This true story of a Jewish mother and daughter is a powerful testament to courage, devotion, and the fragile thread of hope that sustained them through unimaginable hardship. Amidst cruelty and terror, they also encountered rare moments of humanity. Throughout their ordeal, both Bronia and Hajuta clung to memories of the River Kamienna—a place where they once danced, played music, and dreamed of the future. For them, the river was more than just a memory; it was a promise that they might one day return home.

Bronia Feldman never imagined she would become the backbone of an underground medical lifeline, especially within the brutal forced-labor system of the HASAG munitions factory in occupied Poland. Torn from her family in September 1942, she arrived at the factory shattered by grief. Yet, the only force strong enough to keep her alive was the hope of saving others.

My guess is honored to share her family’s story—a story that warns of the dangers of fascism, antisemitism, and genocide. Despite the inhumanity they endured, the most valuable lessons Bronia and Hajuta passed on to her brothers and me were to embrace life, cherish family, and stand firmly against prejudice and injustice, just as they did. 

https://www.paulinesteinhorn.net/

http://www.yourlotandparcel.org

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