house. They united with her sister, Edit, and her boyfriend. Both survived the war in a hiding place. The entire area was ruined by the
Nazis, there was nothing to eat and they had little information about their
extended family.
When
the war ended, Shoshanna's family started looking for their relatives.
Her
grandparents from her father's side lived in house which was signed with a yellow
star, and so they were rescued. Her aunt came back from Lichtenvert Camp. She lived under extremely bad conditions. As a result of her
weakness and thinness, she had difficulty getting
the intravenous infusion and the necessary treatment.
In addition, Shoshanna's family learned that her
grandparents, her aunt, her uncle and her
cousins from her mother's side were
murdered in Auschwitz- Birkenau extermination camp
.
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| Shoshanna and Tomi |
After a while, in 1945, life got back to normal. Shoshanna returned to
school, met her friends after a long period and went to concerts and theater
plays. In the end of 1947, at a party that the school arranged, Shoshanna met
Tomi, a medical student who was born in 1927.
At the party, a love affair started. Few months later, in the end
of 1948, Tomi wanted to make "Aliyah" in order to help in building the new country. Shoshanna told him: "You are not going to Israel without me, I am coming with you". At that night, Shoshanna and Tomi got engaged in a small ceremony where they broke a plate.
At the party, a love affair started. Few months later, in the end
of 1948, Tomi wanted to make "Aliyah" in order to help in building the new country. Shoshanna told him: "You are not going to Israel without me, I am coming with you". At that night, Shoshanna and Tomi got engaged in a small ceremony where they broke a plate.
Immigration to Israel
The immigration to Israel was a long journey that lasted two months. Shoshanna and Tomi had to leave their families back in Hungary and start a long voyage. During the travel,
they didn't have any contact with their families. They spent a lot of time traveling by trains, moving from city to city. When they arrived to Vienna, they were forced to split, so they decided to get married in order to stay together. On "Lag BaOmer", the only day at that period of time that the Jews are allowed to get married, the wedding took place. They continued their journey and in Trani, Italy, they boarded the "Ha'atzmaut Ship" and on August 6th 1949 they anchored in Israel.
they didn't have any contact with their families. They spent a lot of time traveling by trains, moving from city to city. When they arrived to Vienna, they were forced to split, so they decided to get married in order to stay together. On "Lag BaOmer", the only day at that period of time that the Jews are allowed to get married, the wedding took place. They continued their journey and in Trani, Italy, they boarded the "Ha'atzmaut Ship" and on August 6th 1949 they anchored in Israel.
Shoshanna in Israel
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| Shoshanna Tomi and Gabi |
When
Shoshanna and Tomi arrived to Israel they settled in "Kibbutz Avoka".
A month later, they moved to "Ashdot Ya'akov".
Where, they improved their knowledge in the Hebrew language.
In September 1950, after moving to Holon, Shoshanna and Tomi had their firstborn son,
Where, they improved their knowledge in the Hebrew language.
In September 1950, after moving to Holon, Shoshanna and Tomi had their firstborn son,
Gabi.
Three years later, Tomi
started to work in "Sha'ar Menashe'-Psychiatric Medical Centre" as an
occupational therapist. Therefore, the family moved to "Sha'ar Menashe". There, Dani,
their second son, was born
Eventually,in 1959, they settled in Kfar-Saba. Despite their financial difficulties, Shoshanna didn't give upand decided to open a record store in order toimprove her family status. In 1969, she opened her store, "Shoshanna's Records", which became one of the most familiar stores in the city. Alongside working in her store, Shoshanna learned sculpting and painting and presented her creations in many exhibitions.
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| Shoshanna near her store |
In 1970, Dr. lajta Edit, Shoshanna's
sister, passed away at the age of 44. After World War II, Edit decided to stay
in Budapest where she accomplished her doctorate in art, wrote books and
developed a splendid career.
Shoshanna is a sociable, creative
woman. She loves to paint and sculpt; she reads a lot and goes to Yoga classes.
In addition, Shoshanna likes to spend time with her friends with
whom she goes
to theaters and concerts, plays bridge and travels abroad.
Nowadays, Shoshanna has six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with whom she has a strong relationship. She loves them very much and plays a major role in their lives.
