(née DIAMOND)
I.D.F. NO: 68458
I was born in Chmielnik in Poland on 25th September, 1927; my father left Poland for Belgium in 1928. I was brought up by my mother and her family, and attended the Jewish School in Kielce, Poland. I was raised by my mother’s family in a Zionist atmosphere, and our ultimate aim was to settle in Palestine.
In 1937, my mother took my brother and me to join my father in Antwerp.
I was a “hidden” child there during the German occupation from 1942-1944. In 1943, whilst we were in hiding, my mother died of a heart attack.
I was a member of Betar, and in 1948 I left Antwerp with a group of young people to help the new State of Israel. I sailed on the Altalena to Palestine and arrived in Kfar Vitkin on 20th June, 1948.
I joined the parachute packing division of the Israel Air Force. on 19th September, 1948, and volunteered there until 13th June, 1949, when I returned to Belgium.