Görlitz in motion: Lauren Fehlman's moving discovery of the past

Görlitz in motion: Lauren Fehlman's moving discovery of the past

A dramatic fate is unfolding in Görlitz: The young American Lauren Fehlman and her family have made the city their new home since 2019 and made an astonishing discovery that set an entire community in motion! While searching for the city's Jewish history, she came across a remarkable photo that shows the young Görlitzer Eva Goldberg, Susanne Ledermann and the well-known Anne Frank. This discovery was the trigger for an incredible journey into the past.

Leidman's research led her to the Holocaust Museum in New York, where she discovered Eva Goldberg's poetry album. This moving document tells the story of the then nine-year-old's escape from Görlitz to the USA and contains touching entries from friends and relatives, including the words of Anne Frank. The descendants' connection was strengthened through social media and face-to-face meetings during Jewish weeks of remembrance and stumbling stone layings. This is how the remarkable community “The Görlitz Family” came into being, which now includes over 120 descendants!

An unexpected twist

But while Lauren Leidman was doing this important work, she had no idea that the conflict in the Middle East would soon influence her research and the fates of the descendants of the Görlitz Jews. These people are currently facing existential threat from the devastating bomb attacks on their homeland in Israel. The realization that their roots are affected by such tragic events makes the story all the more shocking and calls the whole world to pay attention!