A Visit With A Survivor

By Laurie Berger, Jewish Family & Community Services

In March 2020, when the lockdown began, I became a phone-a-friend pal with Natalya, a Holocaust survivor. On our fi rst call, she told me who she was and her lifetime accomplishments.

Over time, Natalya and I have talked off and on, but because of the pandemic, were never able to meet in person – until a few weeks ago.

On Sunday, November 21, my family and I drove to Palm Coast to meet Natalya in-person for the fi rst time. We were delivering gifts for Natalya and her husband, Rudolf, for Chanukah.

As we pulled into Natalya’s driveway, I knew she would be waiting in her music room. She welcomed us into her home with the sound of a CD of her singing and playing piano. She remembered me; she remembered our conversations, and she remembered my daughter, Jordyn, playing Hatikva on her trumpet over the phone. Natalya asked Jordyn to play – and she again played Hatikva. Natalya asked her to play something else so Jordyn played the Beatles “Yesterday.” Natalya gave her an impromptu lesson and told her she was a good and smart player but needed to practice high notes.

I helped Natalya open their presents. She expressed gratitude and said, "Too much, too much". "Not enough, not enough" I said. My family and I have never had a relationship or real life connection with a survivor, but JFCS made it possible and we are grateful Natalya and Rudolf opened their home and hearts to us. Getting to know her has taught us so much. Survivors are strong. They live with diffi cult memories and still thrive.