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Claudine
Schwartz |
Claudine
Schwartz-Rudel
Claudine
Schwartz-Rudel was seven years old when she fled from Paris
to Southern France with her parents. Before they left Paris,
Claudine's parents gave her a doll named Colette. Although the doll
was the little girl’s pride and joy, she could not understand all
the attention lavished on it by her parents. They kept cautioning
Claudine not to break it, not to leave it behind, and not to get it
wet. Only later did Claudine realize that Colette also served as a
safe. Every night her father would open a hidden compartment in the
doll and take out money and other valuables, which were used to
bribe the family’s way to safety. When the family finally reached
their destination Claudine’s hair was cut, and a wig was made for
the doll, whose own hair had fallen out from so much handling and
hugging. Today, Claudine lives in Jerusalem and works at Yad Vashem.
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