No less impressive is Aliza Gilon, who welcomed us into her lovely home just as the full sun was reflecting in from the sea.
Aliza spoke with passion and vigor, clearly moved by the experience of telling her own story in her own words. We knew from her correspondence with Matt Rozell that she had told her family very little about her time in Bergen-Belsen or about the train. But today she related her experiences with the justifiable pride of having endured them.
Aliza spoke to us in Hebrew so we on the documentary team knew we’d have to wait to learn the details of what she said — but the feelings were clear and vivid.
We were fortunate that her son Harel (sp?), who speaks excellent English, was on hand to translate questions to her. Then he appeared briefly on camera to share his own perspective.
He shared his special gratitude for Matt Rozell bringing the larger story to light, especially since Aliza had spoken so little about her life during the War. And he thanked Matt and all of us for wanting to share the story even more widely.
“I think that every person,” he said, “that takes part in remembering the history of the Jewish people throughout the Holocaust … is doing charity work for us. And this is very important for the next generation. And hopefully this will be remembered for hundreds of years going forward and have its part in the history of educating.”
And to that we all say, “Amen.”
Matthew Rozell and Aliza Gilon