Abba Naor — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

Chapter 1:

This is the story of the fascinating chapters in the life of Abba Naor from Rehovot. He was born in Kovno, Lithuania. After the German invasion, he was interned together with his family in the Kovno Ghetto, where his older brother, Chaim, was captured while searching for food and killed.

A difficult journey began in the Kovno Ghetto. His father was taken into forced labor, while his six-year-old brother, Berale, and his mother, Chana, were sent to Auschwitz. “The moment I saw my mother and brother heading towards the train, I realized that was it,” recalled Abba. “I could say ‘goodbye’ forever.”

The prisoners were later forced on a death march. They walked without food or water, in rain and snow, eating grass along the way. On May 2, 1945, the guards disappeared; American soldiers arrived and told them, “You are free.” The war was over.

Abba arrived at a Displaced Persons camp near Munich, where he found his father, and the two moved to Poland. He joined the Kibbutz Lohamei Haghetaot nucleus, and in 1946 boarded an “illegal” immigrant ship, which was later captured by the British. He was imprisoned in a detention camp in Cyprus.

Chapter 2: The Shin Bet, the Mossad, and "Operation Moses"

He reached Eretz Israel in 1947 and fought in the War of Independence. This marked the beginning of a new and fascinating chapter in his life.

In 1950, he was drafted into the Shin Bet and later transferred to the Weizmann Institute for special activities. He was subsequently recruited into the Mossad, and in 1984–1985 took part in Operation Moses, which brought thousands of Ethiopian Jews from refugee camps in Sudan to Israel via naval ships and Israeli planes.

Over the years, Abba refused to elaborate on his life as a “silent warrior.” Recently, however, his full life story was told during the Yad Vashem beacon-lighting ceremony.

Chapter 3: The Mission of Remembrance

After completing his state service, he dedicated himself to preserving the memory of the Dachau concentration camp. As Chairman of the International Dachau Committee (CID) and Dachau sub-camps, and as Vice President of the World Association of Dachau Prisoners, he divides his time between Germany and Israel.

In Germany, he is hosted by the Bavarian government, which provides him with a vehicle and driver. He travels to schools, universities, and army camps, sharing his life story and the history of Dachau.

He is a key participant in the official ceremonies held at Dachau. He accompanied President Rivlin, the President of Germany, and the Prime Minister of Bavaria at memorial services there. He also accompanied U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on a visit to the camp. Vice President Pence later ensured that Abba’s book was translated into English.

In honor of Abba Naor’s 90th birthday, he was invited to a session of the Bavarian parliament, the largest in Germany. During the meeting, the proceedings were adjourned. One of the parliament members took the podium and recounted Abba’s life story, his efforts to preserve the memory of Dachau, and his educational activities among German youth.

At the end of the speech, all the members of parliament and those seated in the gallery stood and applauded him for a long time. Afterwards, a gala dinner was held in his honor, with MPs, government representatives, and guests in attendance. This was an extraordinary tribute to a man who devoted decades to preserving the memory of Dachau and educating future generations

PhotographyTribute  [Hebrew]: IDF and US Army Orchestras Chose to Thank Holocaust Survivors in a Special Way

Photography Testimony on YouTube [Hebrew]

Photography Testimony [Hebrew]