Leizer Finkelstein, Survivor of Iași Pogrom

Leizer Finkelstein was 17 years old in the summer of 1941. He came from a family with nine children, of which six boys, and three girls.

On June 29, 1941, the family was ready for a usual Sunday morning in their home in the Târgu Cucului neighborhood,

Leizer Finkelstein avea 17 ani în vara lui 1941. Provenea dintr-o familie cu 9 copii, 6 băieți și 3 fete. At 10 AM, they are taken from their home and escorted to a gathering place not far from home. There, the family is separated, and his mother and his sisters are allowed to go back home.

Escorted by gendarmes and police officers, the father, and the six sons are taken to the Police Headquarters. There, they enter the yard under a rain of beatings. Soldiers with machine guns guarded them, and Jews were already lying on the ground. The father and one of the boys are embarked on the train to Călărași. Leizer and the rest of his brothers were embarked on the train heading to Podu Iloaiei.

From Leizer`s wagon, only 20-22 Jews survived, including him and his four brothers. The others died fighting with the heat of the summer and the lack of water.

More about Leizer Filkenstein`story during the Pogrom: http://www.inshr-ew.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/INSHR-EW-povestideviata-Pogromul-de-la-Iasi.pdf