Holocaust survivors inspire with book detailing their commitment to Orthodox Judaism

 A Vow Fulfilled by Fran Laufer; Targum Press; 210 pages; $21.99.

By Norman Manson

Norman Manson

SAN DIEGO–The most inspiring aspect of this memoir – in addition to its story of sheer survival – is the way Fran and Simon Laufer created a thriving, prosperous life for themselves and their family in the United States, at the same time remaining totally true and committed to observant Orthodox Judaism.

Fran Laufer, now in her late 80s, managed to survive the horrors of the Holocaust as a smart, relatively strong teenager. As was true of virtually all survivors, an element of luck, on more than one occasion, was instrumental in keeping her alive. Probably the key factor was the way she avoided shipment to a death camp, even though she grew up in a town only a few miles from Auschwitz in southern Poland. She spent more than two years in a labor camp, Neusalz in Upper Silesia, then in the closing days of the war survived a death march to Bergen–Belsen, which was liberated by the British in April 1945.

Simon, her future husband, grew up in Krakow and early on showed excellent business acumen. This skill was crucial in enabling him  to survive the war years in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. After liberation, he went to the Bergen-Belsen area, where he met Fran and, despite her early objections, talked her into marrying him.

At the time of their wedding, in the fall of 1945, the couple made the vow on which the book’s title is based. As Fran writes, “I told Shimon that we had to be Torah observant, religious Jews….our ultimate survival would have to be in the embrace of observant Judaism. And thus our sacred covenant to each other – and to G-d – was made.” Her new husband had expressed a degree of doubt about this commitment, but once made, it was adhered to steadfastly.
Arriving in New York in 1947, they quickly acclimated, with Simon’s business skills asserting themselves as he rose from menial jobs to such endeavors as selling hosiery and opening successful retail and wholesale stores. As they prospered, they began to help others, at first relatives, including Simon’s sister in Israel, cousins and friends.

Not all the recipients proved worthy, but this did not deter them from continuing their  tikkun  olam   (helping the world). After operating a department store for several years, he opened a wholesale sweater distribution firm, which he ran for the rest of his life. He passed away in 1998.

But the main theme of their lives in America was their unstinting labor on behalf of synagogues and other Jewish organizations, such as a   bikkur cholim  (visiting the sick) . The more they prospered, the more they gave of their time, effort and money to bolster the Jewish community.
            
And in some ways the most moving, inspiring chapter of the book deals with the couple’s celebration of their 45th wedding anniversary and Simon’s 70th birthday. They repeated their marriage vows and were feted by rabbis and other community leaders, as well as fellow Holocaust  survivors. The tributes to them were richly deserved, and they responded with very moving addresses.
               
The book could have used a more thorough editing job. There are a few statements at variance with facts (The Russians did not advance against the Germans in 1940-41; they ostensibly were allies then!). Also, several of the photos were too small to be effective. But these minor defects do not in any way detract from the story of this beautiful couple – how they made themselves a prosperous and truly Jewish life in all respects, after starting from scratch with virtually nothing.

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Manson is a freelance writer based in San Diego