JNS
His “fate was just rumors,” Yuval said of his grandfather’s brother. “This trip gave my family proof and closure we never imagined possible.”
During a summer 2024 trip to Auschwitz with Tzofim North America (Friends of Israel Scouts), Yuval, a teenager from the Bronx, N.Y., made an unexpected discovery that provided “closure” to a more than 80-year family mystery, the New York Post reported.
Yuval’s grandfather, Michael Popper, never knew what happened to his older brother, Freddy, after the two were separated from their home in Slovakia during World War II. While Michael, 10 years old at the time, was sent to the mountains to hide in a Christian family’s barn, 13-year-old Freddy was sent to an aunt and uncle in Budapest.
However, the boys’ relatives committed suicide before the Nazis invaded Hungary, believing that Freddy would survive if found. No record of Freddy was left after that.
Michael survived the war but died in 2020, still unaware of his brother’s fate.
While touring an exhibit of children’s artwork at the infamous death camp, Yuval noticed a familiar name alongside the drawings: Freddy Popper.
“Until now, Freddy’s fate was just rumors,” Yuval said. “This trip gave my family proof and closure we never imagined possible.”
Yaniv Biran, CEO of Tzofim North America, spoke about the teen’s experience during the group’s “transformative journey” that took place just months after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“Past and present tragedies intertwined, amplifying the importance of connecting our youth to their heritage,” Biran said.
Yuval expressed sadness that while he solved the mystery of his great-uncle, his grandfather died without having known the truth.
“I wish my grandfather could have seen this, and we could have talked about it,” Yuval said. “It would have been sad, but I think he would have been proud of me for going on this trip and finding this piece of family history.”
