These two testaments were found on the site of the Siauliai ghetto. They were written on the eve of the ghetto’s final liquidation.
11 July 1944
On leaving the ghetto and taking a step between life and death, I left behind me a few photos of my nearest ones in the hope that somebody would find them while digging and searching in the earth, and that this person would be so kind as to transmit them to one of my relatives or friends in America or Palestine, if there will still be any of them left. My name is Frieda Niselevitch, born in Vaiguva.
To my dear and esteemed father, Nahum Zvi Niselevitch, my sister, Shoshana Stein, her husband, Miha-Yehuda Stein, and other relatives in Kelme who have remained alive; to my dear niece, Esterl Stein, in Zhagare. I embrace affectionately my dear ones who will receive this document, may they know that I have remained alive so far, the only one of the family, about the others I do not know anything. My dear Mamale I saw for the last time in prison, of my brothers Simhe [and] Aizik Meir Niselevitch they were in Ponevezh before the war.
I send my greetings to my Jewish brothers who have remained after the Inquisition, may they be devoted sons to our fatherland, the Holy Eretz Israel.
Frieda
“We declare that on July 7, 1944 the order for the evacuation of the ghetto of Shavli was issued. We want our names to be known for the generations to come:
Shmuel Minzberg, son of Shimon of the city of Lodz (Poland)
His wife Reisele, née Saks, of Vaiguva
Her sister Feigele Saks
Friedele Niselevitch of Vaiguva, daughter of Nahum Zvi
We do not know where they are sending us. In the ghetto, 2000 Jews are waiting for the order to leave. Our fate is unknown. Our state of mind is terrible.
May the Kingdom of Israel arrive soon, in our days.”
Shmuel Minzberg
