Holocaust survivor rescued by Chief Rabbi Herzog reunites with his grandson, President Herzog

David Danielski, a Holocaust survivor who was once among the Jewish children rescued by Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog, recently reunited with the rabbi's grandson, President Isaac Halevi Herzog, in Jerusalem. This emotional meeting took place at the President's Residence on Tuesday, marking a poignant moment in the lives of both men. Almost exactly 80 years ago, in August 1946, David Danielski, then known as Danieli, arrived at the Katowice railway station in Poland. He was one of approximately 500 Jewish children who had been orphaned during the Holocaust. These children had been found and saved by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog and members of the Va’ad Hatzala, a Rescue Committee that Herzog had established. Danieli, now referred to as Danieli, became one of Herzog’s many “children” during this critical period. During the meeting, President Herzog, whose relatives call him the family historian, shared personal memories and stories of his ancestors. His knowledge of the rescue operation and the train that carried the children was extensive. As they spoke, the president frequently left the room to retrieve books detailing the rescue efforts. He recounted how his grandfather would identify Jewish children by having them recite the beginning of the Shema prayer upon arrival at safe havens. Those who completed the first verse were recognized as Jewish. Danieli’s survival story is as remarkable as it is tragic. When the Germans occupied the Rybnik region, his parents sent him to a farm for safety. However, the farmer eventually discovered the boy's identity and sent him back home. The house was marked with a Gestapo notice prohibiting entry. In desperation, Danieli sought refuge with a non-Jewish neighbor named Martha Kapitza, who had previously been friendly with his mother. She promised to protect him and honored that promise. Martha Kapitza, along with her husband Anton and their children, welcomed Danieli into their home. Despite the dangers, they lived as normally as possible. Martha even arranged for Danieli's baptism. He attended school and, like other Christian children in German-run institutions, joined the Hitler Youth. However, the Kapitzas faced increasing scrutiny from the Gestapo. Suspecting betrayal, Martha prepared a small amount of clothing and money for Danieli before sending him away. The Gestapo failed to find any evidence of a hidden Jew in their home. After several months, Danieli returned to live with the Kapitzas until the end of the war. Life under the Nazis was harsh, but he described the post-war Soviet occupation as even more challenging. During his time in Rybnik, Danieli encountered a man who inquired about his Jewish heritage. Though he acknowledged being Jewish, he lacked understanding of his faith. The man encouraged him to learn about ‘Yiddishkeit’ and directed him to a Jewish orphanage, where he began to grasp basic elements of Jewish history and Hebrew. On August 22, 1946, Danieli, alongside other children from the orphanage, boarded a train heading to Katowice. The journey was part of a larger effort to relocate these children to safer locations. Rabbi Herzog and his younger son, Yaakov, were in Warsaw arranging for the train’s departure. Upon their arrival in Katowice, it was already nighttime, and the train slowly departed, carrying the children toward a new chapter in their lives. This reunion between Danieli and President Herzog serves as a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of compassion and resilience. It underscores the profound impact of individual acts of kindness and the lasting connections forged through historical tragedy.