Gidon Lev survived the Holocaust as a child and became living proof of what the Nazis tried and failed to erase. He shares how his family was stripped of their rights, their identity, and ultimately their lives. He recalls saying goodbye to his father as a young boy, not realizing it would be their final moment together. He describes surviving on scraps of marmalade, clinging to life in a world built to destroy him, and never once believing he’d live to see freedom. We explore his complicated relationship with his mother, his abandonment of faith, and the quiet, powerful act of starting over—first in North America, then in Israel. From unspeakable loss, Gidon rebuilt his family tree—one that now includes six children, 16 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Timestamps:
00:00 Gidon's Willingness To Share
01:15 The Numbers Behind Gidon Surviving
03:24 A Childhood Microcosm Of The Holocaust
07:47 The Incremental Devolution Of Life
21:03 'Arbeit Macht Frei' - 'Work Sets You Free'
30:08 Gidon's Family's Experience In The Camps
38:43 Why Gidon Never Moved Camps
42:57 Creativity Restoring Humanity
44:57 Creating Propaganda
50:31 Never Believing In Freedom
58:22 Gidon's Biggest Regret
1:06:53 Gidon's Challenging Relationship With His Mother
1:13:10 New Name...New Identity
1:16:05 Moving To Israel
1:18:32 A Fractured Relationship With Faith
1:25:54 Rebuilding A Family
1:27:56 Gidon's Parting Words
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