Tova Friedman: Surviving Auschwitz | THE THREAD Documentary Series

Tova Friedman is one the few remaining living witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust. In this episode of The Thread, she recounts a childhood of unimaginable brutality and terror, marked by starvation labor camps and the crematoriums of Auschwitz. She shares the challenges her family faced as survivors in postwar America emphasizing the importance of storytelling to ensure her children and grandchildren – and all children – carry on a legacy of remembrance and resilience.

Tova Friedman was born on September 7, 1938 in Gdynia, Poland, a suburb of Danzig. Her family came from Tomaszów Mazowiecki, a small town near Lodz, Poland, and returned there as soon as the war broke out. Friedman is among the youngest possible to survive the Nazi Holocaust, and one of the few Jewish children to have lived through the nightmare ordeals of Auschwitz, She was one of 5,000 Jewish children living in Tomaszow Mazowiecki before World War II, and at the end of the war, one of only five children from that town that survived. More than 150 members of Friedman’s family were murdered. After spending several years in a German sanatorium for tuberculosis and DP camps, Friedman and her parents arrived in the US when she was 12 years old. They lived in Brooklyn where she met and married her husband of 60 years, Maier Friedman (recently deceased). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Brooklyn Coller and a Master of Arts in Black literature from City College of New York. Together they immigrated to Israel and lived there for over 10 years where she taught at the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. After returning to the US, she earned her Master of Arts in social work from Rutgers University and became the Director of Jewish Family Service of Somerset and Warren Counties for over 20 years. Friedman has 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Friedman continues to share her story with students and audiences at schools, colleges, and places of worship all over the country.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 - Opening
00:41- Life before Concentration Camp
01:47 - Entering First Concentration Camp
02:40 - Entering Auschwitz
09:32 - Standard of Living in Auschwitz
12:45 - Enduring Starvation
14:47 - Close Calls
16:03 - Being Taken to the Crematorium
18:22 - Tova’s Mother Finds Her
26:02 - Importance of Storytelling
27:23 - Passing Down Stories and Lessons to Children
30:22 - The Importance of Family

Tova Friedman, Holocaust Survivor
Interviewed By: Noah Remnick
Interview Date: July 26, 2023

© Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

#TovaFriedman #lifestories

[Jasmine-eztd]

She is an incredible woman, what an honor to get to listen to her.

[barbmac]

I am reading daughter of Auschwitz. It is extremely difficult to read. When I was growing up. We were taught about the holocaust. We saw movies about the liberation. It is happening again. How have we forgotten. This is no longer taught in school. We must not forget Prayers for Israel 🇮🇱

[mariapadilla]

Bless you Tova, and all who has survived such atrocities...

[nat]

The younger generations should watch all of these videos to truly understand how precious life is. How to be grateful for everything we have. This women is as strong as they come!

[ryancantu]

I'm so happy she's still around and giving interviews. I saw her testimony from the early 90s and recognized that voice and face immediately❤

[louiseju]

Tova's mother is my role model as a mother. I hope I will guide my children towards survival in any way.

What an incredible women. Thank you for sharing your story.

[briansmidt]

The most important thing to remember that human nature has not changed since 1934. Her story is compelling on so many ways. We DO live through the context of history and the stories. Sad to think that soon we will not have the survivors of that time. Thanks for your time and energy to remind us to be careful.

[steveherrmann]

An incredible lady! Brave, tough and smart. Still CAN'T believe that people could be so horrible! Never forget!!!!

[darrellgritten]

Tova, you are a remarkable woman. You are a great example for me and others. I am glad that you survived, excelled, and have a wonderful family. I am praying for your comfort, good health and peace.

[magdalenacybulska]

My nana and papa both were in one of the working camps in Germany, nana never spoke about the traumas she went through, memories were too painful. Massive respect to all the survivors- keep talking, it did happen! Keep telling your story, keep passing down the history 💕 Thank you 🙏🏻

[jenna]

I have just finished The Daughter of Auschwitz. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story, for also continuing to be the voice of all those innocent people who no longer have that privilege. Your parents instincts to help you survive broke my heart.

[elizabethgrant]

Tova is an incredible human I feel for her but I praise her parents for teaching her about what was happening around her. She's a hero and more people need to hear her story!

[zanecimino]

I just watched One Life and they mentioned my great grandfathers name. I find it incredibly satisfying to be a Jew with a (goofy) German Shepherd ❤️

[greigallan]

Just finished Tova's book The Daughter Of Auschwitz. An excellent read. She, like many others who survived the Holocaust, are inspirational, strong, impressive people. Post-war generations don't know they're born yet they'll complain about the smallest thing.

[MeiDei]

I would give anything to meet this amazing survivor. I've watched all of her videos, heard all of her testimonies. Her ability to remember all of those details just astounds me. Thank you Mrs. Friedman for the constant reminder that this should never happen again!

[jennymcgowin]

This is a very, very special lady. I have great admiration and love for her. ❤🙏🏼✝️

[Ryansmith-zlnn]

I watch every video Tova is speaking she is an AMAZING person & I love to hear her story.

[SheGeek]

What a truly wonderful person, not just because of the horrendous things she went through and thrived afterwards but also because of her energy, wisdom and kindness. Keep on feeding the good side

[candygirl]

Beautiful and inspiring lady x❤ A true survivor, god bless her ❤