Lili Herskovitz (nee: Haftel)
Lili was born on 19-Aug-1929 in the town of Maramarosz Siget in Romania. Like many from Siget, she was forcibly removed with her family and, at the age of 11, was transported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. Through the help of many in the camp, Lili was able to avoid the gas chambers and survived the camp with her sister Miriam.
After the camp was liberated, Lili traveled through Europe and, thanks to the British blockade of Israel, through the camps in Cyprus, to ultimately arrive in Haifa in Israel. There she married Simon (Shimi) Herskovitz from the town of Teich.
While in Israel, Lili worked as a hair dresser from a shop Simon set-up in their home. In 1967, the family migrated to Northeast Philadelphia. While in the US, Simon worked as a tailor for Fleets and Gimbels, while Lili worked as a hair dresser for her bother-in-law, Barry Ickovics. Later, they started their own children’s clothing business in the Berlin Farmers Market in New Jersey.
Lili was known in the family for her amazing cooking and baking. She has passed along her recipes to her grandchildren who have yet to master her flavor. Lili’s joy came from feeding her loved ones. She enjoyed summers in Atlantic City and winters in Florida.
Lili passed on 30-Apr-2008 and is interned at the King David’s Memorial Park, Neshaminy Valley at the Adath Zion Congregation section and next to her husband. Before her death, Lili was video recorded by Spielberg’s Project, The Shoah Foundation; her story is available around the world.
Lili is survived by her sons, Michael and Howard; grandchildren Neely, Julie, Brandon, and Chelsea; and great-grandchildren Aleah, Symon, Asher, and Leona.