Trudi Birger
Trudi Birger(24 April 1927 – 24 April 2002) was a German-born, Israeli-nationalized writer, biologist, andHolocaust survivor.After the war Birger migrated to Israel, where she founded the Dental Volunteers for Israel clinic and published the bookA Daughter's Gift of Love,detailing her experiences duringthe Holocaust.
Biography
[edit]Birger grew up in Frankfurt, Germany, and she and her family went into hiding with therise of Nazismwhen she was seven. They moved toMemel, East Prussia,in 1934. They were living in theKovno Ghettowhen she and her family were rounded up by the Nazis in 1944 and sent to theStutthof concentration camp.She survived the war, marrying and immigrating toIsraelwith her family afterwards.[1]In the 1960s, she became a microbiologist. She worked with children who had dental problems similar to those that she herself had suffered in the concentration camp after a Nazi guard knocked her teeth out.[2]
In 1980, Birger founded the Dental Volunteers for Israel, a non-profit clinic in the Jerusalem neighborhood ofMekor Chaim,offering free treatment for needy children.[2][3]She kept the dental clinic open for over two decades, fundraising from private contributions. In 1981 she was recognized with the Presidential Volunteer Award. In 1991 she was declared as a "Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem".In 1992 she published the bookA Daughter's Gift of Love,detailing her experience duringthe Holocaust.In 2000 Birger was named as aDental Fraternity Alpha Omega Internationalhonorary member.[1]
Personal life
[edit]She was married toZev Birger,a Holocaust survivor from theDachau concentration camp.He directed and presided over theJerusalem International Book Fairfor several years. They had three sons.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Trudi Birger – Founder of DVI (1927–2002)".Dental Volunteers for Israel.Retrieved27 March2021.
- ^abc"International Book Fair's Zev Birger dies at 86".The Jerusalem Post.Retrieved22 April2021.
- ^Bloom, Nate."The chain of goodness".Jewish Standard.Retrieved27 March2021.
