“DON’T FORGET ME”, Ester Goldstein’s Personal Album

“Love life, and don’t be afraid of death.
Believe in God and a better future”

This inscription was written in Ester Goldstein’s album on 15 September 1942 by her 16-year-old classmate Bella Lassore. Ester Goldstein lived in Berlin with her parents, sister and brother. For a number of years, Ester had been keeping an album in which family members and teachers had inscribed messages to her. The note from Bella, together with her photo, was one of the last to appear in the journal. On 26 October 1942 Ester was sent to Riga, and on 12 January 1943 Bella was deported to Auschwitz. Both girls were murdered. The album, along with other family documents was given to Yad Vashem by Ester’s sister, Margot Herschenbaum (née Goldstein), the sole surviving member of the family.

Ester Goldstein

Ester Goldstein was born in Berlin in 1926. In October 1942 she was deported to Riga, where she perished.

Ester and Margot Goldstein

The two sisters lived in Berlin. In 1939 Margot (right) was sent to Australia. In October 1942 Ester was deported to Riga where she perished.

Ester Goldstein’s Personal Album

After the war, David Werner, Ester’s cousin, went to the Goldstein family’s former home in Berlin. A neighbor gave him a box containing the family’s documents and Ester’s album. In 2006 her sister Margot donated the album to Yad Vashem.
Yad Vashem Archives, O.8/378

David Goldstein

In the upper right corner Ester wrote the word “Papa”. Ester’s father was deported to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1939, and from there to Dachau where he perished.

Blima Goldstein

In the upper right corner Ester wrote the word “Mutti” (Mommy). In 1943 her mother was deported to Auschwitz, where she was murdered.

Betti Wajnbuch’s Dedication

Her fate is unknown.

Honor your father and your mother,
This is the highest commandment

Not the one who laughs with you,
Not the one that cries with you,
Just the one that feels with you
Should be your friend.

Sonja Strenger’s Dedication

Sonja was born in 1926 and deported to Auschwitz in 1943. Her fate is unknown.

Honor your father, love your mother,
Ester, that’s your duty
But to deceive parents,
That you should never try in your life

Remember your classmate
Sonja Strenger

She wrote “Do – Not – Forget – Me” in the four corners of the left album page, and within a drawing of a flag, “Berlin, 12.1.1937 – From golden school times!”

David Werner’s Dedication

Ester’s cousin David was deported to Auschwitz in March 1943. After the war he returned to Berlin, where he met a former neighbor who gave him Ester’s album.

Continue navigating quietly
Even though the mast is breaking,
God is your companion,
He does not leave.

Never forget me,
Your cousin, David Werner
3 April 1938, Berlin.

Margot Goldstein’s Dedication

Ester’s sister Margot was sent by her parents to Australia in 1939. After the war she received Ester’s album from her cousin David Werner and donated it to Yad Vashem in 2006.

You should honor the Torah,
You should follow the Torah,
What is written in the Torah is true,
There is just one God
And He is invisible.

Never forget me,
Your loving sister
Margot

2 April 1939, Berlin

In the photograph: Heinz-Chaim Goldstein, Ester and Margot’s younger brother who was murdered in Auschwitz.

Erna Tyber’s Dedication

Her fate is unknown.

Overcome a miser through gifts, a faithless through loyalty, an angry man by gentleness, an evil by goodness.

Remember your classmate, Erna Tyber.

Bella Lassore’s Photo and Dedication

This dedication was written in September 1942, one month before Ester was deported to Riga. On January 12th 1943 Bella was deported to Auschwitz, where she perished.
On the reverse of the photograph Bella wrote, “My dear Ester, remember Bella Lassore, Berlin 15.9.42”

In happiness don’t cheer
In the storm don’t hesitate,
The unavoidable bear with dignity,
Do good, enjoy beauty itself,
Love life, and don’t be afraid of death,
Believe in God and a better future:
This is called life, and to take the bitterness of death

These words are written to you, dear Ester, so that you remember Bella Lassore
15th September 1942, Berlin.

Gertrud Guttmann’s Dedication

Gertrud, a teacher, worked at a Jewish orphanage in Berlin and refused to leave without the children that she was caring for. On 17 May 1943 Gertrud was deported to Auschwitz, where she was murdered.

Have sun in your heart, whether it rains or snows,
The sky is full of clouds, the earth full of controversy
Have sun in your heart, then come what may,
It illuminates for you the darkest day.

Remember me, Gertud Guttmann

16th September 1942.