Ida Lewin

Date of Birth
August 28, 1923

Place of Origin
Ida was born in 1923 in Smorgon, Poland. Originally named Ekta, she grew up
in a traditional Jewish family where Yiddish was spoken at home.

Family
Ida was the youngest of four children, with one older brother and two older
sisters. Her family lived on a large farm with crops, chickens, cows, and horses.
Her father was deeply religious, and the family observed all Jewish holidays. Ida
lost her mother at age six and her father at age twelve, after which she went to
live with her sisters.

Early Life
Ida attended a Jewish school in a nearby town, studying both Polish and
Hebrew subjects. Her childhood included strong religious traditions, education,
and a connection to family life on the farm. Despite early loss, she remained
closely tied to her siblings and community.

Survivor’s Journey
In 1939, Ida’s region came under Soviet control, led by Joseph Stalin.
Although conditions were difficult, she continued her education. In 1941, Ida
was separated from her family, and sent to a ghetto with all of the Jews in
her community. From there, she was sent by train to a forced labor camp
in Finland. Despite the brutality, she recalls a few acts of rare kindness and
humanity from Germans in charge of the camps, giving the young girls extra
food and once protecting her from harm from a Nazi. After working in two
different forced labor camps in Finland, she was transferred to Bergen-Belsen
concentration camp in 1944, where she worked in an ammunition factory
making ammunition for the German Army. She suffered from starvation and
disease, including typhus.

Liberation Details
On April 15, 1945, Bergen-Belsen was liberated by the British Army. The camp
conditions were catastrophic, with thousands dead and many more critically
ill. Ida was among the survivors suffering from severe malnutrition and illness.
After liberation, many survivors, including Ida, struggled to recover physically,
as their bodies could not tolerate regular food after prolonged starvation. Etka
needed to become a new person, so she changed her English name to Ida
(keeping Etka as her Hebrew name), and changed her birthdate to two years
later – reclaiming two of the four years the Nazis stole from her.

Post-War Journey
Following liberation, Bergen-Belsen became a Displaced Persons camp. Ida
was reunited with her sister Miriam but learned that her brother, another sister,
and many relatives had been killed. Ida was transferred to Sweden where she
spent ten weeks recovering in a hospital. During this time she learned Swedish,
adding to the many languages she already spoke. She met her husband, Hans,
in the Swedish refugee camp and gave birth to their first child here. In 1954,
Ida and her husband immigrated to New York, settling in The Bronx and later
Yonkers. She learned English alongside her daughter and went on to raise three
children. Ida became involved in mentoring school children and
remains active in her community.

Legacy
Ida built a life centered on family, resilience and community. She has lived in
Yonkers for over four decades, surrounded by family photographs and Judaica.
Ida has three children, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
Tragically, in 2021 she lost her daughter Riva.

Words of Wisdom
Ida believes deeply in the importance of education and the responsibility to
build a better world. Having witnessed the devastation of war, she advocates
for peace, kindness, and understanding. She encourages people to treat others
equally, without regard to race, religion, or background, and to embrace life with
joy- through music, connection, and compassion.