By Kayla Brogan
Edith's smile lines, framing her sky-colored eyes, reflect her beautiful and blessed life on a day when the sky is the most delicate shade of blue. Edith’s name means wealth or prosperity, yet her most prized possession was her ability to keep a simple life, despite being a Jewish girl born less than a decade before the start of World War II.
“I had wonderful parents. They protected me in all the ways a daughter can be protected, and my father saved our lives,” said Edith.
Edith Esther Rosenberg was born in a three-family home in Antwerp, Belgium, to Sarah and Israel. She had a brother; however, he died in an accident when she was young.
Edith described her father as a brilliant businessman who kept himself well-informed about the world through the family’s radio kept in their living room. She also explained that her mother taught her how to be a radiant woman, reflecting her Yiddish name “Hannah,” which means grace. “My mother always used to tell me, ‘Wherever you go, go with a smile, even though you may hate the people around you. When you go amongst people, you don’t know how they behave or who they are, but you do know yourself, and it doesn’t cost anything to be nice,’” said Edith.
Living in Belgium prior to the war as a young girl, Edith followed a habitual routine. She would wake up every morning, recite her morning prayer, and then proceed to go to school every day, accompanied by her parents. After school, Edith would come home and eat a meal with her parents. “I never eat a meal before saying a blessing,” said Edith. On Sundays, her mother would take her to her friend’s house, which had children her age.
She spoke Yiddish at home, recited prayers before meals, and went to synagogue on Shabbat, which is observed from a few minutes before the sun sets on Friday evening until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night, or an hour after sundown.
As World War II erupted when Edith turned eight, her father, a perceptive man and a man well-acquainted with the world, foresaw the looming threat of Nazi Germany. Acting with rare foresight, he swiftly devised a plan to protect his family before the invasion of Belgium.
In a race against time, just before the Nazi forces overran Belgium, Edith and her family embarked on a perilous journey to the border. They reached the English Channel, the narrow strip of water between Belgium and England, clinging to the hope of a safe passage.
Against all odds, fortune smiled upon them. With remarkable luck, the family secured a spot on a boat poised to navigate the Channel Tunnel, ferrying them straight to London. This timely escape not only preserved their lives but also marked the beginning of a new chapter amid a world plunged into chaos.
In London, Edith embodied her Yiddish name, Hannah, with grace and simple elegance. Everywhere she went, she carried herself with a refined movement, a gift nurtured by the love and care of her parents.
“In London, I took life as it came,” said Edith. Despite the challenge of not knowing a word of English, her transition was smoothed with a fortunate turn of events. Upon her arrival, Edith was promptly enrolled in school and would walk 20 minutes from her flat to the schoolhouse. Fortunately, during her time in Belgium, she picked up French. With a stroke of “good luck,” which seemed to be a common theme in her life, her teacher in London was also fluent in French, allowing Edith to fit right in and bridge the language gap with ease.
She also picked up English as the year progressed. As a young Jewish girl, she explained she never felt discriminated against during the war in London. She said, “There were two other girls who had similar backgrounds to me. I found from a young age that a few good friends are a lot better than a lot who don’t care about you.”
As the war progressed in London, the Rosenberg family received a ration card to account for their meager share of household staples and food. However, she said, “My parents always made sure I had three meals each day.”
Despite the inescapable realities of wartime London, Edith adapted to her new life with resilience. If the bombing was intense, the entire class would head down to the shelter. Once the all-clear was given, they would return to their seats and continue the day as if nothing had happened.
Weekends provided a welcome respite from the chaos. Edith enjoyed rounds of tennis with her friends and family at the local park, relishing these moments of normalcy and camaraderie.
Education was always a priority for Edith, a value instilled by her parents from a young age. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented her from attending college, but her commitment to learning remained steadfast throughout her life.
Eventually, Edith moved to America with her parents. There, she found a job as a shorthand typist and lived with her family until she got married.
Evident with her illuminating smile and her gentle blue eyes, she recalled a phrase her father used to tell her as a child. “I always would ask my father, ‘What do I do if a Jewish boy approaches me?’ Since I was a Jewish girl and I was not allowed to shake a Jewish boy’s hand. His answer was so simple you would never think about it: ‘The best thing you can do is carry a book in your hand to avoid shaking a hand.’”
A simple and beautiful life crafted under her parents’ love for her saved Edith in the end from the many who fell victim to the wrath of Nazi Germany.
“I never had a fancy life. I had a good life because, thank God, I had good parents…” said Edith.
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