In March 1942, nearly 1,000 young Slovak Jewish women, mostly teenagers, told by their government that they were embarking on a volunteer work assignment, were instead illegally deported to Auschwitz on what was the first Jewish transport to the Nazi death camp. The story of how a small group of these women survived that horrific three-year ordeal is told in Heather Dune Macadam’s 2019 book and 2024 documentary.
Last month, Temple Shalom of Aberdeen hosted Ms. Macadam for a screening and discussion of the film, 999: The Forgotten Girls. This outstanding program was brought to Temple Shalom by member Belle Liss, whose mother, Regina Schwartz was one of those 999 women. Amazingly, Belle’s mother and her two aunts survived Auschwitz and built lives in the US. Thanks to Heather Macadam, viewers meet the last living survivors of the First Jewish Transport and learn their story.
For more info on Temple Shalom, contact us at: (732) 566-2621 or shalom@templeshalomnj.org.
