Yes. They are suffering through our suffering. Children of Holocaust survivors had in many cases to grow up without grandparents and relatives. They missed out on a great deal in life. Children get upset hearing about the atrocities their parents endured. This often causes psychological issues.
Yes. I have three children and my oldest is very sick; my doctor feels her problems can be traced back to the conditions I lived through during the Holocaust. Typhus and other diseases were rampant, and survivors often pass this on to their children. Now my daughter needs to take many medications and see many specialists because of the war.
Yes. People who went through the Holocaust tend to be very anxious and nervous, and this can create a tension in the home that can be felt by children. My husband suffered from frequent nightmares; the children would see his suffering and realize that their friends who had American parents didn’t have these issues. In addition, many children were brought up in very modest circumstances or much worse because their parents lost property, businesses, money, etc. in the Holocaust.
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Chana Lea Feintuch, retiredYes. The children are entitled because they suffer due to our behavior, which in turn is due to our suffering. Often, second generation survivors are laden with guilt from hearing about their parents’ lost childhood. This makes it dif
ficult to enjoy life. My daughter died of cancer and I often wonder if it can be traced back to the conditions I encountered in the Holocaust. Many children face mental and medical issues due to their parents’ Holocaust experience.– Carmela Ungreich, retired