"All My Mothers" -The Story of Yehudith Kleinman

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Published 2017-07-02

Yehudith Kleinman was born in Venice in 1939; her mother and grandmother moved to Milan shortly thereafter. In January 1944, she was taken to a convent for safety, where she was hidden and raised as a Christian.
After the war, Yehudith had to make a fateful choice – to remain at the convent, or to immigrate to Israel as a Jew. She spent several months in a children's home in Selvino, in northern Italy.
Yehudith grew up in Israel, joined the IDF and became a teacher. She has lived much of her adult life in Kfar Saba, and is the mother of two children.
Link - www.yadvashem.org/education

All Comments (21)

@waterandsunshine5968 3 years ago

The belly button story made me cry. Her Christian friends lied to protect her, and it’s easily the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Bawling over here. 😭 Thank you for your courage and incredible story
@suehofkamp8594 4 years ago

The fact that she could tell by her Mother’s expression not to choose her and to follow through with it at her young age is incredible. Her Mother’s effort to save her daughters life breaks my heart. She knew she would never see her again. This is a Mother’s love.
@carolgibson-wilson4354 3 years ago

Your mother would be so proud of you! Your courage is phenomenal. You are a blessing.
@siddharthabrh 5 years ago

Mother superiority . She was a perfect human being during hard times of people .
@SJ-vo1bw 5 years ago

A child being separated from their mother is one of the worst, if not THE worst, form of human suffering.
@iammanthony 6 years ago

I was moved to tears with your story. I know your mother and grandmother are with God. Please continue sharing with each generation so that this is never forgotten.
@banistuci1 5 years ago

Thank-you Yehudith for your courage to tell your story.
@martinemjt 5 years ago

lest we forget. children pay the heaviest price of war! may we all work together for peace.
@bagsanddrags 5 years ago

Can't believe this little girl had to choose between her mother, and then Mother Superior years later. Such a sad story.
@feliciajla2481 5 years ago

I'm balling I don't understand how people can be so evil and heartless. I swear these horrific stories kill me, so sad! I'm so sorry for you
@debrasmith2142 2 years ago

I cannot begin to understand the level of heartache and pain families felt, being torn apart, never knowing what happened to each of them, hearing the awful stories and then the stories that brought them to realise they had been killed in a concentration camp. The sheer agony in such frightening times must have been overwhelming. I often think how badly they were treated and its heartbreaking
@Arpege92 5 years ago

One question....the Nazi officer who allowed Yehudith to go with her Christian neighbor had to have known that she was Jewish because her mother and grandmother was Jewish....so why did he let her go? I'm glad he did!
@harrietszwejkowski6117 5 years ago

Very heartbreaking story. I couldn't help but laugh regarding the belly button. You were a beautiful and smart little girl and coped so well during those confusing times. It really was a miracle that you were saved and went on to have a beautiful family of your own.
@irishman7scouse 4 years ago

a part of your story brought up a memory of missing my mother.im irish and both my parents went to england for work.after a few weeks i used to look down the lane expecting to see her walking up the hill ,coming back to me,it hurt.your story was so sad it brought a lump to my throat.i have been to bergen many times and visited belsen twice .i was 17 at the time in the forces im 70 now .the visit to the camp had a profound effect on me and i still ponder why how humans can do such things.i feel ashamed of being a human sometimes.keep the world informed over and over again to teach all new generations of what happened to your people.
@shoshanakent3645 5 years ago

Wow! What an amazing story. Yehudit is such a strong woman and her mother was so strong in letting her go. Heartbreaking.
@iloveglitter149 6 years ago

My heart breaks for her and her mother they were so close 💔you'll see each other in heaven 😞
@samikshyapanda1280 6 years ago

This is just soo horrifying and tragic to listen to even today, approximately 73 years and three generations later.. Can't even begin to imagine how emotionally and physically exhausting it would have been for those who did and didn't perish. May all their brave souls rest forever in the peace that they never achieved, even during the last of their breaths.
@semsemeini7905 6 years ago

So sad. Her mother looks so kind. Tragic.
@debbieyates8303 5 years ago

I worry deeply about the people who deny this every happened. We are living in scary times because there is an uprising of fascism in DC, and we must NOT let history repeat itself. Blessings to this lady. I am so very sorry for what she experienced.
@graceamazing5981 5 years ago

I was born the same year as Yehudith, but here in the states. I remember that time very well, but people now don't understand. Many refuse to believe what happened... it is unthinkable for them. We took refugees into our home to help them, some had no mother, but a dad to take care of them, as they adjusted, hoping for a safer life. Sadly, 'hatred' is still alive on this earth, and evil still wants to hurt and maim the ones they target. May God protect His chosen people, and us who have chosen Him as their Savior. Pray especially for His chosen, Isreal !