"On the Threshold of Oblivion" by Samuel Shats. Part I

What happens to the memory of an event when the generation that experienced it disappears? Portraits of survivors of the Shoah who found refuge in Chile

By Archivo Judío de Chile

Based on Samuel Shats' book

Testimonio (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Samuel Shats, creator of the book

Engineer by profession, photographer by vocation. His prolific career has been exhibited in national and international exhibitions.
In this work he invites us to reflect on memory, death, tolerance, old age and life built under the shadow of the past.

Brigitte Callomon 1926, Neise, Germany (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Brigitte Callomon. 1926, Neise, Germany.

While her parents remain in Germany obtaining a visa, she and her sister are sent to Scotland as part of the Kinder Transport. Her parents embark in 1939 for Bolivia, where they obtain a visa for Chile. Brigitte arrives in Chile in 1946 where she works and raises a family.

David Feuerstein 1925, Chaciny, Poland (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

David Feuerstein. 1925, Chaciny, Poland.

Eldest of 5 siblings. In 1942 he was transferred to Auscwitz-Birkenau, where his entire family was exterminated, except for him and his brother. In 1944 he managed to escape and became part of the resistance.
In 1954 he emigrated to Chile where he had two daughters and became a successful businessman.

Edith Frank 1919, Viena, Austria (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Edith Frank. 1919, Vienna, Austria

Only child of elderly parents. After the "Night of Broken Glass" the family business is closed and they must leave their home. When the war breaks out, her departure from Genoa is finally complicated. In Chile she meets her husband with whom she has three children.

Elie Alevy 1926, Salónica, Greece (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Elie Alevy. 1926, Thessaloniki, Greece

A peaceful childhood until the Germans invaded. In 1943 he´s transported to Birkenau where he got tattooed with the number 120693. At the approach of the Red Army he takes part in the "Death March". After finding no one in Greece, he emigrates to France and then to Chile in 1951

Eva Block 1919, Berlin, Germany (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Eva Block. 1919, Berlin, Germany.

Forced to leave school because she is jewish, she works until Hitler forbids it. She work for a Jewish family who, in preparation for her departure, offers to take her to Bolivia. She tries to raise money to save her family, but she is unable to do so. She marries and then arrive to Chile.

Exequiel Ben Dov 1924, Borsa, Romania (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Exequiel Ben Dov. 1924. Borsa, Romania

In 1940 he is taken to Chernovitz under false pretences, where he replaces Russian soldiers. He´s then sent to Vorkutá, where he´s held for four years. On his return he find out that 41 members of his family died in the concentration camps. In '48 he emigrates to Israel and then to Chile.

Judith Klein 1925, Bergszász, Czech Republic. (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Judith Klein. 1925, Bergszász, Czechoslovakia

In '38 she and her family were taken to Auschwitz, where she was tattooed with the number A10639. After a few months, those who had Nr. were transferred to Libob. The rest were not spared.
With the arrival of the Russians she and her sister where liberated, the rest of the family did not survive. She marries and the 56th emigrates to Chile.

Hugo Rothfeld 1918, Baraolt, Romania Rita Herdan 1921, Chernovitz, Romania - 2013, Santiago, Chile (2015-10-01/2015-10-01) by Samuel ShatsArchivo Judío de Chile

Hugo Rothfeld. 1918 and Rita Herda. 1921, Romania.

After the invasion of Romania the Rothfeld family emigrates to Chile in '39.
The Herda's were doing well until the Russian occupation in 1940-41. Her father decides that it is better for her to escape. She arrives in Chile with the help of Mr. Rothfeld and later marries Hugo Rothfeld.

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Remembering those who lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis
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