Bronx Teen Solves 80-Year-Old Family Mystery During Visit to Auschwitz

NEW YORK – A 17-year-old teen from the Bronx has recently uncovered a piece of his family’s history during a visit to Auschwitz, solving a mystery that had lingered for over 80 years.

The NY Post reports, that while touring an exhibit of children’s artwork at the infamous concentration camp, Yuval, a high school senior, stumbled upon the name of his great-uncle, 13-year-old Freddy Popper. Freddy’s fate had been unknown to the family for generations, and the discovery provided long-awaited closure.

The story of Freddy and his younger brother, Michael (Yuval’s grandfather), began during the upheaval of World War II. At the age of 10, Michael was hidden by a Christian family in Slovakia, while Freddy, aged 13, was sent to relatives in Budapest. Tragically, their parents committed suicide in an effort to prevent Freddy from falling into Nazi hands.

Michael survived the war, but the fate of Freddy remained a painful unknown until Yuval’s discovery during a summer trip in 2024 to Poland. The name Yuval found on an exhibit sign proved to be the missing link his family had long searched for, finally answering the question that had haunted them for decades.

Yuval had traveled with Tzofim North America, a youth group, to the site of the notorious death camp. “I had never imagined that I’d uncover this part of my family’s history during this trip,” he said, reflecting on the profound nature of the discovery.

Yuval’s mother, Michal Poran, who was with him during the trip, shared her emotional reaction to finding Freddy’s name. “Seeing that name was surreal,” she said. “It was like a broken piece of our family’s story was finally put back together.”

The trip, which took place just months after the October 7 attacks in Israel, was deeply poignant for the entire group, reminding them of the importance of connecting with their heritage and learning from the past.

For Yuval, this powerful moment also found its way into his college application essay. He wrote about how it felt to stand at the memorial, overwhelmed by the sense of support from his ancestors: “It felt like my entire family was behind me, holding me up,” he shared.

Although his grandfather, Michael, passed away in 2020, Yuval expressed his regret that he couldn’t share the discovery with him in person. “I really wish my grandfather could have seen this,” Yuval said. “But I think he would have been proud of me for discovering this part of our history.”

This discovery provided more than just answers; it underscored the lasting significance of remembering the past and passing on that knowledge to future generations.