URGENT UPDATE: Three sisters, including Rachelle Unreich, have just laid memorial stones in Spisska Stara Ves, Slovakia, honoring their family members lost during the Holocaust. This poignant ceremony took place on September 3, marking the anniversary of a tragic night when the Nazis brutally captured their relatives.
In a powerful act of remembrance, the sisters and their cousins from around the globe gathered to honor their grandparents and parents, five of whom were taken by the Nazis. Only Rachelle’s mother, Mira Blumenstock, survived, enduring unimaginable horrors across multiple concentration camps, including Auschwitz.
The event unfolded against the backdrop of the picturesque Tatras mountains, where the Blumenstock family home once stood. Today, a cultural center occupies the site, a stark reminder of the past that was overshadowed by the community’s tragic history. The sisters chose to lay Stolpersteine, or “stumbling stones,” engraved with the names of their loved ones, to ensure their stories are never forgotten.
The mayor of Spisska Stara Ves, Jan Kurnava, presided over the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of remembering the victims. “These stones give a voice to those whose voices were taken away,” he stated. The emotional gathering drew numerous townspeople, dressed in formal attire, and included a 90-year-old local who recalled the day Rachelle’s grandfather was murdered.
The memorial act highlights the ongoing need for Holocaust remembrance, especially as the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. The sisters’ journey took them not only to Slovakia but also to Poland, where they visited memorial sites, including the remnants of the Plaszow camp, where their grandmother, Genya, was executed.
Rachelle reflected on the significance of visiting these sites, stating, “I never expected to find a place to pay my respects to my grandmother.” She also shared her experience at Auschwitz, where the grim realities of the camp were palpable. “Nothing prepares you for the scale of it, or its industry,” she remarked.
Their visit serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. The sisters are determined that their mother’s legacy will live on, not just through the dark chapters of her past, but also through the strength and joy she embodied.
As the world continues to grapple with the lessons of history, the Blumenstock sisters’ memorial stones stand as an urgent call to remember the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. The emotional weight of their journey resonates deeply, making it clear that the fight against hate and discrimination is as vital today as it was then.
