Esther Rosenfeld Starobin family papers

Esther Rosenfeld was born on April 3, 1937, in Adelsheim, Germany, the youngest child of Adolf and Katherine (Katty) Lemburger Rosenfeld. Adolf was born in Korb on June 16, 1898, into a large Jewish family of 10-13 children. He was the next to youngest child, and was in business with his younger brother. Adolf was a veteran of the First World War, during which he lost a leg. He was cattle dealer, and also sold livestock feed and supplies. Katty was born on June 18, 1999, in Rexingen to Simon and Babette Frohrlich Lemberger, also a large family of 10-13, with at least three sisters. The couple first lived in Korb, where Adolf's family had lived for generations. Their first child, Bertl, was born there on October 25, 1925. About a year after Bertl’s birth, the family moved to Adelsheim. It had a larger Jewish community and the synagogue had enough male members to form the minyan needed for certain religious rites. The couple had three more children, in addition to Esther and Bertl: Edith, born on February 17, 1926, Ruth born on August 11, 1930, and Herman, born on April 27, 1933. In January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor and began to put into practice the Nazi pledge to persecute Jews. The older children attended public school until the mid-1930s, when, as Jews, they were prohibited from attending. Esther's three sisters went to live with relatives and attend a Jewish school in Heilbron. They were then sent to live with their maternal aunts, Friederike and her sister, in Aachen. The families decided to leave Germany. and they received the affidavits of support from relatives in the US neede for US visas. Because of the strict US quota, it was not possible to get US visas for everyone. The extended family made a decision to send one uncle’s family to the US. In March 1939, Esther's aunt arranged for the children to leave for Great Britain on the Kindertransport (Children’s Transport), a rescue mission to save Jewish children. They had another maternal aunt Hannah (Johanna) who had lived in London snce 1933. She was able to find families willing to take in the children. Bertl, Edith, and Ruth left Germany in March and Esther was sent in June 1939. Esther lived with Dorothy and Harry Harrison and their son Alan in Thorpe, Norwich, England until November 1947. The family was very loving and she had a happy childhood. Her sisters lived in different areas of England, but came to visit her whenever possible. Bertl was with a non-Jewish family, the Poole’s, first near London, then after the war began, in Scotland. Edith and Ruth were placed with Jewish families in London, though Ruth later lived in a hostel near Bloomsbury House. Esther's sister Bertl and aunt Johanna received letters from Kathy through 1941, although they may not have told Esther what they knew of their parents until later when she was older. On October 22, 1940, Esther's parents and brother were arrested by the Gestapo in Adelsheim and deported to Gurs internment camp in France. On March 30, 1941, they were transferred to Rivesaltes internment camp. Her brother Herman, 8, was rescued from there in September 1941 and sent by private relief efforts to the US. His uncles Sally and Sigmund Rosenfeld, both residents of Washington DC, saw Herman's name in a list of refugees published in an American German newspaper and Herman went to live with Sally and his wife. Bertl had to go to work when she turned sixteen in October 1941. Her aunt found her a room and a job in London. Bertl saved her money and sent what she could to her parents. In 1942, the Quakers working at Rivesaltes camp returned Bertl’s money because her parents were no longer there. The war ended on May 7, 1945. The family later learned some details of the fate of their parents. On August 2, 1942, they were sent from Rivesaltes to Drancy transit camp in Paris. From there, they were deported and murdered in Auschwitz concentration camp. Other family members also perished. In 1947, Bertl, following directions given to her by their mother, arranged for Esther, Ruth, and herself to go America. Edith, a member of the British Army, was to join them after she was discharged. Ruth left first, arriving in the US in early November. Bertl and Esther set sail on the Queen Mary, arriving in late November. At first, they lived with the aunt and uncle in Washington DC who had taken in their brother Herman. When Edith joined them in 1948, she and Bertl got an apartment and moved there with Esther. Ruth was the first to attend college, receiving a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland, and then a teaching certificate in Philadelphia, where she taught first grade. Ruth married David Hirsh Ezekiel in 1952 and had three children. Bertl married Morris Esenstad, a World War II veteran, in 1954 and had two children. When Esther left for college at the University of Illinois, she lived with Ruth and her husband. Esther received a degree in education. She married Fred Starobin (1925-2011) and they had two children. Edith's brother Herman, 57, died in 1990. Her sister Edith Kaye, 71, died in 1998. Ruth, 79, died in 2009.

Adolf Rosenfeld (1898-1942) was born on June 16, 1898 in Korb, Germany. He married Katherine Rosenfeld (née Lemberger, 1899-1942) who was born on July 18, 1899 in Rexingen, Germany. Adolf served in World War I during which he lost his leg. After the war, Adolf worked as a cattle dealer and livestock trader in Adelsheim, Germany. In 1937, the Rosenfelds sent their daughters, Bertha, Edith, and Ruth Rosenfeld to live with their aunt Friederika Lemberger in Aachen, Germany, where they attended a Jewish school. In March 1939, the three girls were sent to Great Britain on a Kindertransport. Their youngest daughter, two year old Esther, was sent on a Kindertransport to Great Britian in June 1939. The Rosenfeld family had relatives in the United States who signed affidavits of support for the family. However, due to the strict immigration quotas, it was not possible to get visas for everyone. The extended family made the decision to send an uncle’s family to the United States. On October 22, 1940, Adolf and Katherine Rosenfeld and their son Herman Rosenfeld were arrested by the Gestapo in Adelsheim and deported to Gurs internment camp in France. On March 30, 1941, they were transferred to Rivesaltes internment camp. Herman, age eight, was rescued from Rivesaltes in September 1941 and sent by private relief efforts to live with an uncle in the United States. On August 2, 1942, Adolf and Katherine Rosenfeld were sent from Rivesaltes to Drancy transit camp in Paris. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz concentration on August 14, 1942. Adolf Rosenfeld died at Auschwitz on August 31, 1942. Katherine Rosenfeld, along with other family members, also perished at Auschwitz. Bertha (Bertl) Rosenfeld (later Bertha Esenstad, 1925- ) was born on October 28, 1925 in Korb, Germany. In 1937, Bertha and her sisters Edith and Ruth were sent to live with their aunt Friederika Lemberger in Aachen, Germany where they attended a Jewish school. During Kristallnacht, the girls witnessed the burning of their synagogue and were informed that their school had closed. A maternal aunt, Hannah (Johanna) lived in London and arranged for families to take in the Rosenfeld sisters. In March 1939, at the age of 14, Bertha was sent on a Kindertransport to Great Britain along with her sisters Edith and Ruth Rosenfeld. Bertha initially lived with a non-Jewish family, the Poole’s, near London. After the war began, she lived in Scotland. In 1941 Bertha turned sixteen and her aunt found her a room and a job in London. Bertha saved her money and sent what she could to her parents. In 1942, the Quakers working at Rivesaltes camp returned Bertha’s money because her parents were no longer there. It was not until after the war ended that the Rosenfeld sisters learned that their parents had died at Auschwitz concentration camp. In 1947, Bertha and her sisters joined their brother, Herman Rosenfeld, in the United States. In 1954, Bertha married Morris Esenstad, a World War II veteran, and they had two children, Alan Esenstad and Jeri Twigg. Edith Rosenfeld (later Edith Kaye, 1927-1998) was born on February 17, 1927 in Adelsheim, Germany. In 1937, Edith and her sisters Bertha and Ruth were sent to live with their aunt Friederika Lemberger in Aachen, Germany where they attended a Jewish school. During Kristallnacht, the girls witnessed the burning of their synagogue and were informed that their school had closed. A maternal aunt, Hannah (Johanna) lived in London and arranged for families to take in the Rosenfeld sisters. In March 1939, at the age of 10, Edith was sent on a Kindertransport to Great Britain along with her sisters Bertha and Ruth Rosenfeld. Edith was placed with a Jewish family in London. Edith served as a member of the British Army. In 1948, after she was discharged from the army, Edith joined her sisters and brother in the United States. Edith Kaye died in 1998. Ruth Rosenfeld (later Ruth Ezekiel, 1930-2009) was born on August 11, 1930 in Adelsheim, Germany. In 1937, Ruth and her sisters Bertha and Edith were sent to live with their aunt Friederika Lemberger in Aachen, Germany where they attended a Jewish school. During Kristallnacht, the girls witnessed the burning of their synagogue and were informed that their school had closed. A maternal aunt, Hannah (Johanna) lived in London and arranged for families to take in the Rosenfeld sisters. In March 1939, at the age of 7, Ruth was sent on a Kindertransport to Great Britain along with her sisters Bertha and Edith Rosenfeld. Ruth was placed with a Jewish family in London but later lived in a hostel near Bloomsbury House. In November 1947, Ruth joined her brother, Herman Rosenfeld, in the United States. Her sisters soon joined them. Ruth married David Hirsch Ezekiel in 1952. They had three children, Aaron B. Ezekiel, Rachel Fishbein Ezekiel, and Tamar E. Granor. Ruth Ezekiel died in 2009. Esther Rosenfeld (later Esther Starobin, 1937- ) was born on April 3, 1937 in Adelsheim, Germany. In June 1939, at the age of two, Esther was send on a Kindertransport from Germany to London. Upon arriving in London, Esther was met by a woman from the Quaker society who escorted her from London to Thorpe, Norwich, about 100 miles away from London. Esther was placed with Dorothy and Harry Harrison and their son Alan. Harry worked in a shoe factory that was owned by a Jewish family. He had responded to a flyer on the factory bulletin board advertising a need for foster families for refugee children. Upon her arrival, Esther was quarantined because she had scarlet fever, but her foster brother Alan played with her through the window. Esther went to school and had a happy childhood with the Harrisons, despite the effects of the war. Her sisters lived in different areas of England but would visit whenever possible. Esther lived with the Harrisons until 1947 when she immigrated to the United States with her sisters. She married Fred Starobin (1925-2011) and they had two daughters, Deborah Armstrong and Judith Okenfuss. Herman Rosenfeld (1933-1990) was born on April 27, 1933 in Adelsheim, Germany. On October 22, 1940, Herman and his parents were arrested by the Gestapo in Adelsheim and deported to the Gurs internment camp in France. On March 30, 1941, they were transferred to Rivesaltes internment camp. Herman, age eight, was rescued from Rivesaltes in September 1941 and sent by private relief efforts to the United States. His uncles, Sali Rosenfeld and Sigmund Rosenfeld, both residents of Washington, DC, saw Herman's name in a list of refugees published in an American German newspaper. Afterwards Herman went to live with his uncle Sali and his wife. In 1947 and 1948, Herman was reunited with his sisters who joined him in the United States from Great Britain. Eventually Herman married Irene Rosenfeld. They had three daughters Karla Rosenfeld, Renee Rosenfeld, and Stacey Rosenfeld. Herman Rosenfeld died in 1990. Friederika Lemberger (1895-1941), sister of Katherine Lemberger, was born on April 29, 1895 in Rexingen, Germany to Simon and Babbette Lemberger (neé Froehlick). In 1937, her nieces Bertha, Edith, and Ruth Rosenfeld went to live with Friederika in Aachen, Germany. The girls attended a Jewish school which closed following Kristallnacht. In March 1939, the three Rosenfeld siblings were sent on a Kindertransport to Great Britain. It is believed that Fiederika offered her home as an overnight refuge for Jews coming to Aachen who were waiting to be smuggled over the border to Belgium. Friederika died of tuberculosis at a Jewish hospital on March 27, 1941.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Esther Rosenfeld Starobin

Donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2022 by Esther Rosenfeld Starobin.