Holocaust survivor dies at 101 as SJM leads tributes
Sydney Jewish Museum pays tribute to survivor known as ‘Young Sam’, a dedicated volunteer and witness.
The Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) – and the broader NSW Jewish community – are mourning the passing of 101-year-old Holocaust survivor Sam Young, whose funeral was on April 10.
A tribute message from the SJM stated, “Sam was a dedicated and generous library volunteer for over 20 years at the museum, where he assisted with translating Polish book title information for cataloguing.
“He spoke to individual visitors in the library about his Holocaust experiences and helped them with their research.
“Affectionately known as ‘Young Sam’ because of his boundless energy and good cheer, several of the SJM team were proud to celebrate his 100th birthday with his family last year.”
Young was born on November 7, 1925 in Lodz, Poland.
He faced many hardships working as a courier, bravely smuggling goods into the Lodz ghetto, enduring beatings, insufferable work, and hunger.
When the ghetto was liquidated, he was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to a sub-camp of it called Kaufering, and then Landshut.
During those extremely difficult years, he lost track of his age and date of birth, such was the distress he was experiencing.
Liberation eventually came along a railway line in Bavaria, Germany.
He and his brother Steve survived the war, but Young estimated that they’d lost about 100 relatives in the Holocaust.
After liberation, he lived in displaced persons camps, where he met his wife for more than 50 years, Blanche Nisenbaum, who had lost most of her family.
They made their way to Paris, before immigrating to Australia in 1950, starting a business, and having two children, Morri (deceased) and Rita.
Blance passed away in 2003.
The SJM statement concluded with “Sam will be remembered fondly.
“We send our condolences to his partner Margot Tischmann, daughter Rita Balkin, his grandchildren, and their extended family.”
Comments of tribute on SJM’s Facebook post dedicated to Young included Judy Knight commenting, “I’d spoken with Sam a couple of times when we took school students to visit the museum – in sadness and in joy, thank you for sharing your life, and keeping history alive”.
Sandy Gutman, on behalf of her family, wrote, “Rita, I knew your dad for most of my life – I constantly admired his unshakeable koyach [strength]. He will be greatly missed”.