History has been a silent witness of human triumphs and tragedies. It has captured the depths of human suffering and the extraordinary courage required to rise above it.
Wilbur and Sara Pierce’s Jews Have Horns: An Anthology of Antisemitism summarizes this beautifully through personal accounts and survival stories from the past. One of the most poignant stories in this anthology is the miraculous journey of Ida Moscizky during the Holocaust, revealing a series of extraordinary events that ultimately saved her life.
Let’s journey through Ida’s “Three Miracles” that saved her during the Holocaust.
Miracle 1: The Chance to Escape
Ida’s peaceful life in Meissen was shattered when the Nazis began their cruel mission to persecute Jewish families. Her family was torn apart, with her parents taken by the SS, leaving her an “heir at sixteen” with nothing but grief and fear.
However, Ida’s life turned when she met her Rabbi, who told her about the Kindertransport, a rescue mission organized by the World Jewish Relief that offered children safe passage to England. Her journey to safety was not easy, but it was her Rabbi’s words that kept her steady and strong:
“If a Jew doesn’t believe in miracles, he or she is not a realist.”
With these words, Ida’s resolve was strengthened.
The Kindertransport train was set to depart for England, and limited spots were available. Alone, afraid, and without a ticket, Ida somehow made her way to the station, aware that every obstacle she overcame was a miraculous opportunity to survive.
This first miracle: “learning about the Kindertransport and making it to the station,” shows her unbreakable will to survive, guiding Ida through a door that seemed closed to others.
Miracle 2: The Disguise of Compassion
Upon reaching the train station, Ida faced another challenge: the train was reserved for children, and at sixteen, she was not eligible. She knew she had to blend in, and with a stroke of luck, she found a costume store nearby that provided her with a nurse’s uniform.
Dressed as a Red Cross nurse, she became a surrogate caretaker for the children, comforting anxious parents and taking young children into her arms. Ida’s disguise, born out of necessity and courage, was the second miracle to carry her through the journey. She comforted the mothers, promising to look after their little ones as they boarded the train, unaware that this was their last chance for freedom.
Miracle 3: Crossing into Freedom
The final miracle came as the train pulled away from German soil, crossing into Holland and eventually arriving in England. Here, Ida encountered the last brush with danger as Nazi officers boarded the train, inspecting passengers.
Ida cleverly disposed of her mother’s gold necklace, knowing it could jeopardize her journey if found. She held the children close as they reached Holland, free from the Nazi grasp.
Upon reaching England, the children were placed with foster families, but Ida, older than most, was alone again. Fate led her to a Jewish hostel where she received the support to continue her studies and eventually find her purpose and love.
This third miracle made her learn the Rabbi’s words about miracles. By the end of the Kindertransport, nearly 10,000 Jewish children were saved, Ida among them.
Legacy of Survival and Hope
As chronicled in Jews Have Horns, Ida’s journey was filled with grief, but she managed to survive with courage. The miracles she experiences are an ode to those who endured unimaginable suffering and a reminder of the strength within us all to seek hope even when the future seems bleak.
Jews Have Horns captures the pain of the past and celebrates those like Ida, whose lives show the unyielding spirit of the Jews.
Through this anthology, Wilbur and Sara Pierce want readers to remember, honor, and reflect upon stories of survival and the unconquerable spirit in the face of adversity.
Read the book now on Amazon.
