This section features the true experiences of Holocaust Survivors we see and visit today. This is to fulfill their requests,
“Remember us! Tell others of our experiences so we are not forgotten!”
(Caution: True accounts, as related by the Survivor, may be difficult to read)
~ Arkady ~
Arkady was 12 years old when he was in the Ghetto. His whole family was killed leaving him an orphan. Another mother, who already had eight children of her own to care for, took him in. She raised him as her own and her children are like his brothers. The family was Russian Orthodox . He attended a congregation with them for years in their hometown.
A friend of Arkady for 40 years has been praying for him all this time. His friend lived in Bellarusia and was put in prison for five years for being a Christian. The Jewish Believers demonstrated against the government for him and spread flowers all over the road outside the prison. He remembers the police car running over the flowers. He has been corresponding with his friend for years, staying in constant contact with him. He tried sending him some money to help him but it gets stolen.
Arkady’s foster mother died almost ten years ago but he continues to send money for food, as he is able, to assist the rest of the family in whatever way he can. Arkady cries when he talks about the family that took him in. He loves them very much and misses them.
In 2002 Arkady had a stroke and had trouble speaking at all and a little trouble walking. He lost his memory of Hebrew; he used to speak it but can only understand a little now. He was too weak to go out in 2004 when we met him. His wife, Fiana, speaks Hebrew very well.
We offered to pray for Arkady’s health. Since he was used to that with his foster family he was glad for it. After his stroke there had been no improvement for 18 months. After we asked HaShem to heal him, he was walking all over town within six months.
Arkady and Fiana made Aliyah to Israel in 1990. They have two sons, one in Kosovo and one in Israel. Both of them love having people write to them and enjoy visiting.
