Sarah Gersztajn
Sarah Gersztajn

Sarah Gersztajn

Below is an excerpt of the Ostrowiec youth mentioned in the book ‘HaDerech Lecherut' (The Way to Freedom)  written by Joseph Zvi Halperin. [Page:27]

The Ostrovtzer youth who reached our group were sent to us by the local committee people who feared for the refugees’ lives. They arrived in two groups: The first group, five girls and a boy, arrived in the second half of May; the second group, four girls and three boys, around a month afterwards. Some of these youths belonged to Zionist youth groups before the war, mainly to Betar; others came without any Zionist motivation, at times even against their will. (From among the thirteen Ostrovtzers who came to us in Kielce, only six settled in the Land; one girl who remained in Kielce was murdered there on July 4, 1946; six girls left us along the way and settled in America.)

Sarah Gersztajn

Sarah Gersztajn was an energetic girl, sharp tongued, and talented in business. The cooperative lifestyle did not suit her character. She reached Ostrowiec during the war after having escaped from the train that was transporting her and her family, together with the rest of her townspeople, to Treblinka. Due to her daring and fateful jump from the train, the Ostrovtzers nicknamed her the “jumper.”  Sarah set off with us on our journey, but while in Italy, before leaving for the Land, took our leave. She’s the only one of our group who has not stayed in touch with the others, her whereabouts being unknown.

-For page listing all members of the group see this page.

DERECH LECHERUT BOOK

Cover of book in Hebrew: "The Way to Freedom"

Ora Hofman

Ora Hofman

Below is an excerpt of the Ostrowiec youth mentioned in the book ‘LeDerech Lecherut' (The Way to Freedom)  written by Joseph Zvi Halperin. [Page:27]

 The Ostrovtzer youth who reached our group were sent to us by the local committee people who feared for the refugees’ lives. They arrived in two groups: The first group, five girls and a boy, arrived in the second half of May; the second group, four girls and three boys, around a month afterwards. Some of these youths belonged to Zionist youth groups before the war, mainly to Betar; others came without any Zionist motivation, at times even against their will. (From among the thirteen Ostrovtzers who came to us in Kielce, only six settled in the Land; one girl who remained in Kielce was murdered there on July 4, 1946; six girls left us along the way and settled in America.)

Ora Hofman

Ora Hofman was the most prominent of the Ostrovtzer girls and was chosen for the first secretariat (photo 5). While in Gretz, she left us after discovering that her mother had survived and was in Poland. Today she lives in Canada.

-For page listing all members of the group see this page.

DERECH LECHERUT BOOK

Cover of book in Hebrew: "The Way to Freedom"