{"id":20600,"date":"2025-04-23T21:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T18:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/?p=20600"},"modified":"2025-04-23T21:00:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T18:00:10","slug":"avigdor-neuman-fought-in-every-israeli-war-after-surviving-the-holocaust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/avigdor-neuman-fought-in-every-israeli-war-after-surviving-the-holocaust\/","title":{"rendered":"Avigdor Neuman Fought in Every Israeli War After Surviving the Holocaust"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holocaust Remembrance Day events at the Knesset began this evening (Wednesday) with a Zikaron BaSalon gathering. Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana hosted 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Avigdor Neuman in Chagall Hall at the Knesset. Neuman spoke before an audience of 250 teenagers from high schools and pre-military academies across Israel, sharing his story from the Holocaust and his journey to the Land of Israel.<\/p>\n

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Facing 250 young people | Photo: Noam Moskowitz, Knesset Spokesperson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI fought in all of Israel\u2019s wars\u201d<\/strong>
\nWith deep emotion, Avigdor shared how he survived multiple selections by Josef Mengele. \u201cThe first time, I was 13 years old, and I lied and said I was 15. He asked what I could do, and I said I was a technician\u2014even though I didn\u2019t even know how to change a screw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI came out of Auschwitz, but Auschwitz never left me. Back then, there were no trained professionals to help with trauma or depression. But the first time I put on an IDF uniform\u2014and again when I walked through the gates of the Knesset and was hosted in the office of the speaker of the Jewish parliament\u2014that was a moment of uplift. Indescribable. I fought in all of Israel\u2019s wars. I\u2019m proud to be one of those who built this country, strengthened it, and defended it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neuman then addressed the youth in the hall: \u201cDon\u2019t let sadness take over. No enemy will defeat us. The people of Israel live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAvigdor and his grandson\u2014and his grandson\u2019s grandson\u2014are the image of victory\u201d<\/strong>
\nAt the opening of the event, the Knesset Speaker said: \u201cAt this gathering we remember the Holocaust, during which a third of our people\u2014six million Jewish men, women, and children\u2014were lost. We remember the death sentence that was cast over every Jew, and in that sense, we are all Holocaust survivors. We must ask ourselves questions about our lives today, and about what we are fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great honor and personal privilege to introduce Avigdor Neuman, who will share his remarkable life story. Avigdor, his grandson, and his grandson\u2019s grandson\u2014they are the image of victory over the Nazis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the full event from the Knesset here:<\/strong><\/p>\n