Why Is Judith Important

Justin Schuck
HIS 015-020
Dr. Delaney
11/21/14
Seed Of Sarah

At age 19, Hungarian Judith Magyar Isaacson found herself forced into the infamous labor camp Auschwitz. However her dreams still remained to study literature at the Sorbonne. Judith kept her spirit alive throughout her time and Auschwitz, and later transfer to Lichentau, buy focusing on her dreams. She also kept her spirit alive by the focus of family, humor and creativity. However, her goals and positive mindset are not the only reasons she made it out alive. Judith experienced many different hardships throughout her time at the concentration camps, but there are a few key circumstances and developments that are the main reason for her survival. Some of those circumstances were
affected by her, some were not affected by her at all, and others she had some influence on but was not controlled by her. A key circumstance that was outside of Judith’s influence and control was when she planned to commit suicide with Ilona by electrocuting themselves on the electric barbed wired fence. “ Were we deciding on suicide? Ilona and I?” (Isaacson 73) Judith mainly seemed uncertain and very confused about the whole situation. It seems as though she did not have a clear mindset on what she was agreeing too. The reason this circumstance that lead to her survival was out of her control is because seeing as she hesitated during the first attempt and pushed it back a day, she was still intrigued by the idea. The next few days when she went back to the fence to meet Ilona to go through with the act, Ilona never showed up. “Ilona did not come to the puddle the next day, or the next.” (Isaacson 73) Judith never went through with the act of suicide, primarily because Ilona never showed up. However if Ilona would have showed up like originally planned, Judith very well could have went through with the act like planned. If that would have happened, she would not be considered a Holocaust survivor. This seems as if it is almost fait that Ilona never showed up. Another key circumstance, this time affected by her influence but not controlled by her was when the kapo lied to an SS officer and told them that the group of girls that Judith was apart of were Polish and not Jewish, and also that they were extremely ill. “ “They’re Polish,” the kapo lied. “Watch out, they’re highly contagious.” (Isaacson 116) If the kapo would not have lied for the girls, they would have most likely been shot. However it is not only because of the kapo that Judith survived this situation, it is also because she went with the lie the kapo was telling. The SS officer continued to command them to speak but the kapo continued to assure him that they were to sick to speak. “ “They’re too sick to speak,” said the kapo.” (Isaacson 116) If Judith would have cried out and the SS officer would have realized she was actually Jewish and lied, she would have most likely been killed. She did not primarily control the kapo lying, but going with the lie that the kapo created definitely was something she chose to do, that is why she lived through that risky situation. There are also other examples of situations where certain circumstance were affected by her influence but not controlled by her throughout the memoir. A third key circumstance that was directly under her control and determined by her will was her passion for her family.
Judith and her family felt that they needed to stay together at all costs throughout their experience in the concentration camps. Staying together as a family helped motivate Judith, it also pressured her as she felt she could not leave her family. This shows how her influences on her family values helped her through this traumatic experience. One key example where she put family first is when she risked death when she switched a line that she was assigned by a SS to be with her family. “Ignoring his comment, I started after mother.” (Isaacson 86) The SS were separating the females, and Judith was separated from her mother, however she ran to be with her. The SS pushed her and yelled at her, however she did not let them win, and she continued to make her way to her mother, eventually succeeding and staying with her. “Once more I turned and followed mother, this time slowly, with deliberate steps.” (Isaacson 86) Have she not made this risky move, she could have been raped and murdered. There is no knowing what her fait would have been had she stayed in the line that she was assigned, but she took the risk of switching lines to be with her mother. There are many examples throughout Judith’s memoir of her being influenced from her family. She is constantly remembering past memories that are positive to keep her going when she is on the verge of breaking. Also, when she was being transported, she would exchange family recipes to the other girls, to help try to overcome their extreme starvation. Family is always something that Judith seemed to hold very close to her heart. Her will to survive for her family is definitely a key importance on why she is recognized as a Holocaust
survivor. Judith experienced many different situations during her time at the concentration camps. Many factors played into her survival of the Holocaust. The main factor that kept Judith strong was her family. Without her family she would have never been so mentally strong, and she would have most likely not persevered through many situations. Family however is not the only key factor that kept her alive; fait also played a role in it as well. Also she had help from some people she met within the camps, some prisoners as well, and some worked for the camps. Judith is very lucky to have survived such a horrific situation, but her story is one that is admirable and also beautiful. She went on to live a wonderful life and make some of her dreams reality. Judith Magyar Isaacson is a great example of a Holocaust survivor.