Alice Lok

Alice grew up in a Jewish family in Sarvar, Hungary, near the Austrian border. She had two younger brothers and an older sister. Her father worked for the family's carpet weaving and import/export business and was often away, traveling to their Budapest office. Alice's grandfather was a community leader and president of one of Sarvar's synagogues.

1933-39: Alice had a very special relationship with her grandfather. She admired him. People knew that they could always come to him for help of any kind. He often invited Jewish orphans to their home for meals. Every Sabbath their home was open to guests who came to study holy texts together. Alice loved to listen to the wonderful stories that her grandfather told, and he asked her to be his scribe and write those stories down.

1940-44: In April 1944, when Alice was 15 years old, the Germans invaded Sarvar and a ghetto was set up. Two months later, she was deported to Auschwitz with her mother, sister, and brothers. On arrival she was sent to a camp with children aged 15 and under. Alice searched all over for her sister Edith, and when she located her she sent a message. Miraculously, Edith switched places with someone in Alice's camp. Every Friday night, the Sabbath, Alice and her sister would pray where they could assemble secretly--the latrine. Other children joined them for these prayers.

Two days after liberation, Alice's sister was taken to a Red Cross Hospital. Alice never saw her again. After the war, Alice emigrated to the United States and became an artist.