As terrified teenagers 65 years ago, Menachem Sholowicz and Anshel Sieradzki stood one ahead of the other in Auschwitz, having serial numbers tattooed on their arms. Sholowicz was B-14594; Sieradzki was B-14595.
The two Polish Jews had never met, they never spoke and they were quickly separated. Each survived the Nazi death camp, moved to Israel, married, and became grandfathers. They didn't meet again until a few weeks ago, having stumbled upon each other through the Internet. Late in life, the two men speak daily, suddenly partners who share their darkest traumas.
"We are blood brothers," said Sieradzki, 81. "The moment I meet someone who was there with me, who went through what I went through, who saw what I saw, who felt what I felt - at that moment we are brothers."
The twist of fate doesn't end there. Two brothers who were with them in the tattooist's line have made contact since hearing of their story. The story continues here...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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