Holocaust Survivor Kristine Keren Chigar By: Sheri Stephens

The story of Dr. Kristine Keren started out in an upper middle class Jewish family in Woolf, Poland. Here she lived with her mother, father and younger brother. In the beginning of Dr. Kerens testimony she paints a vivid picture the beginning of a happy childhood, laughing, singing, many friends, and a loving family. Though at the time Poland was under Russian control life went on in a usual succession.
Soon the Nazi regime entered Poland taking over Russian control, and forcing all Jewish families to evacuate their homes. Kristine and her family were no exception. Having to leave all personal things behind the Chigar family began bouncing from house to house having to move often to escape Nazi capture.
As word spread about a Jewish liquidation in the ghetto Kristin’s father decided to move his family into the sewer under the city. Adjusting to life in the sewer was something that they knew they had to do if they wanted to stay alive. Kristen’s father paid a sewer worker named Sal to help them navigate the under ground tunnels. Once they were in a safe part of the sewer Sal began to bring them food, and essentials to try and alleviate there suffering. Sal became their keeper. The Chigar family shared a tunnel in the sewer with six other Jewish people, each playing a particular role to keep them safe. All eleven people stayed in the sewer without light, proper sanitation, and health care for fourteen months.
Once the war was over, Sal led all that were still alive out of the tunnels into the light. The war had ended, but the Chigar family had to start completely over. Still facing anti Semitism the family’s life was a constant fight but they were grateful just to be alive.

Quotes: As Sal led the Jews from the tunnel he said. “ those are my Jew’s, I saved them.”
My father stood guard at night to keep the rats from eating our bread.