Local Holocaust survivor, 97, shares journey of faith and resilience ahead of Rosh Hashanah

A Holocaust survivor who calls South Florida home shared her journey of faith and resilience and her message of strength comes days before the Jewish New Year Speaking with News on Friday from her home in Fort Lauderdale Ruth Di Stefano stated she survived one of the darkest chapters in human history I lost all my relatives They were all murdered except for one aunt Her husband was not Jewish and he was able to rescue her she stated Now at years old the Holocaust survivor still recalls those days I was born in Hamburg in and lived in Germany until she reported When the Nazi regime took over our life in Hamburg became a bit different As a young girl Di Stefano reported she was confused at first about what was happening Jewish children who used to go and play in the park could no longer go into the park We had to shop only in certain stores she reported and eventually we had to move from our beautiful luxurious home on the main boulevard to a small apartment on the seventh floor in a side street Hiding from the Nazis Di Stefano moved into the ghettos with her parents and siblings She commented they lived in constant fear There was a day when all the Jewish men and boys were arrested and taken away she disclosed When all the synagogues were torched my brother went to a Jewish school adjacent to a synagogue When my mother heard what was happening she jumped on a street car running to bring him home to safety Di Stefano lost a large number of of her relatives but luckily her family was able to board a ship and escaped to America They slept on benches and other makeshift places just to come to the United States she declared Di Stefano arrived in the U S with a single suitcase She learned English worked hard and became a mother of three Anyone living in the United States must thank God she commented In celebration of Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year Di Stefano was gifted a meal on Friday from the Goodman Jewish Family Services Randy Colman the nonprofit s CEO declared Di Stefano is one of the Holocaust survivors of whom they take good care Just being here I get goose bumps and I get a little bit of tears he explained As for Di Stefano just living another day is consistently a blessing I feel very thankful Life is good she announced Di Stefano commented her secret all along was invariably having faith