IF YOU HEARD WHAT ALYSSA HEARD

ALYSSA SHARES THE STORY OF HER GRANDMOTHER, ELLA MANDEL, WHO - AFTER WITNESSING THE NAZIS SHOOT HER YOUNGER SISTER - WAS SENT TO AUSCHWITZ WITH HER MOTHER AND OLDER SISTER. AFTER SURVIVING AUSCHWITZ, SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO BERGEN-BELSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP, WHERE SHE WAS LIBERATED. ELLA CONTRACTED TYPHUS AND SURVIVED WITH THE HELP OF HER SISTER, AND HER BEST FRIEND TONIA. HOWEVER, HER SISTER, WHO SHE SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST WITH, THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER OF HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY, DIED SHORTLY AFTER FROM ILLNESS CONTRACTED AT THE CAMP. ELLA MET HER HUSBAND, STEFAN, WHEN HE CAME TO BERGEN-BELSEN DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP LOOKING FOR HIS SISTER. ELLA AND STEFAN MOVED TO THE U.S. WHERE THEY REBUILT THEIR LIVES, AND BUILT A FAMILY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW AND THRIVE TODAY.

IF YOU HEARD WHAT ALYSSA HEARD, YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET.