Mazel Toy!

Life's

The Orbachs have flourished through
many trials in 75 years of marriage.

own home and
the family's many
precious treasures
were destroyed.
watched my grandmother kiss
Within days, a
my grandfather this morning.
knock came at the
He can barely walk and has little
door. The SS had
memory. She's using a walker
•
arrived in a black
now and complains about her hearing.
Mercedes.
Still, this one kiss in front of every-
Without time
one at their nursing home seems to
"Gerald," Helmut became "Harold."
Germany. He,
for
a kiss good-
move the entire room. How incredible
And
life in the New World began.
too, made the
bye, Eugene was
it is to watch a couple still so devoted
Eugene
became a clerk at Klein's
trip to
placed on a train
after 75 years of marriage.
Department Store for $15 a week.
England,
via
and sent to
Their first kiss was on a German
Then he sold hosiery door to door.
Holland and
Dachau. Herta
train. It was a kiss my grandfather
He worked as a cashier at Jones
Portugal.
now had a mis-
fondly recalled seven decades later
Beach. Finally, he became a night
Herta
and
sion. She would
(after a little - prodding from a nosy
watchman at a smelting plant for
Eugene
reunit-
do anything to
The Orbachs in 1995 ... and _in the 1920s.
granddaughter.) My grandmother still
$40 a week. But, with his education,
ed on a street
get him out of the
giggles when you mention it.
he quickly rose through the ranks to
in London on
camp. To this day,
Herta Salomon met Eugene
become a foreman and production
their way to pick up their boys. The
she remembers walking into the office
Orbach at the main synagogue in
manager.
family was now together. But all of
of the Gestapo. With the help of an
Duesseldorf in 1920. They married
Their boys married. Gerald worked
their relatives, except Henry, Herta's
attorney, she was able to secure his
March 15, 1925. They were active
in home electronics. He married Pearl
only
brother,
would
be
lost
forever.
release in exchange for 50 marks — a
members of Duesseldorf's Jewish
and had two daughters. Harold, my
Parents, aunts, uncles and cousins were
king's ransom in 1938.
community. Eugene helped lead the
father, became a cantor. He married
killed
in
the
gas
chambers.
Meanwhile, their two boys had
synagogue choir.
Evelyn and had four children.
The family waited in England for
been sent separately to England on the
He and his brother ran a successful
Eventually, the children settled in
their U.S. visas. It took six months
"kinder transports." Herta kissed her
coffee-importing business. Herta's
Detroit. In 1977, Herta and Eugene
before they could finally board the
children goodbye as they boarded the
father ran a large plumbing equipment
moved from Flatbush, N.Y., to
Westendam in Liverpool en route to
train, not knowing if she'd see them
business. The extended families were
Tamarac,
Fla. Eight years ago, they
New York. It would be the last civil-
again. Without a word of English, the
very close. They enjoyed a good life in
decided
to
move to Detroit to be clos-
ian boat to leave.
boys were sent to a home for children
Germany. But the country was chang-
er to family. They now have six grand-
Their
son
Gunther
came
down
with
ing rapidly. The young couple had two • of the impending Holocaust. They
children and nine great-grandchildren.
German measles. Herta used makeup
lived there for 18 months.
boys, Gunther and Helmut, at a time
Sitting on the couch in her room at
Finally obtaining a visa, Herta made to hide the blemishes, for fear his ill-
when Jews were no longer welcome.
Elan
Village in Southfield, I ask my
ness would prevent them from board-
the voyage to England. Without
Kristallnacht 1938 marked the
grandmother
what the secret is to wed-
ing the ship. The lights of- the boat
money, she left her boys in the board-
beginning of the end of their life in
ded
bliss?
How
do you stay together
were kept dark to avoid enemy planes
ing house and offered to work as a
• Duesseldorf. They remember their
for
75
years?
and submarines.
cleaning woman for a couple with
beloved synagogue in flames. Their
She looks away, turns back and
In April 1940, the Orbachs
whom she had once vacationed.
says, "There's no secret. The longer
arrived
on
Ellis
Island.
They
had
no
•
At the same time, her efforts with
Lila Lazarus, a WDIV-Channel 4 anchor
you live with someone, the more you
family, no money, and knew very lit-
the
Gestapo paid off. In Dachau,
and health reporter, is a resident of
know him."
tle English. Gunther became
Eugene was given 10 days to leave
Commerce Township.

LILA LAZARUS
Special to the Jewish News

3/24
2000

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