Sarah York

"Jews and non-Jews should live in peace. Remember the Holocaust."

Name at birth

Serena Adler

Where were you born?

Uzhgorod, Czechoslovakia

Where did you grow up?

Uzhgorod, Czechoslovakia

Name of father, occupation

Lazar Adler, Kosher Butcher

Maiden name of mother, occupation

Raizel Schwartz Adler, Homemaker

Immediate family (names, birth order)

Parents, me, Avraham Mordechai (brother) and Yeshaya (brother) who died in the ghetto at 2-1/2 years old

How many in entire extended family?

I estimate that I lost over 80 family members in the Holocaust.

Who survived the Holocaust?

Me and my brother, Avraham

My father was taken to forced labor camp in 1942 and never returned. We were taken from our home to the ghetto in Uzhgorod on the Sabbath of Passover in 1944. We were there for one month till taken to Auschwitz.

My mother and brother arrived at Auschwitz on Erev Shavuos (the night before the Feast of Tabernacles) in 1944. Our mother was gassed after Selection. Avraham and I lived. After the Selection, I was told by a German, don’t worry, you’ll see your mother again at night. I estimate that I lost over 80 family members in the Holocaust.

Name of Ghetto(s)

Uzhhorod

Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)

Auschwitz Birkenau / Hochenelbe (Armament Factory)

When and where were you married?

1949 in Detroit, Michigan

Spouse

Lazar York, a.k.a. Jurkanski (deceased 1985)

What do you think helped you to survive?

Hope. I didn’t believe what they told me that my mother was gassed. I still hoped I’d see everybody, the whole family again in our home.

What message would you like to leave for future generations?

Jews and non-Jews should live in peace. Remember the Holocaust.