Hidden during the Holocaust: survivors recall their journey from children of silence to Jews of strength

Jewsaroundtheworldshouldlearnself-defense,HolocaustsurvivorDavidFrankelsaidinaninterviewaheadofIsrael’sHolocaustRemembranceDay. The89-year-old,nowaretiredjudgelivinginJerusalem,survivedBergen-BelsenconcentrationcampandlatermadehiswaytoMandatoryPalestine.Oncethere,FrankelfoughtinnearlyeverywarinIsrael’shistory—fromtheWarofIndependenceandtheSix-DayWartotheFirstLebanonWar. “PeopleaskmehowitispossiblethatJewsdidnotretaliate,didnotfightagainsttheGermans,”Frankelsaid.“JewsinEuropewereconsideredtobespiritualpeople.Someweremerchants.Thevastmajorityhadnothingtodowithrifles.Theydidnotevenknowwhatariflelookslike,nottomentionusingit.” 3Viewgallery DavidFrankel,aretiredjudgewhosurvivedBergen-BelsenandwentontofightinnearlyeverywarinIsrael’shistory (Photo:MaayanHoffman/TheMediaLine) ArabsinPalestinehadthesameintentionstowardtheJewsthereasNazisdidinEurope,Frankelsaid—butthistime,theJewsfou