Regina Puterman was born in Wojnilov in 1924.
As a young Jewish girl, her world was destroyed by the Nazis. Her parents and sister were murdered in the Holocaust. Regina was the sole survivor of her family.
She survived by hiding. First on a farm, then in a factory. She lived through bombings, fear, hunger and the constant terror of being discovered and killed.
When the war finally ended and Regina realized she was alone in the world, she was devastated.
She later married another Holocaust survivor and moved to France. Unable to have children, they eventually came to America hoping fertility treatment would help them build the family they had both lost. It didn’t. Soon after, her husband passed away from cancer.
She remarried. Years later, her second husband also passed away.
Recently, at 102 years old, Regina said something heartbreaking to me.
She said G-d forgot her when her family was murdered. Forgot her when her husbands died. Forgot her when she was unable to have children. And forgot her now, as she watches herself become one of the last survivors still alive.
But today, we showed Regina that she is not forgotten.
Today, together, we connected her to the writing of a letter in the Holy Survivor Torah.
A woman who lost almost everything still helped write the eternal story of the Jewish people.
Regina passed away on June 24, her funeral held on June 25. her family was worried that hardly anyone would be there.
instead, hundreds of people showed up to honor and remember her. that is the heart and spirit of the Jewish people.
Today, my husband and I had the privilege—the zechut—of accompanying Regina Puterman on her final journey.
During the eulogy, Regina’s niece shared the story of a woman who survived the Holocaust as the only survivor in her family. She rebuilt her life, married, and dreamed of having children. Over time, she outlived almost everyone she loved.
Her family feared there might not even be a minyan at her funeral.
Instead, hundreds of people came.
People who had never met Regina took time out of their day to ensure that she would not leave this world alone.
As I looked around, I saw something beautiful. Religious and secular Jews. Young and old. Different communities. Different backgrounds. Standing shoulder to shoulder.
For a little while, none of our differences mattered.
We were simply one people, fulfilling one of Judaism’s greatest values: chesed shel emet—the truest act of kindness, one that can never be repaid.
Thank you, @jonnydaniels , for making sure Regina’s final journey reflected the dignity of her life and for giving so many of us the opportunity to be there.
May Regina Puterman’s memory forever be a blessing.
