Born the same day the first deportation of jews from his hometown was implemented. Father was absent during birth/had escaped to the wooded hills to evade the Nazis.

Mother went back to her hometown in Hungary with ayre/parents. Were fearful for their new son’s life. Hungary became an ally of Nazi Germany: mother moved from one place to another to avoid detection.

Was hidden in an orphanage. No interaction with his mother/father stayed in Czecholslovakia.

1944: Nazis revoked work permit/escape to a village. Return to czechoslovakia with his mother/local.

Priest agreed to hide parents but not their son as he posed too much of a risk. Arye hid with Jan and Irena Mierni/lived as a girl Annicka for the duration of his time in hiding. Danger for the local priest/parents found new hiding place with Jan Galko and his wife.

On his third birthday, the soviet army liberated Czechoslovakia and the family was reunited.

Relocation to Israel in 1948. Studied aerospace engineering in Florida/scholarship to MIT.

Lest We Forget Washington, D.C. 07-13-2018