Holocaust Survivor Shares Her Story of Resilience and Survival
As we commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day, it is important to listen to the stories of survivors who have witnessed some of the darkest moments in history. Mirjam Beit Talmi Szpiro, a Holocaust survivor from Kibbutz Zikim, Israel, shares her incredible journey of resilience and survival. Her story serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Born in Germany in 1935, Mirjam’s life has been marked by destruction, terror, and ultimately, resilience. She vividly remembers the night of Kristallnacht, when she was just three-and-a-half years old. Hiding under her parents’ bed, she could hear the sound of SS soldiers breaking down their door and taking her father away. Sadly, he never returned. Mirjam and her siblings were fortunate enough to be rescued by the Kindertransport, which saved them from the horrors of Auschwitz and the Lodz Ghetto.
In 1939, Mirjam arrived in Britain as a young child grappling with the loss of her parents and her homeland. Despite the pain that never truly went away, she embraced her new life and found solace in adaptation. A decade after the war, she immigrated to Israel, a land that welcomed her with open arms and became her home. For many years, Israel provided her with a sense of safety and calm.
However, tragedy struck again on October 7, just weeks before the 85th anniversary of the Kristallnacht attacks. Hamas unleashed brutal attacks on Israeli border communities, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages. Mirjam’s peaceful kibbutz turned into a battleground as gunfire shattered the air. The sense of refuge she had found there was shattered as well. Hiding in her safe room for 12 hours, she couldn’t help but feel that history was repeating itself. Thanks to the bravery of the military unit in Zikim, Mirjam and the other kibbutz members survived, but many others did not.
In the aftermath of the attack, Mirjam found herself once again forced to leave her home. However, this time, she refused to leave for good. She refused to become a refugee in her own land. For nearly four months, she has been living out of a suitcase in a hotel room, but she remains hopeful. Recently, Mirjam was honored to receive an award alongside other Kindertransport survivors at the Israeli president’s residence in Jerusalem. This recognition serves as a form of historical justice for the 10,000 Jewish children who became refugees during the Holocaust.
For Mirjam, this Holocaust Memorial Day holds a deeper significance. It represents not only the past but also the present. While the flames of Kristallnacht may have been extinguished, new fires ignited on October 7 have once again burned homes, lives, and dreams. It is our responsibility to extinguish these fires and rebuild what was lost. Mirjam refuses to be helpless or hopeless. She planted a tree in her garden just days before the attack and is determined to return home and tend to it. In her heart, she knows that her grandchildren will one day eat from its fruit.
Mirjam Beit Talmi Szpiro’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. It serves as a call to action, urging us to remember the destruction caused by hatred and work towards a better future. As we honor the victims of the Holocaust, let us also draw inspiration from survivors like Mirjam and strive to create a world free from prejudice and violence.