Lonia Goldman FishmanLonia Goldman Fishman

By Ridge WindelBy Ridge Windel

Born in Wegrow, Poland. 1922.Born in Wegrow, Poland. 1922.Strictly orthodox Jewish family.Strictly orthodox Jewish family.

Three sisters and one brother. Three sisters and one brother. Edith Goldman Bielawski. >>>Edith Goldman Bielawski. >>>

Moved to Warsaw in mid 1930’s. There, Moved to Warsaw in mid 1930’s. There, her dad opened up a feather factory.her dad opened up a feather factory.

Her parents owned a cotton factory in Her parents owned a cotton factory in Wegrow.Wegrow.

Attended Beis Yakov studying Hebrew, the Attended Beis Yakov studying Hebrew, the Bible, and Jewish history.Bible, and Jewish history.

In high school, she had a private tutor In high school, she had a private tutor come to her house and teach her Hebrew.come to her house and teach her Hebrew.

Her favorite hobby was knitting.Her favorite hobby was knitting.She also learned quilt making trade.She also learned quilt making trade.

Start of the warStart of the warAt the start, she and her family were At the start, she and her family were

trapped in a Warsaw ghetto, being sealed trapped in a Warsaw ghetto, being sealed off in November 1940off in November 1940

While in the ghetto, she While in the ghetto, she married a tailor named married a tailor named Sevek.Sevek.

In 1942, Sevek and her escaped to In 1942, Sevek and her escaped to Wegrow, then to another village near the Wegrow, then to another village near the town.town.

There, a peasant couple named Jan and There, a peasant couple named Jan and Maria agreed to hide them.Maria agreed to hide them.

They dug a dank cellar, lined it with straw, They dug a dank cellar, lined it with straw, and stayed there, still, for 18 months.and stayed there, still, for 18 months.

They were brought food and water, and They were brought food and water, and emptied their chamber pots once a day. emptied their chamber pots once a day. And once a week, they were sponged And once a week, they were sponged down.down.

Liberation and aftermathLiberation and aftermathWere liberated by the Soviets Were liberated by the Soviets

in 1945.in 1945.They had to relearn how to They had to relearn how to

walk because of the months walk because of the months they spent lying down.they spent lying down.

Emigrated to America in Emigrated to America in 1948.1948.

ResourcesResourceshttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/idcard.php?lanhttp://www.ushmm.org/wlc/idcard.php?lan

g=en&ModuleId=10006297g=en&ModuleId=10006297http://www.birdsnyarn.com/CustomPolicyPhttp://www.birdsnyarn.com/CustomPolicyP

ages/knitneedle.jpgages/knitneedle.jpghttp://www.qcc.cuny.edu/HRCA/news/GIFhttp://www.qcc.cuny.edu/HRCA/news/GIF

S/warsaw_ghetto_map.jpgS/warsaw_ghetto_map.jpghttp://www.appscout.com/images/soviethttp://www.appscout.com/images/soviet

%20hammer.jpg%20hammer.jpg