2022 First Person Series: Arye Ephrath

Arye Ephrath was born in a basement. It was spring, 1942 in Slovakia and local authorities collaborated with Nazi Germany to deport Jews, targeting young adults like Arye’s parents. His father had already fled to the nearby woods. Arye’s mother retreated downstairs, where she went into labor.

The threat of deportation followed. In August 1944, Nazi Germany invaded Slovakia. Arye and his family escaped to Šišov, a Slovak village, where strangers hid them separately. Arye stayed with a shepherd’s family, dressed as a girl to blend in with their daughters, until their liberation in spring 1945.

Speaker
Arye Ephrath, Holocaust Survivor and USHMM Volunteer

Moderator
Bill Benson, Journalist and Host, First Person: Conversations with Holocaust Survivors

Watch live at youtube.com/ushmm. You do not need a YouTube account to view USHMM's program. After the live broadcast, the recording will be available to watch on demand on USHMM's YouTube page.

First Person is a monthly hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor and is made possible through generous support from the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation, with additional funding from the Arlene and Daniel Fisher Foundation.