Passover Haggadah included in a diary written in Gabersdorf Labor Camp

The diary that Regina Honigman wrote in Gabersdorf labor camp that includes comments wishes and hopes added by her fellow prisoners

“Avadim Hayinu: We were slaves in Egypt once and now in Gabersdorf again. In history we were at your mercy not to swallow us. (ie the parting of the sea). We cannot save ourselves from God’s decree but from there we went into the free world onto Canaan. … where flowers and freedom bloom in the Promised Land. The triumphal day will come to Gabersdorf. The gates will open and out will run the sad, lonely, exhausted mob, Chevra”
[p.49 of the diary]

The holiday of Passover, that has long been a symbol of hope and freedom from oppression, was particularly meaningful in Gabersdorf Labor Camp in the Sudetenland. A group of young women were among those who were deported from their homes to perform slave labor in the camp. One of these women, Regina Honigman, kept a diary during her enslavement and between its pages is an adapted version of the Passover Haggadah as well as autographed comments and poems of those who worked alongside her.

Regina Honigman was born on the 12th of December 1918 in Zawierce, Poland. Soon after the Nazi occupation, each Jewish family in Zawierce was forced to send one family member for forced labor to Gabersdorf Camp. Thus, Regina found herself working from morning till night with other women in a factory that manufactured linen threads.

Regina Honigman, after liberation, 1947

Regina’s diary/autograph book tells much about the day to day lives of the women, and the texts, written with wry humor by Regina and her friends, say much about the resilient spirit of these young women and the contribution of their camaraderie in enabling them to face adversity.

“[…] At last, the desired moment comes. We go to bed and our eye close from exhaustion … But we, who dream of freedom, cannot sleep. …a cry breaks from our imprisoned hearts and many sighs drown in tears. … The moon smiles, the trees rustle- and a song of freedom comes from our hearts. We do not lose courage because we rebel in our hearts. We will achieve a better tomorrow in Eretz Israel.
Amen!!! “
[p. 54 of the diary]

Yad Vashem seeks your help to expand our research of Regina Honigman’s diary:

Regina Honigman’s diary includes names of many of the young women who were with her in Gabersdorf Camp. Finding some of these women or their descendants will facilitate our research regarding this author and enable us to add to our knowledge of these courageous women, their backgrounds and the lives they built when they were released from slavery to freedom.

Read more : Passover Haggadah included in a diary written in Gabersdorf Labor Camp

Opening page of the diary On the right: “Property of!! Regina Honigman. This should always remind me of the “gehenem” which is the lager. Arbeitslager Wolta, Post Gabersdorf’ Kreis Tratenau, Sudetengau. 15 April 1942. On the left: Regina has written details of her family’s fate

Hela Cymbler,
Behirah Hocherman,
Regina Perlgricht,
ManiaPariser,
R.Kleinfeldowna,
Helga Blumenfeld,
Mania Goldszmidt,
Cyla Friedman,
Hanny Goldfaden,
Guta S,
Mici Spilman,
Pola Szapiro,
Fela Niciarz,
Estera Holand,
Gienia Wajnglik(owna),
Irka Wolnerman,
Bronislawa Zagorska,

Page 48 of Regina Honigman’s diary: The “Order” of the Passover Seder according to the prisoners of Gabersdorf labor camp

Rozia Sztirlberg,
Hania Tombak(owna),
Marie Blusztajn,
Rozia Reich,
Ruth Frichler,
Rozia Berliner,
Adela Birenstok,
Lola Schor[u?],
Sala Grossman,
Jacka Butnik,
Lotti Finger,
Bela Kuchman[_w],
Gusta Feiler,
Maryla Lollman,
Zosia Joachimowicz,
Jochke Wasserberger,
Genia[?] Lewkowicz,
Regina Manesbaum,
Edzia Wislicka,
Pola Golenr[?],
Henia Haliciewicz,
Ruzia Merik,
Karola Gar_iowna,
Jadzia Sztainfeld,
Hanka Apelbaum,
Rusia Ajnveder.

If you are able to contribute information regarding any of the above mentioned individuals or regarding Gabersdorf Camp in general, please contact the artifacts collection of Yad Vashem’s Museum by phone: 972-2-6443598 or by email: museum.artifacts@yadvashem.org.il

Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection,
Donated by Fay (Lustigman) Eichenbaum and Esther (Lustigman) Gordon, Melbourne, Australia