Despite the looming threat of death, David and Zippi held onto hope. They made plans to escape together, to find a way out of the camp and start a new life. But as fate would have it, they were separated during a selection process, and David never saw Zippi again.
After the war, David moved to the United States, where he eventually settled down, got married, and had children. But he never forgot about Zippi. She remained a memory, a symbol of the love and hope that had blossomed in the darkest of places.
It wasn’t until 2018, when David was in his 90s, that he finally found out what had happened to Zippi. Through a series of events and coincidences, he was reunited with her, now in her 90s as well, on her deathbed. They held hands, tears in their eyes, as they remembered the love they had shared so many years ago in Auschwitz.
Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the power of love in the face of unimaginable horror. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope, still light to be found. David and Zippi’s love survived Auschwitz, and it continues to inspire all who hear their story.
As Blankfeld writes in her book, “Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story,” “Their love was a beacon of light in the darkness, a reminder that even in the worst of times, love can still flourish, still endure.”
David and Zippi survived much longer than most prisoners but they felt the end was near.
They promised to meet up in Warsaw once the war was over, just in case they made it out.
Lost Time and Reuniting
David was sent to Dachau concentration camp where he was put on a death march. He saw a hand shovel, used it to knock out a Nazi guard, and ran to hide in a barn. The next day, the Americans liberated him.
He started working for the Army and was determined to go to America to sing opera. The dream of meeting Zippi in Warsaw, who also evaded a death march, faded away. Still, they had near encounters, as Zippi was placed in Feldafing, the first all-Jewish displaced persons camp, and David was delivering supplies to the camp.
Zippi ended up marrying a man she met at the camp and settled in New York. She would talk about her experience with historians over the years but never mentioned David. David also married and had four children and six grandchildren. Sporadically, he tried to make contact with Zippi, but it wasn’t until she was on her deathbed that they reunited.
He drove from Levittown, Pennsylvania, where he lived and worked as a cantor, to Manhattan, to see her. They talked for two hours, and even though Zippi was going blind and deaf and suffering from illness, she lit up when she saw David. He finally had the chance to ask her: Did you save me?
“I saved you five times from bad shipment,” she told him, including removing his name from the crematorium list.
Then, she told him, “I was waiting for you.” She had gone to Warsaw to see David, but he never came. She told him she loved him; he told her the same. He sang a song, a Hungarian tune she had taught to him in Auschwitz, and held her hand. Then, the meeting ended.
She died at age 100 in 2018, and David died in 2021 at the age of 94.
Blankfeld has a message of hope for readers. “David and Zippi’s story is also a lesson in human resilience and optimism,” she said. “Even in the midst of terror, we have the capability to find love, to develop friendships, and to look for the best in the world. We hold the power to create art, to express love and kindness. It’s important to remain optimistic about the future and never give up hope.”