Raising Good Humans My 101-Year-Old Grandfather, Papa Jack, Shares His Holocaust Survival Story with us
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Sep 12, 2025 In this heart-touching conversation, Jack Waxow, a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor from Poland, shares his harrowing journey of survival and immense love. He reflects on his cherished childhood memories, the shattering rise of anti-Semitism, and the realities of life in ghettos and camps. Jack's story is a profound blend of loss, courage, and hope, emphasizing the importance of memory and resilience. As he recounts acts of kindness amidst despair, he urges the necessity of preserving these stories to prevent history's darkest chapters from repeating.
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Childhood Before The War
- Jack Waxow describes a joyful childhood in Jedlinsk with friends, soccer, and large family Shabbat dinners.
- He contrasts that life with rising antisemitism beginning around 1937 that made everyday life dangerous.
Public Antisemitism Escalates
- Jack recounts loudspeakers playing Hitler and escalating street violence, glass breaking and stone-throwing at synagogues.
- He says antisemitism grew so severe that Jews risked beatings or stabbing when walking at night.
Hostage, School Bans, And Ghetto Life
- After German occupation in September 1939 Jack was taken as a hostage and forced to repeat slogans overnight before being released.
- Jews were banned from schools and later confined to overcrowded ghettos with yellow stars and strict curfews.