Henry Ramek - My will to live : my story of surviving the Holocaust

MY WILL
TO LIVE

My Story of Surviving the Holocaust

By Henry Ramek

As Told To Eve Gordon-Ramek and Anne Grenn Saldinger

Table of Contents

Tributes

It was a Shabbos (Saturday) morning shortly after moving to Northern California, I was leading a Torah class before services when an elderly and venerable looking person entered and stood to the side, as the class continued I could not help but notice the sparkle in his eyes. Following the class he introduced himself as Rabbi Henry Ramek. I had just had the privilege of meeting one of the most remarkable people I would ever meet.

The life story of Henry Rameks is not just one of an individual who survived the horrors, torture, pain and suffering of the holocaust, rather it is a story of perseverance and the will to live in the face of the darkest and most challenging of times.

Henry is a never ending source of inspiration, advice, wisdom and clarity to countless people. Speaking to him you know he is talking from the heart and you feel his deep empathy, care and affection.

Henry is driven by love, a love of life, a love of his people and a love of humanity, he will not hesitate to put the needs of another before his own, taking a keen interest in the well-being of all he comes in contact with and providing support and assistance to those in need, in addition to contributing to a myriad of charities and organizations.

Harav Elchonon as we admiringly call Henry has left an indelible impact on thousands of people, whether by hearing his story, his soul stirring prayers when he leads the services, his teachings, insights, anecdotes, advice or just an uplifting and inspiring good word which he always seems to have ready.

I am forever grateful to be able to call such a special and unique person a dear friend.

~ Dovber Berkowitz

It is unique in ones life to meet such a rare and special person as Rabbi Henry Ramek. I had the pleasure of meeting Henry almost 30 years ago when I first walked into his kosher meat market. I immediately realized then that he was a very wise and gentle man. He has never changed. He is always willing to help others when he can and believes it is the right thing to do. His compassion, will, intellect, tenderness and humor are among his many qualities. He is deeply sensitive to critical situations in peoples lives, and has shown the capacity to do something significant about them. My husband and I are fortunate to count ourselves as dear friends.

Henry was a holocaust survivor who lived through horrendous atrocities that are impossible to comprehend. When Henry was liberated, he personally caught one of the worst Nazi soldiers from the camp. He later came to America, and realized he had a choice of two paths to follow. When he came to that fork in the road, he knew he could be bitter or better, and he chose to live his life being better and enriching the lives of everyone who has had the special honor of knowing him. Because he has experienced hatred and discrimination firsthand, he can speak to these issues, and people who hear him know he is talking from the heart. Henry travels all over the country speaking about the Holocaust and educating children and adults alike, so that they understand what Never Forget means.

Although I admire my dear friend for a myriad of reasons, it is his caring about humanity, and his feelings for others pain and struggle, that make him unconditionally committed to a life of love and service to his fellow human beings. Henrys faith to his religion is all encompassing, and his drive and determination to seize every day and make the most of it is an inspiration to all of us. He is a very religious man but religious in a way that is inclusive of others who may have different beliefs and values. He continues to wear many hats: Rabbi, scholar, teacher, mentor, sage, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. His talents are many. His sense of commitment is One.

The highest compliment I can pay to Henry Ramek is that he has so many of the great qualities my father had, foremost among them, generosity of soul and spirit.

Henrys wealth of human experiences is profoundly inspirational. My husband and I are grateful for his friendship, and I feel honored to have been asked to write this foreword. I am certain this book will make a difference in the lives of all who read it, as Henry has in the lives of those who have know him. In Yiddish, there is a word mensch. It is not limited to gender. It means a person of moral dimension and spiritual worth. Henry Ramek is a mensch.

~ Esther Moran

It was with great joy that I learned that my dear friend, Henry Ramek, planned to publish his recollections of the decades of his life. The years of his experience include some of the most impactful periods in human history, and reflect a world that has undergone tumultuous change. His sharing lets us see through the lens of his eyes the images of life in Jewish Europe before the second world war, the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust, the wanderings and rebuilding after the war, and the life of an immigrant new to American shores who builds a family and a successful life from the ashes.

He is a man of great strength and tenacity, a survivor whose story is one of hope and determination. His message includes cautionary tales as well as inspiring reminders that one may never give up, and reveals a man passionate in his commitments and generous of spirit. May Hashem bless him and his family with many years of good health and happiness.

In friendship,

~ Judah Dardik

Seldom in these days appears a man who can inspire our religious community. Rabbi Henry Ramek is such a man. As a survivor, he is spokesman for those six million whose voice is no more. In beautifully accented tones of a bygone era, the El Moleh Rachamim echoes throughout the Shul. His powerful intonation bespeaks the cries and wailings of the terror and suffering inflicted on humankind. He speaks with a clarity now more than ever needed to bring their forgotten voices to life. When Rabbi Henry davens, when he chants, and when he prays, his voice resounds to the heavens exhorting us all to remember. Thank you for being our sonorous voice in a time when the audacity and arrogance of voices of terror and destruction are beamed throughout the world. Thank you, Rabbi Henry for your strength, your steadfast conviction, your kindness and loving nature. We are proud to call you friend and Rabbi.

With Love and Affection,

~ Richard and Naomi Applebaum

Foreword

It is not easy to do justice to Henry Rameks life story. I have been listening to many stories over the years and have always been amazed at how much he has suffered, and yet how much he has accomplished. The real story is how he overcame so many obstacles through his sheer strength of will and succeeded against all odds.

I believe that Henry is a true hero. You will read here about how, under the most horrifying circumstances, he thought not only of himself but also of how he could help others. Throughout his life, he has had strong impulses to bring about justice, to show compassion for those around him, and to help the underdog and those in need.

When Henry came into my life, his love of family extended to my children as well. He has been an inspiration to my sons, Joseph and David Gordon, and has helped me enormously with my third child, Kenny, who is brain-damaged. Kenny was an adult when Henry met him, and Henry has helped in such a compassionate way with his care, bringing Kenny home for visits and even arranging for him to have a bar mitzvah in our synagogue. This speaks to the exemplary character of Henry Ramek.