Local Holocaust survivor is “born to remember”

Local Holocaust survivor Claire Soria’s sewing basket is filled with memories. Gifted by her father when she was just 6 years old, the wicker basket contains photos of her mother, father and large extended family.

The photos are the only things she has left to remember them by.

Soria was one of only three people in her family to survive the Holocaust; 54 of her family members perished in Auschwitz.

While her mementos may be few, the 83-year-old is committed to sharing her experiences with the next generation. Soria, who is one of 69 local Holocaust survivors receiving support through Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS), feels she survived to tell her story.

She had a pleasant childhood growing up in Brussels, Belgium, until the Germans invaded in 1940. After they took over, her family was forced to wear the yellow stars, and she was no longer allowed to attend school because she was Jewish.

As the dangers grew, her mother placed Soria with an older Christian couple who risked their lives to hide her from the Nazis. Soria stayed with them for the remainder of the war and posed as their granddaughter. In the meantime, her parents and most of her family perished.

Soria lived in fear every day that the Germans would find her. When the Gestapo once tried to enter the house where she was hiding, the woman she lived with pretended she couldn’t open the door. Although the officers threatened to return, they never did.

Even during these dark times, Soria was able to find light through music. The couple she stayed with taught her to play piano, and when she left, she promised she would continue. A

After the war ended, at the age of 13, Soria moved to the United States to live with family. She has bee here ever since. Now a Palm Coast resident, Soria’s lifelong passion for music inspired her to become a piano teacher. In addition to teaching students to play, she is equally passionate about sharing her story of survival with the next generation so the atrocities that happened during the war will never happen again and she regularly finds opportunities to speak about her experiences.

“I was born to remember,” Soria said. “We can only prevent this from happening again by talking about it.”

She is especially happy to share her story with her own grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She used to struggle with self-esteem issues regarding being Jewish, but she said her grandchildren now represent a new era and education is key.

“Being a Holocaust survivor used to be something you could never talk about, and I grew up being ashamed of who I was,” Soria said. “With my grandchildren, they feel pride about their heritage. It’s such a beautiful thing to see.”

Although Soria has built a family of her own, one of the biggest challenges she’s faced in recent years is a lack of aging “models” – a common issue for Holocaust survivors. Many of them don’t know what to expect in terms of aging because they’re families were killed when they were young. Without someone to model their behavior on, it can be harder to navigate the challenges of old age.

However, Soria has been able to get the support she needs in her older years through JFCS, which provides support and compassionate care for aging Holocaust survivors.

Soria receives case management services through the century-old nonprofit, including Kosher meals and a fresh fruit and vegetable food box that is delivered through JFCS’ Meals 4 You program, as well as transportation services and participation in Café Europa social activities programs that allow her to connect with other survivor families.

Soria said she is thankful for the support and that she can continue telling others about her experiences. Her sewing basket of old photos now has new memories added to it – of articles and books that outline the family’s story she continues to share.

“People risked their lives for me, and what they did allowed me to be here today,” Soria said. “I am still alive so that I can remember their stories and help share them with the next generation.”

This feature is part of the Holocaust Survivor Series, which highlights the story a local Survivor each month. The series is presented by Jewish Family & Community Services.