Jack Marguten - NNN 2023

FAMILY: Parents: Basha and Baruch, Children: Sarah, Melvin, Mordechai, Jack, Samuel, Benjamin

STORY OF SURVIVAL:  Jack’s father was murdered in 1936. An aunt in Canada sent money to the family which allowed them to move from Lagow to Kielce in central Poland. Prior to his murder, Jack’s father had obtained a visa to leave Poland. Worried that by leaving he would no longer be able to maintain his Jewish identity, Jack’s father had not used it. However, in 1939, one of his sons used the visa to go to Panama. The Germans subsequently invaded and took away all the people involved in government positions. Jack was sent to Skarzysko-Kamienna Camp A, where he performed physical labor on a low-calorie diet. After a month, Jack was transferred to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. While there, he volunteered for transfer to Camp Schlieben Herzberg. Once again, Jack was given heavy outdoor physical labor on a low-calorie diet. He survived on handouts from a non-Jewish worker whose father was a Nazi. Jack's number at Schlieben was 67750. Jack’s last camp was Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, where he was ultimately liberated by the Russians in 1945. Jack is the sole survivor of his town in Lagow, Poland. After liberation, he went to a displaced persons camp in Landsberg, Germany, where Jack met his future wife. Jack later reconnected with his brother in New York. He became a professional tailor and was in business for over 40 years.

MARRIAGE:  TO LILY FOR 72 YEARS Three sons, One daughter and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

IN JACK’S WORDS

“My father had a visa but he didn’t want to go (because) he might have to cut off his beard and not be able to keep Shabbos so his son took the visa.

When I was picked up, I was sent to a camp. All I know is if someone escapes, they take 10 people to be shot.

Antisemitism is rising so rapidly… It’s worse now than ever before… you have to go on fighting antisemitism…It’s a disease that doesn’t seem to go away.”