“My genealogical research has provided me with a window into the lives of my ancestors — their successes and failures, their happy moments and their suffering. It has brought me closer to them. I feel that I am their spokesperson. I am telling their story for them, which they were unable to tell themselves.”
“Learning about my biological mother’s family background was amazing, but the identity of my biological father still remained a mystery. As the years went on, and not knowing where else to turn, I was beginning to think I would never track him down.”
“Many people gathered at the border-crossing but the Russians did not let them pass. While they were waiting, and before Israel had a chance to find and join his father and brother, a German air raid started and the crowd dispersed, some running into a nearby forest and some exploiting the disorder to cross into the Russian zone. In the commotion David and Henryk lost each other, never to meet again.”