Bonbok for Israeliter
Object numberM1992/015:001
TitleBonbok for Israeliter
DescriptionPocket sized prayer book given to Ilona Reichman while recuperating in an orphanage, Sweden, 1945
Published by Goteborgs Affarstryckeri, 1943. It contains prayers for Shabbat, grace after meals, the Shemah etc. Inscribed by Ilona: "Sweden 1945 - 1947".
“They took away my home, my family, my schooling and then when I found myself in Auschwitz they took away my clothes and my hair – even my name. One thing that no-one can take away from me is my Jewishness. This is the only thing that was mine and this belief kept me going.” Ilona Blair
Ilona was born 12 December 1929. She died 22 November 2018. She was born in Uzhhorod, Czechoslovakia, into an orthodox Jewish family and was one of ten children. After the Germans occupation of Hungary, they were forcibly moved into one of the two established ghettos, sometime in April 1944. The family were deported to Auschwitz in May 1944. Most of the family perished there. Ilona was 14 years-old. Left alone and bereft.
After spending 6 to 8 harrowing weeks in Auschwitz, she and a large group of girls were transported to Hamburg, Germany. They were used as slave labour to clear rubble from the incessant Allied bombing of German cities. The work was not only back-breaking but also highly dangerous, as they were used also to scout for undetonated bombs. From there they were transported to Bergen-Belsen—a living graveyard composed of starved and seriously ill prisoners. She had no recollection when British forces liberated the camp as she was too ill with typhus and dysentery.
She was eventually sent to Sweden to recuperate. She was reunited with two of her sisters—Edith and Eva. Ilona chose to emigrate to Australia arriving on Australia Day—25 January 1951. She married Fred Blair on 20th May 1954, exactly ten years to the day that she was deported to Auschwitz.
Published by Goteborgs Affarstryckeri, 1943. It contains prayers for Shabbat, grace after meals, the Shemah etc. Inscribed by Ilona: "Sweden 1945 - 1947".
“They took away my home, my family, my schooling and then when I found myself in Auschwitz they took away my clothes and my hair – even my name. One thing that no-one can take away from me is my Jewishness. This is the only thing that was mine and this belief kept me going.” Ilona Blair
Ilona was born 12 December 1929. She died 22 November 2018. She was born in Uzhhorod, Czechoslovakia, into an orthodox Jewish family and was one of ten children. After the Germans occupation of Hungary, they were forcibly moved into one of the two established ghettos, sometime in April 1944. The family were deported to Auschwitz in May 1944. Most of the family perished there. Ilona was 14 years-old. Left alone and bereft.
After spending 6 to 8 harrowing weeks in Auschwitz, she and a large group of girls were transported to Hamburg, Germany. They were used as slave labour to clear rubble from the incessant Allied bombing of German cities. The work was not only back-breaking but also highly dangerous, as they were used also to scout for undetonated bombs. From there they were transported to Bergen-Belsen—a living graveyard composed of starved and seriously ill prisoners. She had no recollection when British forces liberated the camp as she was too ill with typhus and dysentery.
She was eventually sent to Sweden to recuperate. She was reunited with two of her sisters—Edith and Eva. Ilona chose to emigrate to Australia arriving on Australia Day—25 January 1951. She married Fred Blair on 20th May 1954, exactly ten years to the day that she was deported to Auschwitz.
Production placeSweden
Subjectreligious observance, praying
Object nameprayer books, prayer books
Dimensions
- width: 90.00 mm
height: 123.00 mm
depth: 40.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Ilona Blair