rădăcini

my father and his family were put into Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp in Germany during the Holocaust. my dad was born in a ghetto in Przemysl in 1942, and when he was 6 months of age they were taken to the camp. They were inside the camp for approximately 4 years. my grandmother, auntie and dad all had typhus, but somehow with such little anything my Granddad kept them alive. he was able to do so as he was one of the Camp's barbers and provided extra bread and potatoes. if he had not of had this job they would not of survived and I would not be here to write this. they were liberated by British and Canadian troops and then shortly after moved to Britain.

Last august my parents, my two brothers and I took a trip to Poland. we hired a car and drove to a different part of poland each day (it was exciting but very exhausting). we visited where my dad lived for a short period after being liberated from Belsen, where some of my family are believed to be buried, we also visited Auschwitz and we went to a conference in Warsaw. Here are some photos that aren't really for the photography side of things but have a sentimental value.

Przemysl

joshua (little brother), mum and aaron (big brother) 

walking through my dad's home town

my dad laying a stone out of respect for his loved ones (this is in a jewish cemetery)

this is quite self-explanitory really

this a sculpture in memory of the millions murdered in Auschwitz

these are some of the bunks at Auschwitz

I apologise for this being such a morbid and depressing post, but seeing as it's my dad's 70th birthday on monday I decided I'd like to share something personal and close to my heart. our trip to Poland was something I will never forget and I enjoyed every minute of it, even the depressing and upsetting parts. If you ever get the oppurtunity to visit Poland then don't turn it down - it's an incredible experience.

I am so extremely proud to be my father's daughter and who the man he is today.

esther xo