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[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]M1992/032:009
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]Postcard sent from Ruza Fogel in Israel to the donor, Judith Nachum, in Sydney in 1975. The postcard features the mosaic floor in the Remembrance Hall depicting the plan of Theresienstadt Ghetto. The mosaic was designed by Judy's friend Albin Glasser, an architect who moved to Israel after the war. The letter on the reverse describes the reunion of 400 - 500 survivors from Theresienstadt.
Judith (Judy) Nachum (nee Lachowitz) was born in Teplice-Sanov, Czechoslovakia in July 1928, the daughter of Leopold and Hedwig Lachowitz. Ten years later, on 30 September 1938, when the Germans annexed the area, the family moved to Prague. For the first few months Judy and her sister Gertie lived with their mother but in March 1939, when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, the girls moved back with their father.
Leopold often went to Bratislava where he had family. He obtained non-Jewish papers and hid until 1944. He was killed by the Germans in an unknown location in Hungary.
In Prague between 1939 and 1942, Judy attended a Jewish school and Gertie volunteered at a Jewish medical centre where she trained as a nurse. The Nuremberg Laws soon came into effect and they were forced to wear a yellow Star of David. Judy grew up in an Orthodox family and didn’t mind being identified with the star; she wore it proudly.
In April 1942, when Judy was 13, she was deported to Theresienstadt with her mother and sister. Gertie’s boss from Prague was a doctor in the ghetto and appointed her as a nurse in. Judy lived in the children’s home and worked on the plantation; she was able to secure vegetables for her family.
In 1944, the Red Cross inspected the camp which had been beautified for their visit. After the visit, Judy and her mother and sister were sent to Auschwitz. From there, they were sent to Oederan (ID number 59310) and then back to Theresienstadt. Following liberation they went to Prague. In 1948, when war broke out in Palestine, Judy trained and served in the Israeli army. In 1961, she moved to Australia with her husband, Clement Nachum, and son to be, as well as her mother, who came to escape the communists. In Sydney, they had another son. After her retirement from working in restaurants and a milk bar with her husband, she enrolled at Tate to complete her HSC. Judy didn’t talk about her experiences of the war until 1984 when she had a heart attack. She doesn’t know why, but in the hospital she began telling her story to everyone. She was a survivor guide telling her story at the Sydney Jewish Museum up until her death.
Judith (Judy) Nachum (nee Lachowitz) was born in Teplice-Sanov, Czechoslovakia in July 1928, the daughter of Leopold and Hedwig Lachowitz. Ten years later, on 30 September 1938, when the Germans annexed the area, the family moved to Prague. For the first few months Judy and her sister Gertie lived with their mother but in March 1939, when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, the girls moved back with their father.
Leopold often went to Bratislava where he had family. He obtained non-Jewish papers and hid until 1944. He was killed by the Germans in an unknown location in Hungary.
In Prague between 1939 and 1942, Judy attended a Jewish school and Gertie volunteered at a Jewish medical centre where she trained as a nurse. The Nuremberg Laws soon came into effect and they were forced to wear a yellow Star of David. Judy grew up in an Orthodox family and didn’t mind being identified with the star; she wore it proudly.
In April 1942, when Judy was 13, she was deported to Theresienstadt with her mother and sister. Gertie’s boss from Prague was a doctor in the ghetto and appointed her as a nurse in. Judy lived in the children’s home and worked on the plantation; she was able to secure vegetables for her family.
In 1944, the Red Cross inspected the camp which had been beautified for their visit. After the visit, Judy and her mother and sister were sent to Auschwitz. From there, they were sent to Oederan (ID number 59310) and then back to Theresienstadt. Following liberation they went to Prague. In 1948, when war broke out in Palestine, Judy trained and served in the Israeli army. In 1961, she moved to Australia with her husband, Clement Nachum, and son to be, as well as her mother, who came to escape the communists. In Sydney, they had another son. After her retirement from working in restaurants and a milk bar with her husband, she enrolled at Tate to complete her HSC. Judy didn’t talk about her experiences of the war until 1984 when she had a heart attack. She doesn’t know why, but in the hospital she began telling her story to everyone. She was a survivor guide telling her story at the Sydney Jewish Museum up until her death.
[nb-NO]Subject[nb-NO]Theresienstadt ghetto, Terezin, Czech Republic, survivors
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]postcards
[nb-NO]Material[nb-NO]paper
[nb-NO]Dimensions[nb-NO]
- width: 170.00 mm
height: 122.00 mm
[nb-NO]Language[nb-NO]
- German Dear Judy
Yesterday was the big get together [of all that were in Terezin]. We thought about you a lot. There were approximately 400 – 500 people. It was a beautiful day. Gary is waiting for a letter. [Gary was a Shaliach who used to buy weapons in Czechoslovakia to smuggle to Palestine after the war]. I should not tell you “best regards” from Gary because he is cranky that you did not write.
As from “L410” [the building where we lived in Terezin] there was a lot of us in Givatayim. All the girls are now grandmothers. They are all sending you best regards – Willi Groag, Zdnka Miller, and so on. The Museum of Terezin was opened with lots of speeches. The floor of it is in this picture. Do you recognize Terezin? Can you imagine to meet nearly everyone who survived? It was a non-stop hello and hugging. It was screaming and yelling from all sides! My children were completely gob-smacked. They couldn’t imagine their mom could have so many friends. I didn’t have time to speak to all of them. Even one survivor from Melbourne was here. Please write soon. Doris sends best regards to Robbie [Robbie is Judy's son]. Best regards and kisses to all of you from Ruza and Walter.
[nb-NO]Credit line[nb-NO]Sydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Judy Nachum