BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — We’re honoring a 97-year-old South Florida Holocaust survivor, who is sharing the details of her journey from Nazi Germany to Fort Lauderdale.
Her story of luck, resilience and survival against all odds aims to inspire the local Jewish community ahead of the high holidays.
Ruth Di Stefano recounted a happy childhood in Germany, sharing precious photos with Local 10 News.
That all changed in the 1930’s when the Nazi regime took over.
“Jewish children who used to go and play in parks could no longer go to the park. We had to shop only in certain stores,” Di Stefano said.
Di Stefano and her family were eventually forced to leave her childhood home.
“There was a day when all the Jewish men and boys were arrested and taken away,” she said. “So we had many, many scary events with these times.”
In 1940, Di Stefano and her family boarded a ship bound for the United States. They had relatives in Baltimore waiting for them.
“We were very lucky,” she said.
For the relatives who stayed behind in Germany, that would be the last time Di Stefano would ever see them.
“I lost all of my relatives. They were all murdered except for one aunt,” she said.
Di Stefano survived the unthinkable and is thankful for the life she was able to build in the States.
“Thankful for having good health, having good friends, getting help from Goodman Jewish Family Services,” she said.
Goodman Jewish Family Services made a special delivery for Di Stefano just in time for Rosh Hashana -- a meal and gift bag complete with holiday goodies.
The organization has been assisting residents and Holocaust survivors in Broward County for more than 60 years. The agency says it’s more than just delivering food, as the recipients become like family.
“Just being here, I get goosebumps and I have a little bit of tears,” Randy Colman, the president and CEO of Goodman Jewish Family Services, said. “To have the opportunity to meet Holocaust survivors is really something special. We should never forget.”
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