Kestenberg Archive

BW was born in a small town in Romania, near Czernowitz, in 1935. He was the first child of a middle class family. His father owned a store in the town. When BW was five years old, BW and his family hid in their attic while their house was ransacked. In 1940, the family was taken by cattle cars on a two day journey to Transnistria, where they first lived in the Moldovenesc ghetto. Later they were taken to the small town of Kopaigorad, where they lived in warehouse-like buildings. BW was together with his extended family in Kopaigorad. After his father and younger sister died in 1942, BW's mother sent him to an orphanage, hearing that life was better there. BW spent 7-8 months in the orphanage. In 1944 the guards all left and the prisoners simply made their own way home. BW and his mother returned to his grandparents' farm but soon were forced to leave by communists, who divided up the property. They lived in Bucharest and later Slatina until leaving for Israel in 1951. In Israel, BW made a total break with his previous life. He served in the army and lived on a kibbutz. Living in Israel gave him a sense of pride. Later BW and his mother relocated to the USA. BW married and has two daughters. He worked in Jewish education for 22 years but recently changed his career, becoming an insurance salesman. He seldom talks about his past. BW would like to return to Israel one day.