{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/hq3rv0f101/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Gerson, Miriam and Abe"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/082/original/TheBreman_SecondaryMark_Horizontal_Blue_Black.png?1713640889","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2002-05-19 (captured)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Gerson, Abe (1925-2011) (Interviewee)","Gerson, Miriam (1927-2014) (Interviewee)","Kent, John (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum","Esther and Herbert Taylor Oral History Collection","Legacy Project"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAbe and Miriam Gerson were interviewed by John Kent on May 19, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia.\u003c/p\u003e (general)","\u003cp\u003eAbe Gerson was born Abram Jolius Gerszonowicz/Grszonowicz on October 9, 1925 in Lodz, Poland. Abe’s father died when he was six months old. When Abe’s mother died from cancer about eight years later, Abe’s maternal grandparents raised him. After the Germans invade Poland and occupied Lodz in 1939, Abe and his grandparents were forced into the ghetto. Both grandparents died in the ghetto and Abe moved in with an uncle, aunt and their three children.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAbe’s uncle was soon deported from the camp and Abe went to work in a shoe factory. The owner of the factory would hide Abe during roundups. Abe survived in the ghetto until it was liquidated in 1944. He was then sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was immediately separated from his aunt and cousins, who were sent to the gas chambers.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn Auschwitz-Birkenau, Abe was recruited to play violin in a small band that entertained SS guards. The guards would give him extra rations when he played. After a month, however, a camp elder realized Abe would likely by sent to the gas chambers if he remained in the camp much longer. He arranged for Abe to be sent to a work camp in Germany. Abe worked in three labor camps in ammunition factories before the Americans liberated him in 1945.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter liberation, Abe was sent to St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons. After a lengthy recovery, he remained at the monastery, serving as police man in the DP camp. There, he was reunited with Miriam, whom he had met in the Lodz ghetto. The couple married in 1946.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1947, Abe and Miriam immigrated to the United States. They settled in Columbus, Georgia with Abe’s uncle, who had immigrated before the war. With help of his family, Abe and Miriam soon established themselves in Atlanta, Georgia, where Abe worked as a tailor at fine department stores. Abe and Miriam had two children. They became life-members of Congregation Shearith Israel. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAbe became a violinist with Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra in 1970 and later their personnel manager. He composed “Rhapsody,” a musical reflection of his experiences in Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was performed numerous times by the orchestra. Abe died on January 25, 2011.\u003c/p\u003e (bioghist)","\u003cp\u003eMiriam Gerson was born Mania Morawiecka on December 5, 1927 in Lodz, Poland. Before the war, her mother was a homemaker and her father was a successful businessman and leader int he Jewish community. Miriam had six siblings and enjoyed a happy, comfortable childhood. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Germans invaded Poland and occupied Lodz in 1939, the family was able to survive strict rationing thanks to a Polish neighbor. Once they were forced into the Lodz ghetto, her father’s former business clients brought the family food. The food soon ran out when the Germans enclosed the ghetto, however. Over the next four years, Miriam witnessed many violent acts and saw many people, including a brother, die from starvation. Miriam’s father also died in the ghetto.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1944, the Lodz ghetto was liquidated. Miriam’s family was packed into a train headed for Auschwitz-Birkenau. When they arrived, Miriam and one sister stayed together, but were separated from the rest of their family. After a short time in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Miriam and her sister were sent to Bergen-Belsen, where they lived in tents. They were then sent to a series of camps, including Dachau, where they worked in a munitions factory. As the Allies advanced, Miriam and her sister were among other prisoners packed into train, with no idea where they were going. They were still in the train when American soldiers liberated them. The Red Cross helped care for them and sent them to recuperate in the Landsberg displaced persons camp.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn the DP camp, Miriam and her sister learned another sister had survived, but they found no other surviving family members. Miriam’s sister soon married and immigrated to Paris, France. Her other sister immigrated to Israel. Miriam went to St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter liberation, Abe was sent to a St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons. At St. Ottilien, Miriam trained to be a nurse. One of her patients was Abe Gerson, whom she had met in the Lodz ghetto. The couple married in 1946.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1947, Miriam and Abe immigrated to the United States. They settled in Columbus, Georgia with Abe’s uncle, who had immigrated before the war. With help of his family, Abe and Miriam soon established themselves in Atlanta, Georgia, where Abe worked as a tailor at fine department stores and played violin in an orchestra. Miriam stayed home and raised their two children. They became life-members of Congregation Shearith Israel. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Abe died in 2011, Miriam moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she became a member of Temple Beth-El and was an avid volunteer for City of Hope. Miriam died on June 13, 2014.\u003c/p\u003e (bioghist)","\u003cp\u003eAbe talks about his early life. He recalls moving into the Lodz ghetto and working in a factory. Abe describes being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He recalls playing the violin for the SS. He recounts learning about the gas chambers from a camp elder, who arranged for his transfer to Germany. Abe remembers liberation and being sent to a monastery to recover. He explains how an American soldier helped him contact family in the United States. Abe talks about arriving in Georgia and beginning a new life. He talks about learning to drive before buying a car and a home. He shares how he began playing violin again. He remembers the violence and hunger he endured in the camps. Abe and his wife talk about their family in the United States. Abe recounts different performances with the orchestra. Miriam remembers her father talking about the Germans before war began. Abe and Miriam share their pride in their children and grandchildren.\u003c/p\u003e (scope content)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["https://archivesspace.thebreman.org/repositories/2/archival_objects/28983"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, recorded by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written consent of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.\u003c/p\u003e"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAbe and Miriam Gerson were interviewed by John Kent on May 19, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAbe Gerson was born Abram Jolius Gerszonowicz/Grszonowicz on October 9, 1925 in Lodz, Poland. Abe\u0026rsquo;s father died when he was six months old. When Abe\u0026rsquo;s mother died from cancer about eight years later, Abe\u0026rsquo;s maternal grandparents raised him. After the Germans invade Poland and occupied Lodz in 1939, Abe and his grandparents were forced into the ghetto. Both grandparents died in the ghetto and Abe moved in with an uncle, aunt and their three children.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAbe\u0026rsquo;s uncle was soon deported from the camp and Abe went to work in a shoe factory. The owner of the factory would hide Abe during roundups. Abe survived in the ghetto until it was liquidated in 1944. He was then sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was immediately separated from his aunt and cousins, who were sent to the gas chambers.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn Auschwitz-Birkenau, Abe was recruited to play violin in a small band that entertained SS guards. The guards would give him extra rations when he played. After a month, however, a camp elder realized Abe would likely by sent to the gas chambers if he remained in the camp much longer. He arranged for Abe to be sent to a work camp in Germany. Abe worked in three labor camps in ammunition factories before the Americans liberated him in 1945.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter liberation, Abe was sent to St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons. After a lengthy recovery, he remained at the monastery, serving as police man in the DP camp. There, he was reunited with Miriam, whom he had met in the Lodz ghetto. The couple married in 1946.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1947, Abe and Miriam immigrated to the United States. They settled in Columbus, Georgia with Abe\u0026rsquo;s uncle, who had immigrated before the war. With help of his family, Abe and Miriam soon established themselves in Atlanta, Georgia, where Abe worked as a tailor at fine department stores. Abe and Miriam had two children. They became life-members of Congregation Shearith Israel.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAbe became a violinist with Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra in 1970 and later their personnel manager. He composed \u0026ldquo;Rhapsody,\u0026rdquo; a musical reflection of his experiences in Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was performed numerous times by the orchestra. Abe died on January 25, 2011.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMiriam Gerson was born Mania Morawiecka on December 5, 1927 in Lodz, Poland. Before the war, her mother was a homemaker and her father was a successful businessman and leader int he Jewish community. Miriam had six siblings and enjoyed a happy, comfortable childhood.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Germans invaded Poland and occupied Lodz in 1939, the family was able to survive strict rationing thanks to a Polish neighbor. Once they were forced into the Lodz ghetto, her father\u0026rsquo;s former business clients brought the family food. The food soon ran out when the Germans enclosed the ghetto, however. Over the next four years, Miriam witnessed many violent acts and saw many people, including a brother, die from starvation. Miriam\u0026rsquo;s father also died in the ghetto.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1944, the Lodz ghetto was liquidated. Miriam\u0026rsquo;s family was packed into a train headed for Auschwitz-Birkenau. When they arrived, Miriam and one sister stayed together, but were separated from the rest of their family. After a short time in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Miriam and her sister were sent to Bergen-Belsen, where they lived in tents. They were then sent to a series of camps, including Dachau, where they worked in a munitions factory. As the Allies advanced, Miriam and her sister were among other prisoners packed into train, with no idea where they were going. They were still in the train when American soldiers liberated them. The Red Cross helped care for them and sent them to recuperate in the Landsberg displaced persons camp.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn the DP camp, Miriam and her sister learned another sister had survived, but they found no other surviving family members. Miriam\u0026rsquo;s sister soon married and immigrated to Paris, France. Her other sister immigrated to Israel. Miriam went to St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter liberation, Abe was sent to a St. Ottilien, a Benedictine monastery in Germany that had been turned into a hospital for displaced persons. At St. Ottilien, Miriam trained to be a nurse. One of her patients was Abe Gerson, whom she had met in the Lodz ghetto. The couple married in 1946.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1947, Miriam and Abe immigrated to the United States. They settled in Columbus, Georgia with Abe\u0026rsquo;s uncle, who had immigrated before the war. With help of his family, Abe and Miriam soon established themselves in Atlanta, Georgia, where Abe worked as a tailor at fine department stores and played violin in an orchestra. Miriam stayed home and raised their two children. They became life-members of Congregation Shearith Israel.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Abe died in 2011, Miriam moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she became a member of Temple Beth-El and was an avid volunteer for City of Hope. Miriam died on June 13, 2014.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAbe talks about his early life. He recalls moving into the Lodz ghetto and working in a factory. Abe describes being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He recalls playing the violin for the SS. He recounts learning about the gas chambers from a camp elder, who arranged for his transfer to Germany. Abe remembers liberation and being sent to a monastery to recover. He explains how an American soldier helped him contact family in the United States. Abe talks about arriving in Georgia and beginning a new life. He talks about learning to drive before buying a car and a home. He shares how he began playing violin again. He remembers the violence and hunger he endured in the camps. Abe and his wife talk about their family in the United States. Abe recounts different performances with the orchestra. Miriam remembers her father talking about the Germans before war began. Abe and Miriam share their pride in their children and grandchildren.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, recorded by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written consent of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/082/original/TheBreman_SecondaryMark_Horizontal_Blue_Black.png?1713640889","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/170/848/small/Gerson_AbeAndMiriam.m4v_1668705768.jpg?1668705769","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/collections/994/collection_resources/82550/file/170848","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Gerson_AbeAndMiriam.m4v"]},"duration":4721.684,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/170/848/small/Gerson_AbeAndMiriam.m4v_1668705768.jpg?1668705769","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/collections/994/collection_resources/82550/file/170848/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/collections/994/collection_resources/82550/file/170848/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-thebreman.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/170/848/original/Gerson_AbeAndMiriam.m4v?1668705764","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":4721.684,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://thebreman.aviaryplatform.com/collections/994/collection_resources/82550/file/170848","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[]}]}