Jewish Survivor Esther Gever Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation

[@djpanda255]

Esther Gever - what a classy, gentle, beautiful woman. The world doesn't create these people anymore. Our finest, bravest generation is passing away. We must pass on their amazing testimonies of survival to our children. Thank you to the survivors for sharing, and the Shoah Foundation for recording these histories.

[@MrPaultopp]

Even though the interviewers are awful....the BBC should have done this ....sorry

[@susanmckenna4506]

She is absolutely beautiful, classy, amazingly courageous, classy and the list goes on. Words don’t give justice. God bless

[@zehraoksoy1137]

The Shoah Foundation should reconsider some of the interviewers. They need to edit our comments.The people who are conducting the interviews could and should be more compassionate,warm-hearted, patient and understanding of the survivors. This is not acceptable. Esther is such a dignified and lovely lady. My heart goes out for her.

[@Ladybird1967]

I agree, this was absolutely wretched on the interviewer’s part. I felt so bad for Esther.

[@Mamalapp]

Despite the remarkably rude interviewer, Esther was able to rise above it and gave a moving and heart wrenching account of her experiences as a child who survived the Holocaust.

[@Pommy1957]

What a beautiful lady, both inside & out. A very moving account of her experiences.

[@hopeforthefuture8680]

I do agree with you but I also see how gracious Esther is and never loses her cool. She has endured so much. I’m certain it comes from a deep place in her soul that has taught her things the rest of us will never know. How kind and gracious and patient and lovely she is. She has patient endurance. Incredible fortitude.

[@claireamphlett-thomas7057]

What an eloquent lady. Insufferable hardship. The interviewer was impatient and blunt.

[@freespeechforall1069]

Reliving the horrors with every spoken word takes great courage, thank you for bringing into the light this testimony. Appreciated.

[@olgakolarik9081]

Another heartbreaking story. This is such an important project, I have so much respect for all the survivors who agreed to tell their harrowing stories and for everybody involved in this project. These people had the foresight to ensure that these stories are told and never forgotten.

[@jesusheart977]

I agree👍 so grateful🙏❤️ God bless everyone who participated, shared and those who made it possible.

[@odeb7924]

I agree with all the comments about this interviewer, she sounds like a prosecuting attorney.

[@MrPaultopp]

The kindest words from the interviewer was thank you at the end .......boy oh boy

[@danghi-zl2df]

May God bless this woman, her words ring a bell in my soul.

[@bobbidazzler1343]

What a beautiful, elegant well spoken lady. X

[@loujost]

What an amazing woman, I could have listened to her for many more hours. However, the interviewer was terrible, as many here have mentioned. A few commenters have said the interviewer was not rude. But the interviewer often cut her off in mid-sentence, asking for some trivial detail....A good interviewer would have let the person talk and then ask for details during a lull. This woman was so eloquent and insightful and descriptive, yet the interviewer clipped her wings time after time. Also bad editing and low sound level, which sadly is also typical for this foundation's work. I don't understand how such priceless testimony can be treated so disrespectfully.

[@stevesebaoun6555]

I couldn’t agree more, most of those interviewers were poorly trained and clearly lacked empathy

[@jesusheart977]

Yes unfortunately, BUT I am still grateful that we got their testimonies🙏❤️ maybe they didn’t have enough resources to employ much more experienced interviewers…? Who knows, but it’s still great that they organized and made these recordings and documenting possible🙏🙏🙏

[@kikcta]

this is one of the most dramatic testimonies I have seen.it is terrible what this courageous woman had to go through

[@henitawhiwhirangi7515]

Jerry German What a lunatic you are

[@MrPaultopp]

And then she met this horrendous interviewer....

[@odeb7924]

She is so gentle, and I can't believe she said she's going on 67?!

[@LoveDemi.XO_]

Was thinking same thing. Does not look her age. Beautiful lady

[@hanta7243]

What a beautiful lady and heart wrenching story...

[@Pinayukoz4108]

Oh what a brave woman ❤️ trying to make her pain lighter - but deep inside so bruised . May God give you all the peace in your heart, God bless you 💓

[@linrogers4326]

A very beautiful lady, inside and out. What strength of character she has. God bless.

[@8213apice]

They don't need interviewers. Just let her speak in front of a camera

[@stevesebaoun6555]

I agree

[@renataloren2384]

What a beautiful lady and amazing story. My heart goes out to all who suffered in the Holocaust, those who perished and those who survived. Lest we not ever forget.❤️ 😘❤️😘

[@MrPaultopp]

Then she was unfortunately given this horrendous interviewer......

[@marymarmande8446]

@@MrPaultopp exactly keeps cutting her off wow sad

[@loonylinda]

PLEASE USC foundation get some decent interviewers..some of the interviews ive seen have made my blood boil with the abrupt impatient and interrupting interviewers..where is the compassion and patience when listening to their heart rending stories. How are people supposed to remember some of the unimportant details that the interviewers ask?..these victims were in shock and terror...of course their memories are bitty....God bless the poor people who were treated so dreadfully. Thankyou for going through all the pain of remembering so that we will never forget

[@MrPaultopp]

Worst I’ve listened to for a long time

[@lidiyapriyadarsinik2815]

@@MrPaultopp there are worse

[@lidiyapriyadarsinik2815]

Loonylinda agree with you 100%

[@kellyguyman9157]

Interviewer was terribly rude. Felt like she wasn't listening half the time.

[@Ladybird1967]

I agree, this interviewer was like a sociopathic robot with an attitude.

[@LauraSnead]

She gives a very moving testimony. The interviewer on the other hand, sounds harsh and cold.

[@MrPaultopp]

Horrendous

[@lapsang6672]

Bless you for your bravery in sharing this harrowing story. You are a beautiful soul.

[@BlessedFloridaMom]

What a beautiful - elegant woman who speaks to the manners and respect of the culture......

[@stardustalways]

The person who interviewed this lovely lady has no compassion or kindness. When Esther cries the interviewer ignores her pain and keeps pumping her for more information. I have watched other interviews and the other interviewers are just as bad! Surely the Shoah Foundation could afford interviewers with more professional courtesy and human warmth!

[@loonylinda]

I TOTALLY AGREE

[@christheguitar2]

Yes she seems very cold

[@manueladarazsdi9675]

Wow 67... She looks great!

[@snowgurl21]

Zoltan Van Der Plank that’s bizarre maybe she suffered so Much too and is now numb.

[@TheAnthoula14]

Scuba Gal For whatever reason, it seems the Shoah foundation seems to have asked the interviewers at the time to conduct them in this sort of weird stif, direct way - they all seem to be similar in style to one degree or another . I get the impression they were worried about the survivors getting off track and not getting their stories out completely.

[@faithdavis4453]

Her eyes are so lovely.

[@gilahirsh9416]

Thank you for your testimony. Rashi told me to watch this. I did. I found you to be the most elegant authentic beautiful eshet chayil. As an Israeli American I lived 40 years in Vienna, and now we live in Israel . You are the finest flower from that culture. May you be granted long life and go from strength to strength.

[@maddieferrero4116]

Omg this is the coldest and most rude interviewer I’ve seen so far. Not one ounce of compassion that “and....?” Just makes me angry.

[@cetteheurebleue]

An abrupt person conducting an interview with less patience, perhaps, but despite this, we are privileged to hear patient and lovely Esther who survived to tell us what happened. Esther relates to us all the crime and injustice well. יום העצמאות‎‎ עם ישראל חי

[@MrPaultopp]

Beautiful testimony.........terrible interviewer unfortunately

[@5dkauhanespiritualarts775]

Terrible interviewer...beautiful lady, so much courage.

[@MrPaultopp]

Awful

[@maddieferrero4116]

How about “please continue”?

[@stevesebaoun6555]

Yes you right

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

Or, "I'm sorry, we have to stop for another tape".

[@davidrutter9786]

Esther Gever is another gracious, articulate lady who told her story, at times, with such emotion & many tears relaying her stories in such detail. An ordeal you don't hear trying to survive in the USSR. Amazing how a little girl can become so mature so quickly to survive not just for herself but her family. Like all survivors to live a normal life amazes me, she wasn't in a camp, but she survived terrible circumstances. Such a compelling story. I admire all of these survivors. Never forget. Baruch Hashem.

[@lidiyapriyadarsinik2815]

I love her granddaughter's lines in the end. The interviewer should not be allowed anywhere near Holocaust survivors. She lacks compassion and respect.

[@smudgeeee6259]

She's beautiful

[@almontepaolilli7531]

Very lovely and cultured lady. So sorry that she had to experience hardships in Europe at the times.

[@kristiwerling4574]

Wow! What an amazing story of overcoming a horrible situation! Praise God she lived to tell us all about it!

[@amhabibs]

Omg the lady who is doing the interview is extremely cold and mean. Who allowed her to do this job which she did not qualify for? Such a loving lady telling stories of her life and the interviewer doesn’t care what so ever about any of it.

[@betsysloan4619]

I agree!

[@JohnnyScotSurf]

I agree also. This interviewer (using the term very loosely) is horrid & shows no professionalism at all. Interrupting.. rude.. no compassion .. clumsy & totally unsuited to this highly sensitive area. Yes, there is a job to be done here .. but you don’t hand a jeweller a mallet. Let alone give the job of a jeweller to a demolition engineer. Dreadful interviewer. Such a beautiful, warm and gentle survivor. Her story is astonishing. God Bless her.

[@LisaRichards_123]

The interviewer is not cold, or mean. The purpose of these interviews is not for pity, or therapy for survivors, it is to document the stories. As if one is writing a book, to document history. So many efforts have been made to erase and silence Jewish history. With all of the prejudice and hatred in countries today, still, even America, it is important to document the stories.

[@tracystoutbehunin9303]

Lisa, I disagree. Just because someone is documenting history does not mean they have to be cold and curt. This woman is in the middle of breaking down many times, and the interviewer will bluntly interrupt her which breaks the mood of this poor woman, yes some questions are important if they are the right ones. But this interviewer like some of the others seem to be oblivious to the fact that these poor people were in such shock and survival mode that they’re not going to retain some of the details. A good interview would still demonstrate respect, and sensitivity, and mostly make it completely comfortable for these victims to share their tragic stories.

[@igh4632]

A lovely and warm spirit despite her experiences!

[@gilahirsh9416]

Such grace

[@jayelliott564]

Such a beautiful woman who has experienced such atrocities. Unbelievable that people could be so evil.

[@Lauricella71]

Her name, Esther suites her quite well. She is like Esther in the Bible. Lovely inside an outside. What an incredible Women!

[@mariooliveirafilho28]

THE INTERVIEWR SOUNDS IN FACT HARSH AND COLD!

[@MsLenny32]

Wow so much suffering she went through. I am so happy she has joy in her heart ♥️. may The Lord blessed her & family.

[@dixjam2258]

It is my fourth time watching this, since stumbling on it by accident. This woman in particular is a gem, so dignified and decent, combined with great charm and beauty, plus fantastic story-telling ability. But what striked me the most is that after all she has been through during the Holocaust, there isn't a single noticeable hint of hate or resentment in her towards anybody, just sadness and grief but without being pathetic at all. What a remarkable person, God bless her.

[@crochethappy3786]

This is probably the 15th interview I am watching. I do notice a similarity among the ones who made it out. They were very "movie star quality" beautiful with beautiful light eyes and light hair and incredible bone structure....and not the typical semitic features (as a Jew I mean no harm in this). I now think if I were there I would be sentenced to death with dark eyes, black hair, eyes close together and some jewish features. They were fortunate in that the German Nazis saw features in them that were more Aryan and desirable. They were never "chosen". I knew a survivor who had ice blue eyes, blonde hair and she was a Jew from German and did not look Jewish at all. She was at 14 able to coax a guard to let her mother and her out a back door to run away from the camp. I knew her in her 70's to "80's and when she looked at you her eyes were the most piercing to this day I have ever seen.

[@gs-xx8uv]

Beautiful woman, inside as well as outside.

[@148ESTHER]

where did they find those interviewers. They are talentless, emotionless, cold and frankly out of order. I have seen many of those testimonies and not one interviewer was warm, nice and bearable. I understand they might be volunteer, but I am sure they could have found better ones

[@LisaRichards_123]

Her daughter is stunningly, gorgeous, by the way. She looks like a model. A horrific story, what a strong survivor.

[@giselagetz4811]

The lady being interviewed is very attractive, soft spoken and at times one can hear the pain in her voice when she recalls the past. The interviewer at times was harsh and not too bright. Not fit to do gathering of information from people who had to endure such a horrible life .

[@isobelmetcalfe8479]

This is a very moving testimony but, with all respect to the Jewish people who suffered so much, I find most of the recordings from USC Shoah Foundation very faint and of poor sound quality.

[@adambrocklehurst4211]

Just a reminder that these interviews were not created for your entertainment. They were created as historical documents, recording purely the persons experience. This is why the interviewer remains dispassionate, this is why the interviewee is asked to repeat names and dates, or give names and dates. These interviews are not therapy, and its not the place of the interviewer to ask or act in a way that will influence the response, they are doing a job.

[@Lauren-e1d]

dispassionate? You mean rude. This has nothing to do with requesting a repeat on names. She was abrupt and RUDE

[@2519-w6x]

I sincerely hope that lady no longer does these interviews. She is awful!

[@stevesebaoun6555]

Unfortunately she is not the only interviewer I have seen that is awful

[@MrPaultopp]

@@stevesebaoun6555 a lot are terrible BUT This is the worst ever , and I’ve listened to so many of these .....can’t believe he bluntness....heartless

[@johnsondiane1]

This interviewer is terrible. She is rude to this lady, expects her to remember details from when this lady was 9 years old., I’ve watched many of these interviews and this interviewer is terrible!

[@colleenillsley7759]

Beautiful, gracious woman who is articulate & gentle. (Unfortunately the interviewer is none of those things, in fact she is quite rude!) I pray that these atrocities will never, ever be repeated.🙏

[@Kid_Kootenay]

The minute this started I was counting the years backwards from 1997 thinking she must have been a infant just as I got the answer she said I'm 67 I was stunned she barely looks 40

[@snowgurl21]

Omg get better more compassionate, empathetic interviewers!!! This person is horrid, cold and callous!! This beautiful amazing woman is a saint to deal with this interviewer.

[@MichelleSchneidmann-no2gl]

What a beautiful person and her family 2

[@faithdavis4453]

She is literally being interrogated by this awful women. Disgraceful.

[@yvettelarson7285]

I just watched this tonite. For the love of everything, this interviewer was beyond awful. Rude , inconsiderate. I could go on. I don’t want to sink to her level. Many blessings for Esthers family

[@MrPaultopp]

For once in my life i am speechless.....the interviewer is hideous.......

[@jazura2]

Why are the interviewers so harsh and insensitive?

[@shawnaamit7103]

jazura2 yes I am thinking the same thing this particular interviewer was so hatch and callous I wanted to smack her!!

[@weasle62]

Thats the reason I looked at the comments, what a harsh, insensitive person the interviewer is!

[@stephenmaged5829]

She was clearly jealous of how beautiful this woman is.

[@debbiewilliams8727]

This interviewer was not doing a good job. She was abrupt, impatient and rude. The survivor was lovely and real and she persevered with her story despite this terrible interviewer.

[@valpurves45]

Lovely lady rude interviewer

[@kellyszanyi6147]

What the hell? Why is there someone building an addition on the house when this interview is taking place. Geez, give this heartrending story some respect

[@andrearonchetti7662]

Another interviewer who'd better learn a little more how to conduct such particular interview.

[@patriciabayham6679]

God Bless this Beautiful Woman she deserved a way better interviewer, someone with gentle softer voice to me the lady's voice is disrespectful to her.

[@autumnrain1390]

Beautiful smile and eyes.proper elegant lady.x

[@autumnrain1390]

Interviewer is rude and nasty x

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

How many survivors has USC interviewed to date? They are following a format, quit criticizing, I think the interviewers are volunteers. 67! Wow gorgeous gracious woman, it just amazes me how intact these women appear. Inside is another thing.

[@weasle62]

There is no excuse for how this interviewer conducted this interview, format or not a little compassion wouldnt go amiss

[@MrPaultopp]

She interrogated....that was not nice to hear .....I’m afraid you are out voted on this one .....

[@PSeitter]

Beautiful beautiful Lady, shame that the woman who made interview have no class

[@Spwilkey1]

Too bad all the banging in the background in the end

[@stevesebaoun6555]

Amazing beautiful lady and she expresses herself so well , the interviewer or the interrogator I should say on the other hand has no empathy at all and is not very bright

[@rhonda6791]

That beautiful lady started so many interesting topics but the interviewer kept cutting her off. Interviewer you’re not intelligent or interesting this sweet lady is, let her finish!! She’s crying and you’re interrupting. Shame on you!!

[@anneslow2751]

Unbelievable story❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kostastsirikolias7646]

beauty....nice....kind...noble......human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joziemolody3592]

A sweet lady. People tend to forget that 24-28 million Russians in WWII. Almost 5 times the number of Jews that were killed. It's amazing to me that any of the male refugees weren't taken into the army straight away given how many Russians already died fighting for their freedom. Conditions in Russia were terrible for everyone.

[@WildThings113]

This is the worst interview were I’ve ever heard ,, She should work as a jail warden....

[@elhombredeoro955]

Capo

[@Lauren-e1d]

This interviewer was absolutely disgraceful in her manner. She acts like she is interrogating a criminal. Thankfully this lovely and gracious interviewee persevered to give a moving and heartbreaking testimony.

[@Hundredacredaycare]

What a sweet woman

[@ladygagafans731165]

Amazing life....her whole life was a ripple effect that touched other lves

[@olgakolarik9081]

Jewish people seem so intelligent, peaceful and graceous, I'll never understand why they were persecuted and treated so badly. It's such a stain and shame on humankind.

[@SweetNSassy77]

The interviewer couldn’t find a better place to interview her without construction going on in the back! That’s ridiculous

[@sabreecarpenter4285]

I agree, all the hammering and drilling ? Seriously, couldn't they have gone into a quieter room. Also, the interviewer DID cut her off often.

[@benjaminscherzer8625]

The interviewer was terrible. How can she be soooo mean and unfriendly.

[@michelegiammatteo8477]

Once again the sound quality is very poor. One person is loud while the other is whispering. Can’t someone take these interviews and update the sound? PLEASE‼️

[@jengoff9120]

This interviewer is so unfeeling. Especially when Esther was sharing about running to her dad.

[@gislaineprado5398]

What's wrong with this interviewer?

[@MrPaultopp]

How much time have you got ??........the worst I’ve heard yet

[@megfan2z224]

What isn’t wrong with this interviewer??

[@malgorzatabrowarska994]

What a special woman. She just have that aurora around her. Now interviewer absolutely horrible. She was so rude.

[@Sad_Bumper_Sticker]

What pain, her father losing his full cognitive abilties after the German SS tortured, her Mother suffering with tuberculosis till her death. So her sister stayed in Poland with her father whose was different after the brain injury. She was so brave and in such pain, but was lucky that the trauma did not steal her Inner Light even after experiencing the worst of humankind.

[@EmmaGnillot]

Moving testemony

[@dixjam2258]

It just occurred to me, after watching a few of these, that the American (Jewish or not) interviewers are pretty much wrong for these interviews. These are basically European stories, at least the first part of the survivors life. I noticed some really dumb questions, both factually and emotionally. In one of the interviews, the interviewer asked a German Jew who lived in Germany how his life changed after the occupation. Nuff said. Also, "How did you feel?" is a very American question. In most cultures, sharing feelings is not so common, especially towards strangers, not to mention the really horrific personal events that these poor people are talking about.

[@betsysloan4619]

This interviewer is so rude to this lovely woman !

[@gonefishing167]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@cherylstaples1790]

Its too late now, most of these interviews were SO freaking disrespectful!! What the HELL was that noise????? Building a darn dam????

[@ednavita5143]

What a touching testimony. My heart moved with her words and cry. The interviewer is almost cruel. Why asking dates and names? Very rude and aggressive

[@mitchdevi6432]

Terrible interviewer AWEFUL should be fired!!

[@MrPaultopp]

Yes

[@WarrenAafedt]

beautiful woman..blrss her heart. that interviewer is either deaf or ignorant, man she asked the dumbiest questions

[@theresabraddock9310]

excruciating to listen to in more ways than one. she cries or has a crying voice for an hour and a half. I couldnt listen more. I think thats why the interviewer seemed unmoved. the surviver shed no tears. no red eyes so it was unnecessary to retell in that manner to get her point across of how horrible her experience was. the picture she describes from an innocent child's pov is suffering enough for us to bear the tears for her. I did. I cant imagine my child going through such horrors. some of these survivor children describe the most horrendous nightmarish scenes. describing her fathers change after a debilatating head injury was too much...my heart ached for her pain!

[@maydahorner8024]

This interviewer is so rude! Her voice is so hateful. If it were me I would have stopped talking and left.

[@LisaRichards_123]

It takes a special kind of sociopathic woman to steal a baby crib.

[@dleechristy]

The Western Ukrainian nationalists inside Poland or near the Polish border (1:26 in the video) welcomed the Nazi's, now statues go up for them in Ukraine after we engineered a coup in Kiev to bring Western Ukrainian political forces in control. Later in the war, they also aided the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Poles living in or near Lviv, including mixed families (if the surname Polish). The USA gave refuge to some perps and the CIA funded their organizations and publications post war in the name of the cold war... and then it continues... sickening stuff... That western area was TOXIC but postwar, we (USA) funded them because as ultra nationalistic fascists, they were anti-Soviet.

[@charliesinatra1079]

couldnt someone have told the workmen to take a break?

[@desireegarza6733]

I understand you god rest pity in your soul you didnt do nothing wring but was protect yourself

[@ratzyszimonowitz4143]

Interviewers are annoying and while well-intentioned, it diminishes the narrative to stilted facts when the whole is so much greater than its parts.