Real American Stories - Tova Friedman

We asked people to participate in Real American Stories and were astonished by the responses. From people we stopped on the sidewalk to household names eager to tell their uniquely American stories, we invite you to watch selections that moved us.

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49 Responses to “Tova Friedman – NEW”

On February 24th, 2010 at 12:47 pm Donna said:

Thank you Tova and may God always bless you.
On February 4th, 2010 at 2:45 pm Andrea Sacco said:

Your eyes saw things that I have just red on books, I’m feel lucky. God bless you Tova.
Thank you.
Andrea
On January 27th, 2010 at 5:48 pm Tyler said:

My mothers surname is Lipski. And I know the “ski” is Polish so I typed in her last name into wikipedia and found Jozef Lipski. He was the ambassador from Poland to Germany from 1934-1939. Lipski met with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop at Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s mountain retreat, on 24 October 1938. Ribbentrop demanded that Poland agree to German annexation of Free City of Danzig; Lipski refused[2]. According to AJP Taylor[3], just days before the German invasion of Poland, Lipski refused to get out of bed, despite the urging of British diplomats, to meet with von Ribbentrop to hear Germany’s latest demands of Poland. The anecdote illustrates the attitude of Józef Beck towards Hitler’s tactic of making demands and raising the stakes: Poland would not play that game. Under British pressure to negotiate a solution to the Danzig crisis, Lipski eventually phoned to ask for an interview with Ribbentrop on 31 August 1939, but upon learning that Lipski would be present only as an ambassador, rather than as a plenipotentiary, the meeting was refused. Poland was invaded the next day. According to Taylor, the Germans were aware of Lipski’s limited negotiating authority.[3]

During the Second World War, Lipski fought as a volunteer (Polish 1st Grenadiers Division in France) and later joined the General Staff of Polish Armed Forces in the West. In 1951 Lipski moved to the USA and represented the Polish Government in Exile.

I asked my grandparents if they know who he is. They said they didn’t know. I am realllly interested in finding out if I am related to him. If anyone knows how I can trace my ancestry and find this out please tell me.
On November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm Joan Adkison said:

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. WE ARE ALL SO BLESSED!!
On November 5th, 2009 at 4:25 pm Donna said:

THANK YOU TOVA……GOD BLESS YOU
On October 29th, 2009 at 4:08 pm Nicole Rios said:

Dearest Tova,

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. The strength and courage of the Jewish people around the world constantly remind me of God and how He will intervene when he sees his sheep in trouble’s path. May God Bless you Tova, you are an inspiration to all of America!

Love,
Nicole
On October 3rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm Michelle Richardson said:

Tova is the link to our darkest history and we shall never forget. We honor you Tova.
On September 26th, 2009 at 1:38 pm Anna said:

Dearest Tova:

Thank you for sharing your story. From my heart to yours – and to all who have lost family because of the Nazis. They were not as successful as they hoped they would be because we are here! We are here to remember. We are here to teach.

And what is so inspiring to me Tova, is the gentleness and kindness in your eyes.

And to all who read this: the same evil that existed in WWII Germany’s Nazis is alive and living in Iran, Iraq and all Muslim nations who want to kill every Christian and Jew alike.

God bless you and your family, Tova!
On September 26th, 2009 at 10:36 am Rita Teubner said:

I truly believe that you were meant to live in order to share your touching and beautiful story, to keep the memory of man’s inhumanity to man alive. God sent his angels to intervene that day and I feel honored and blessed to have been able to share your story. America is about opening our arms and embracing those who are oppressed, degraded, defiled and giving all the opportunity to work hard and make a better life for themselves and their family. I for one am so happy that America embraced you and helped make you whole and able to move forward with your life.

May God and his angels continue to watch over you on your earth journey, until it is time for your beautiful soul to be lifted up on a new journey to a new home that you so earned and deserve.
On September 25th, 2009 at 10:09 pm Tawana said:

Ms. Friedman, I am a 5th & 6th grade Reading teacher and my 6th graders read the book Number the Stars, by Louis Lowery each year. If you are not aware, this book is a story based on a Danish family who’s best friends are Jewish. They take on the risk of trying to save them. We spend a lot of time building up their background knowledge of the Holocaust so they can understand the book better, make judgments, and learn about some culture.
The students always ask, “How?”, “Why?”. There are very touching lessons and some of my favorite discussions. I have always wanted to have a guest speaker for this unit, but don’t really know of anyone who is Jewish that had connections to the Holocaust. But, I am going to try to have the students go to the computer lab to listen to your story. Just hearing it in your words, your voice, makes all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing such a moving story. I hope I can continue to teach this part of history to our children so they may learn to accept others for their differences too.
On September 25th, 2009 at 4:24 pm Michelle Richardson said:

I still cry over this horrific moment in history. Some of the most horrific leaders like Hitler were allowed to carry out the most horrific act on a race of people. And now living in the 21st century I can see that we have not learned and therefore we are destined to repeat it ounce again. Netanyahu spoke at the UN and I cried because Israel is the chosen land and God’s people live there and I saw them standing alone. It makes me sad and So I cry and pray. God bless our blessed people!!!
On September 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm Debbie Schenk said:

What a coincidence that on the day my president appears to side with Holocaust denyers by speaking at the UN about what concessions Israel should make, that I would come across this courageous story. Thank you, thank you, so much for sharing it. We must never forget, and this time, when they come for the minority, we must not turn away and say nothing, but must stand up to the tyrants. We must as our forefathers said, pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors to defend the freedoms God gave us.
On September 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pm David P. Bernal said:

Thank you Tova Friedman for sharing your story!

This history should not be lost or forgotten, although there are many historical revisionists that want it to go away.

May God Bless you and your family.

David
On September 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm Miriam Luria said:

This is the American Story of Tova Friedman and of so many more. It is the story of my two grandmothers and two grandfathers. I”m also part of the story and so are my children. Cuz’ even if Hitler killed out My grandmothers whole town and all all all of her relatives (until today she hasn’t had the luck of tracing down any relatives that may have survived whatsoever) Me and my children are here to prove that the jewish nation has survived and will survive forever!!!! AND AMERICA, WHAT A DEMOCRACY, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THE MOST AMAZING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!!
THANK YOU AMERICA FOR EVERYTHING.
On September 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am Joe said:

Great site, great stories. expand it. Make it known.
On September 21st, 2009 at 7:55 am Dan said:

A touching story, but not an American story.
On September 21st, 2009 at 3:23 am Nelma E. Mattice said:

Thank you for your story. God bless you…and all those who have suffered. Help us all to never forget this atrocity.
On September 21st, 2009 at 3:16 am Nelma said:

Thank you for your story. God bless you and all who have suffered.
On September 21st, 2009 at 1:00 am Susan M. Daniels said:

I am the daughter of a US Army Officer and German mother. Growing up, I heard stories and also visited the concentration camp as a child when we lived in Germany. It sickened me so much that I could not bear to continue the tour and went back to the car. Needless to say, as a child, I really did not understand all that happened back then. However, as an adult, I have a much better understanding of things now and my heart is full of love for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I cannot fathom how ANYBODY can murder and destroy HIS people in clear conscience like that. The Pastor of my church is enlightening us about all this and freely passed out books called “The Two Minute Warning” for anybody interested in reading it. What an eye-opener it’s been for me. One thing is for sure…. at least I know I am in the right church!! Matter of fact, that is also how I found this site. God bless you and your family. In my heart, as I watched and listened to your story, it pleased me so much that you were able to make your way to America to find peace and happiness here. I also pray that the American people remember that God was the foundation this country was built on. Without him in the forefront, I fear we will lose the standing and leadershp we once had as a strong and respectable Nation. Hopefully, human compassion, along with the enlightenment of your story to others, will prevent anything like what you and millions of others endured, from ever happening again. I fear the tattoo etched in your mind must be worse then the one on your arm. What a painful reminder for you to live with everyday. Ich Liebe Dich (I love you)
On September 20th, 2009 at 11:46 pm Hannah Marcellino said:

Dear Mrs. Friedman,
Your miraculous story touched my life today. Thank you for sharing it with the world, everyone needs to hear these stories, so we can proclaim the words “For Zions Sake I will not Be silent…Our company Galilee of the Nations has a CD and a DVD of the Forgotten people, depicting what you have spoke of. The end of the song says Never Again, Never Again…God Bless you Tova, you are a beautiful woman, The Lord has preserved you as an Esther, For Such A Time As This…I praise God for your life.
Shalom and Love,
Hannah
On September 20th, 2009 at 8:47 pm David Ben Yosef said:

Shalom Mrs. Friedman,

I am grateful that HaShem watched over you so many years ago as I am sure He does even today. May the world continue to condemn the liars who say it did not happen. May it never happen again. Never again. Just as the teacher above spoke of Mr. Wiesel’s book, I have read that short account. I cannot even imagine what you all endured. I am grateful that people like you help us remember how awful humanity can be when left to their own ways.

Toda.

L’Shana Tova,

David Ben Yosef
On September 19th, 2009 at 3:27 pm Tony R. said:

As always, the rememberance of the JEWISH HOLOCAUST that nearly terminated the Jewish race, will always be in my thoughts and prayers to the victims and family members. God bless the Jewish Nation, in Jesus Name.
On September 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm Spencer Morris said:

God bless you Mrs. Friedman. May we NEVER Forget!!
On September 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm Mike said:

is really sad watching an remembering what happened in that time my Grand father left Europe because of the war and the imprisonment in concentration camps by the Nazi regime. His brother survived the Holocaust, and told us about everything he suffered there that actually forge us to be always strong believe in who we are but in all of that love this country that opened his arms to all the people around the world GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE!!!!!!!
On September 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm Christine Walker said:

Mrs. Freidman,

Thank you for sharing your story!!! Every time I hear someones story of what happened to them in the Holocaust, I mourn for them. I will NEVER FORGET, and as long as there is breath in my body…I be bold & will speak the TRUTH of what happened there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppIZTuP1P4
On September 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm D Focht said:

Dear Mrs. Friedman,

I have a deep and abiding faith in God and Jesus Christ as my savior.
I often ask him why this happened, why He let this happen.
So far, He hasn’t really given me any solid answers. However, I know one thing,
you exist to educate others. Tell all you can. Go to schools,
write a book, travel, whatever you feel you must do, but share.
So that we are always reminded what we as a human race allowed
to happen, and the atrocites that some are capable of , when we look the other way.
On September 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am Prof in Colorado said:

Thank you, and G-d bless you Mrs. Friedman. I am a gentile Zionist and lover of Israel & the Jews. I have taught Jewish History, History of Modern Israel, and Holocaust History, and have led study groups to Israel. One of our most important visits in Jerusalem is to Yad Vashem, where stories like yours, and many with less fortunate outcomes, have changed the lives of my American students. Thank you for your courageous life, and for your irrepressible spirit. The next time I stand weeping in The Children’s Memorial at Yad Vashem, I will think of you and thank G-d for His gracious gift to you, your family, and all those who hear your story.
On September 14th, 2009 at 4:40 pm Steve Nemany said:

Dear Tova,

God bless you for being so strong. When I hear stories such as yours, I realize how trivial my problems actually are.

We shall never forget.

Steve Nemany
On September 14th, 2009 at 2:32 pm Kathleen Flanagan said:

Tova,

To think any child would have to endure what you endured is simply beyond belief. And to think those memories are forever etched in your thoughts and upon your heart is even more so.

Thank you for sharing your story. It matters. You matter! No doubt that’s why you’re here to tell us. And may we never forget.

Kathleen Flanagan
On September 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm Dan Comer said:

Mrs Friedman,

Thank you for sharing your story. I hate what happened to you and all the Jewish people. I sickens me to watch the videos of the concentration camps. My wife’s grandmother has a similar story. She is not a jew, but she was put in a camp as a child because she got in the wrong line. They attempted to gas her, but they crammed the gas chamber so full that they kicked her in knocking her out. When the jewish inmates came to take the bodies out they found she was still alive and hid her for weeks. Her story is long but a inspiring. She was eventually rescued by her now husbands company(U.S Army). She is an incredible woman of God and has served as a great matriach to her family . Prior to her ordeal she had no faith and no religion, but after her release God met her in a church with a blown out roof, a church where she couldn’t even understand the language being spoken but she felt the glory of the Lord and has served him since.
On September 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm Tracey Barker said:

Ms. Freeman,
In response to your story, I have studied and teach the book “Night” by holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel to my high school students. I wrote this poem in memory of what happened to Mr. Wiesel along with yourself and many others:

The Witness’s Witness

Sorry, Mr. Wiesel, we did not care,
Trinkets, photos, and keys to open doors;
Crowded cattle cars that you had to share,
Told you would fare well if you did your chores;
But the singe of flesh drains your eyes of tears,
God dies face first in soup; hangs from gallows;
and the tiger, once instiller of fears,
Idles as blood flesh hears last breath shallow.
But this is 2009 – The free America,
No flames now, just rip babe from uterus;
And then vacation in Gaza or Rwanda,
Perhaps Susan Smith babysits for us?
Sorry, Mr. Wiesel, we did not care,
But things are better now everywhere.

-Tracey Barker
June 8, 2009
On September 14th, 2009 at 11:54 am Tracey Barker said:

Ms. Freeman,
Thank you for sharing your story. I teach READ 180 to high school students in WV and we are currently reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel which tells about his memories of the death of his family and his innocence at the hand of the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. I stress to my students that Mr. Weisel’s primary reason for writing the book is to remind people what happened so that the evil does not have the last victory. May God bless you – may He bless us all.
On September 13th, 2009 at 5:23 pm Ingy said:

Thank you for sharing your story. We had a survivior come to our school and speak when I was a kid, he was amazing, I cant recall his name but he wrote a book , “was god on vacation”. Thank you so much you are amazing.
On September 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am Jonathan Goldberg said:

Dear Mrs. Friedman

Thank you for your inspiration. Thank you for surviving so that you can tell your story, and so that we will never forget. Never Again.

Love,
Jonathan Goldberg
On September 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm Goncalo Rocha said:

This is truly an American tale, an American life. America is this: people coming with a suitcase, runing away from oppression or just runing away from ignorance. Freedom is there and prejudice stops at the border. We love you America. Europe is presently dominated by anti-americanism but there is a strong minority that backs you up. There’s a 5th column out here that believes in America. You are the bastion of our Civilization; the redoubt of moral values and freedom of speech. If one day you go down: we go down faster. You, with your untiring working spirit, your religious zeal, your devotion to higher goals, you are the spearhead of the best man has acomplished so far.
People need to study History and read about such lives as these described here. Just to remember that Americans crossed the Atlantic Ocean to free us from Nazism, and afterwards from Soviet Socialism…only you can do such things…because you believe in ideals, you strive for them and you are good in your hearts. We love you America.
On September 12th, 2009 at 3:11 pm JIM BURKE said:

MS. FREEMAN I AM A DISABLED MAN AND IF I LIVED 50 YEARS AGO I KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I PRAY THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!
On September 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm Kaye Baldridge said:

Tova,
Your story is very inspirational. I have watched the episode, “Why We Fight” that is a part of the Band of Brothers series, several times. Every time I see it my heart is overwhelmed by by the horror of it. I think it should be shown in every history class in America. Our children and grandchldren and great grandchildren need to know this and remember this, so we, as Americans, will always fight these evil men who will do something like this to another group of people. I am afraid that we are taught now to accept everyone and believe the best in them, even when they are evil. My God bless you.
On September 12th, 2009 at 12:28 pm Tracie said:

Oh my gosh. That was so touching and beautiful. And what you said, is so amazing to me: this is a country who accepts people and let’s them be who they want to be. What a wonderful sentiment. It is always the immigrants (in all their forms), that make me the most patriotic, and the most grateful to be an American.
On September 12th, 2009 at 9:11 am patricia follett said:

Ms.Friedman,

as a student of everything WW2, I cry everytime I read about stories from people who survived and lived thru the horror of the Holocaust…

As Americans we must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and fight everyday against the evils now in the world who seek the destruction of Isreal!

We the people of our country must fight now for our Libertys asthey are being taken away bit by bit by our current government, just like Germany in the 1930’s!
On September 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am Marj Praml said:

Dear Mrs. Friedman,
Thank you for your American story. It is very important that this story never dies or we become such an apathetic nation as to think that history is dead…it isn’t, it just keeps re-inventing itself. We the people of the United States can be our own worst enemy in that we believe the hype and tall tales of our elected officials. Freedom is not free. It has been secured by the blood, sweat, and tears of those who see past the hype, glitz, and charismatic personalities of those who say they are protectors of our freedoms and “for” the people. As in Germany in those years in which its own people were herded onto trains and imprisoned in death camps, we in America must wake up and pay close attention to how our government wants turn us into masses of people who have little to no freedom to choose as well.
On September 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pm Judy Graydon said:

Mrs. Freeman,
Your gracious words about living in America made me cry. I am so sorry for what you and other Jewish people went through under the Nazis. The fact that you escaped tells me that God had a plan for you that could not be thwarted by the evil ones. One day I look forward to meeting you in Heaven! Your testimony should be headline news to remind others of what makes America great. I wish someone would make a movie of your experiences. Thank you for telling your story.
On September 11th, 2009 at 7:23 pm Anne Marie said:

The only way this will NEVER happen again is to educate children with the TRUE history of the world, not the contrived and liberal fake history that teachers are trying to teach to young, impressionable children, teens and college-aged students. They are trying to teach political correctness, that fanatic terrorists are peaceful people, that God does not exist. WE WILL FORGET…if this indoctrination does not change. We must all show the younger generations what happened, and MAKE SURE this NEVER happens again. Keep America Free…fight for LIBERTY, America!
On September 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pm Michael Glick said:

Tova,

Your story was truly touching and inspirational. As an American Jew with many relatives living in Israel, it is important we share such stories of the atrocities inflicted on the Jewish people. In doing so, hopefully the world will have a better understanding of the why Israel is so committed to its national defense. Never again!

“When the people fear their government, there is TYRANNY.
When the government fears the people, there is LIBERTY.”

Thomas Jefferson
On September 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pm Stephanie Silverman Houser said:

Tova
Thank you for sharing your amazing story. Our non profit, Six Million for Six Million, is working to educate children about acceptance. We are using Holocaust education, primarily with our first project, adapting the Holocaust Story, An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust, by Survivor Dr. Henry Oertelt of Minnesota, into a feature film for the next generation of students to learn from. We are asking for a dollar per person, to honor the victims of the Holocaust.
On September 11th, 2009 at 3:47 pm Susan said:

You are the kind of person I strive to be everyday. And they arise from the ashes…. It is hard to believe how cruel people can be yet you believe and know how loving people can also be. Thank you for reminding me once again.

Susan
On September 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm JoAnne Rowman said:

I share your pain as the only child of Army Lt. who was killed in combat near Nancy France. during WWI. What scares me now is the infiltration of evil using the internet. I was a victim of the Global Financial Services and Insurance underwriting for those who intend to do harm is now a paperless transaction.
In Banking for 25 years anything international held many accountable, now you can do just about anything on line and it is WRONG.
On September 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm Moses ASSAYAG COHEN said:

Dear Mrs Freeman,
As a Jew, I deeply share your pain. Your stories, like so many others I heard over the years reminds us of the inhumanity perpetrated on us Jews. Even today, there are people that claim that this did not happen. It is a miracle that you and other survivors are a living testimony of this horrible nightmare and can attest that this indeed took place. Let me wish you a very long and very happy life. Amen. I will say Kaddish for those that did not survive. Their loss is an empty and painfull space inside of all of us Jews. God Bless You. Moses
On September 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am NANCY HOLLAND said:

MS. FREEMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW SORRY I AM THAT YOU AND THOUSANDS OTHERS HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY. WE CAN ONLY PRAY THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

THANK YOU,

NANCY HOLLAND
On September 11th, 2009 at 11:04 am Ruth Ball said:

We must never forget or let our selves become a socialist nation

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