Simon (Shimi) Herskovitz
Simon was born on 1-Aug-1925 in the town of Teich (Tiachova). Like many from Teich, he was forcibly removed with his father and brothers and transported by the Nazi’s to Dachau (picture).
One of the brothers, uncle Potiu (Martin, who lived in New York City until he passed in 2013) was an excellent tailor and, due a series of fortunate circumstances, became the personal tailor of the camp’s commandant. In that capacity, he helped his brother Simon and his father Moshe find a job carting fire wood from the town to the camp. During one of these daily trips, a bunch of local hoodlums attacked them just outside the camp. Moshe was killed during the scuffle and Simon survived.
After the camp was liberated, Simon moved to Haifa in Israel. There he married Lili (Libbe) Haftel from the town of Siget.
While in Israel, Simon worked as a fireman at the port of Haifa. 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.
Simon passed on 5-May-2003 and is interned at the King David’s Memorial Park, Neshaminy Valley, at the Adath Zion Congregation section, next to his wife. Before his death, Simon was video recorded by Spielberg Project’s, The Shoah Foundation; his interview is available throughout the world.
Simon was a hard worker who valued family above all else. He would often handcraft homemade dresses for his grandchildren and was always available to help tailor a suit. He believed in the power of education, often saying something along the lines of: "People can take anything away from you, except the knowledge you keep in your head." He enjoyed summers in Atlantic City and winters in Florida.
Simon is survived, and remembered by, his sons Michael and Howard; grandchildren Neely, Julie, Brandon, and Chelsea; and great-grandchildren Aleah, Symon, Asher, and Leona.