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AudioCecillia Pollock Etkin - 14-June-2001 - Weaving Women's Words
About this film
Oral historian Pamela Brown Lavitt interviewed Cecillia Etkin on June 14 and August 1, 2001 in Seattle, Washington as part of the Jewish Womenâs Archive "Weaving Women's Words" project. Cecillia Pollock Etkinâs faith in Judaism delivered her from seven concentration camps during the Holocaust and in 1950 to the Seattle Orthodox Jewish community where she lovingly served as the âmikveh ladyâ for 27 years, from 1970-1997. Born in Sighet, Romania in 1922, Cecillia was deported to Auschwitz in 1944 where her parents and many siblings were murdered. It was 18 years before Cecillia could speak of these experiences. In 1945 Cecillia emigrated to New York City, married Seattle native Nathan Etkin, and moved to Seattle with him where she ran her own dressmaking business and raised four children. As Seattleâs first volunteer âmikveh ladyâ she prepared the ritual bath according to Orthodox Jewish law, and counseled brides and married women, converts, the sick and the elderly, who sought her quiet spiritual guidance. She now tours Seattle public and Jewish day schools educating the young about the Holocaust. âItâs hard to live for yesterday,â she says. âI have to go on and live each day.â Ceci…
Directors & creators
Jewish Women's Archive
Subjects
Holocaust Survivor; Education
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