Carpati Photos of Zev Godinger | Holocaust survivor stories and testimonies

Zev Godinger of Carpati 50 miles 50 years — Zev Godinger

Here Zev is returning to his childhood birthplace with a Torah. It is the first day of Passover, 1995, exactly 50 years TO THE DAY after Zev’s family and he were taken from their homes by Nazi collaborators and put into the camps.

Copyright 1996. All rights reserved.

Zev Godinger carries a Torah that we brought from Los Angeles to his birthplace, Vinogradov, he stands in the foreground with a large statue to his right in a black and white photo — Zev Godinger carries a Torah that we brought from Los Angeles to his birthplace, Vinogradov

Zev carries a Torah that we brought from Los Angeles to his birthplace, Vinogradov, a place in which he had not had an aliyah (been called up to pray in front of the Torah) in over 50 years.

In the foggy early morning in Vinogradov’s town center, Zev stands next to a statue of Lenin. He smiles and says, “Lenin was a Jew. That’s what they say.”

Copyright 1996. All rights reserved.

A young Zev Godinger selling Ice Cream in Beregovo, he wears a white food service hat and is leaning on his mobile ice cream cart in a black and white photo — A young Zev Godinger selling Ice Cream in Beregovo

Zev selling Ice Cream in Beregovo. Everyone loves the ice cream man. According to those we interviewed, Zev even came out to sell ice cream in the rain. The only difference was he brought out an umbrella to keep dry. The children all loved Zev because he would allow them to have ice cream even if they had no money–as long as they promised to bring the money the next day. The word on the cart translates to “Ice Cream.”

Romani musicians meet Zev Godinger in Carpati, 4 musicians standing on a dirt road leading to a small bridge underneath trees. — Romani musicians meet Zev Godinger in Carpati

These are the Rom, or a less acceptable word, the Gypsies. Zev grew up with Rom in his childhood backyard, and today he still counts Rom among his friends. In Carpati you will see Zev enjoying celebrations with Rom, watching as they play music, dance, and explain their relationship to the Jews both before WWII and today. Zev was put into Auschwitz with the Rom; importantly, he is a witness to the Nazis’ incarceration of these people.

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