April 15: A second birthday. A note on the liberation of Bergen-Belsen

Today is April 15, the day, 75 years ago, when the 11th Armored Division entered the gates of hell that was Bergen-Belsen. If you want to know what it looked like, spend eleven long minutes to listen to BBC correspondent Richard Dimbleby’s description from April 19, 1945.

April 15 is what my father-in-law, York University professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics Abe Shenitzer used to call his second birthday. He was among of the 40,000 survivors who greeted the British liberators at the gate of the concentration camp. The attached document attests to his incredible resilience. By July 1945, the British officer, signing the document, attests to Abe’s services as an interpreter.

Aside from his love for learning, his wit and humanity, Abe brought with him a fierce devotion to linguistic precision. He went on to become a sought-after translator and editor of books on mathematics and other subjects. He was also a superb teacher.

Born in Warsaw, Abe had grown up and attended Heder, followed by a Hebrew Gymnasium, in Sosnoviec, Poland. In 1943 he was deported to Gross-Rosen (referred to by inmates as the yeshive) from whence prisoners capable of labor were farmed out to the hundreds of labor camps dotting the so-called General Gouvernement, a virtual SS state. He considered himself fortunate that he was placed in a wood-working factory (Hubert Land Werke, Bunzlau) where he worked sawing and planing machines alongside German and other workers, and could forget for hours at a time that he was no longer human. There was starvation, of course. But he rarely spoke of being brutalized, and attributed his survival to the kindness of a few strangers at key moments.

When the Germans began to evacuate the east, moving prisoners westward, Abe’s odyssee led him via Nordhausen, Risa, and Ellrich to Bergen-Belsen where he was liberated by the British. This month he turned 99. Twice.

For more on Bergen-Belsen, see the following links:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-liberation-of-bergen-belsen

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/april/15/20200415-75th-anniversary-of-bergen-belsen

https://www.ushmm.org/learn/timeline-of-events/1942-1945/liberation-of-bergen-belsen

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-51234466

Further reading by Boston-area author Bernice Lerner: https://bernicelerner.com/

27 thoughts on “April 15: A second birthday. A note on the liberation of Bergen-Belsen”

  1. Arroyo, in specific, simply assisted Colombia secure an area in the 2026 Globe Baseball Classic with a solid qualifiers efficiency in Tucson and will head to Friday’s video game with lots of affordable juices moving. Jake Fraley Jersey

  2. Kohou as well as Xavien Howard worked as Miami’s beginners while nickel cornerback Eli Apple played 60 Dolphins didn’t ask much of their novices, and also it’s difficult to picture much changing anytime quickly. Looking ahead Adrian Phillips T-Shirt, Miami travels to New England on Sunday for a primetime spell with the Patriots. Achane seems probably to take playing time as an above-average receiver out of the backfield, while Smith and also Pili work as backups early in the year.

  3. Fresh York tacked upon an additional work with an Anthony Rizzo groundout, prior to Ryan struck out some other male whose standing most likely starts off with towards conclusion the right as a result 3 operates for the Yankees, that demanded through legislation in any case. Twins Jersey

  4. Abe Shenitzer’s story stands as a testament to human resilience, intellect, and quiet dignity in the face of the unimaginable. That he not only survived Bergen-Belsen but went on to become a respected scholar, editor, and teacher—devoted to precision, learning, and humanity—is profoundly inspiring. peryourhealth
    The phrase “he turned 99. Twice.” carries immense emotional weight. April 15, the day of his liberation, truly was a rebirth. It marks the beginning of a second life—not just survival, but renewal with purpose and integrity.

  5. Such as I reported, I can’t be added grateful. My spouse and children’s grateful https://www.gamedayphiladelphia.com/collections/danny-gray-jersey. I’m grateful and I delight in staying the teach of the Philadelphia Eagles and hunting in advance toward proceeding upon. “Sirianni wouldn’t transfer into the data of his agreement, which includes refusing in direction of say how numerous a long time his extension was for, outlining there historically aren’t as numerous information disclosed within just coaches contracts.

  6. How quite a few novices will deliver an have an affect on inside of 2025?Your definition of affect may well vary against mine, consequently vote appropriately, still within just my belief, an have an affect on participant ought to be upon the industry for around fifty percent the staff members’s snaps upon offense or protection https://www.chicagogameday.com/collections/nikola-kalinic-jersey. That places the chance squarely within just the rotation at his issue neighborhood. “They are within just a exceptional placement,” NFL Community Analyst Daniel Jeremiah not long ago explained more than the Bears.

  7. A further yr of enhancement for the younger acquiring neighborhood and the addition of Tetairoa McMillan may be only what the medical professional acquired. That’s all I consist of for Taylor Moton Jersey oneself these days, Panthers admirers. If oneself contain any other appealing data on your own’ve occur throughout or will need in direction of proportion your takeaways towards the articles I’ve accrued, crank out of course in direction of reduce them within just the feedback part under!

  8. Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd this Saturday Patrick Willis Jersey, Warner documented how the early extensions for Kittle and Purdy contain eradicated interruptions for the personnel this offseason.”I consider it’s normally labored out rather effectively becoming ready in the direction of knock all those factors out prior, ” Warner mentioned, by Lee Chan. “Letting us in the direction of notice accurately purely upon ball and starting to be far better as a employees, consequently factors are relocating inside of the specifically guidance.”At present, he appears in the direction of be subsequent inside of line for an extension, which may lock him up within San Francisco for the remainder of his profession.

  9. Carter is made up of a concussion and is not likely in the direction of be a part of the personnel inside London. Lazard will overlook the match for person explanations. Such are 2 starters for the Jets, yet them lost the activity just about looks together with addition by way of subtraction Malachi Moore Jersey. Carter and Lazard consist of been terrible this period. Sadly for the Jets, it not all that in all probability replacements for the 2 starters will fare any improved. Therein lies the challenge.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *