History of Sorts

Early Life and Marriage

Rose Girone, born Rosa Raubvogel on January 13, 1912, in Janów, Poland, lived a life defined by resilience, adaptability, and an unyielding spirit. Growing up in a world on the brink of great change, Rosa’s early years were spent in Janów, a small village in southeastern Poland. Seeking greater opportunities, her family relocated to Hamburg, Germany, where they established a theatrical costume shop. It was in this vibrant city that Rosa discovered her passion for knitting, a skill lovingly taught by her aunt. This craft would later play a crucial role in her survival and success.

In 1938, as political tensions in Europe escalated, Rosa entered into an arranged marriage with Julius Mannheim, a German Jew. The couple moved to Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in search of stability amid growing uncertainty. However, the looming threat of Nazi persecution cast a dark shadow over their lives, and soon, their world was upended.

Surviving the Holocaust

On Kristallnacht, in November 1938, Nazi forces unleashed widespread violence against Jewish communities.

Julius was arrested and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, a terrifying ordeal that left Rosa alone and vulnerable, eight months pregnant with their daughter, Reha. Determined to save her husband, Rosa demonstrated extraordinary courage and ingenuity. Through a cousin in London, she managed to secure a Chinese visa, one of the very few escape routes available to Jews at the time. This visa became Julius’s lifeline, securing his release from Buchenwald on the condition that they leave Germany immediately.

In 1939, the Mannheim family fled to Shanghai, China, one of the last remaining places that offered refuge to Jews. However, their struggle for survival was far from over. Under Japanese occupation, Jewish refugees in Shanghai were confined to overcrowded ghettos, enduring harsh restrictions and difficult living conditions.

The Mannheim family lived in a cramped, cockroach-infested space that had once been a bathroom. Yet, amid these dire circumstances, Rosa’s knitting skills became their means of survival. She crafted and sold knitted garments, providing not just for her family but also for others in the refugee community who depended on her craftsmanship.

Emigration to the United States and Entrepreneurial Pursuits

After enduring the hardships of wartime Shanghai, the family was granted visas to the United States in 1947. They settled in New York, where Rosa was reunited with her mother, brother, and grandmother. Although their new life offered safety, it also presented fresh challenges. Rosa’s marriage to Julius ended in divorce in 1948, largely due to his unwillingness to seek employment. Despite this personal setback, Rosa remained undeterred. She harnessed her passion for knitting, finding work as a knitting instructor and slowly building a new life for herself and her daughter.

In 1968, Rosa married Jack Girone, and together they embarked on a new chapter of entrepreneurship. They opened a knitting shop in Rego Park, Queens, which quickly gained a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Their success allowed them to open a second location in Forest Hills, further cementing Rosa’s status as a skilled artisan and a determined businesswoman. Her shops were more than just businesses; they were spaces of community and creativity, where she shared her skills with aspiring knitters and continued to shape her legacy. Even after retiring in 1980, Rosa remained dedicated to her craft, knitting for a nonprofit organization in Great Neck, Long Island.

Later Years and Legacy

Rosa lived independently well into her later years, a testament to her unwavering resilience and determination. She attributed her longevity to a life lived with purpose, the love of her family, and a daily indulgence in dark chocolate. As a respected figure within the Jewish community and among Holocaust survivors, Rosa often spoke about the importance of remembering and sharing survivors’ stories. She believed that recounting these experiences was essential to ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust were never forgotten.

On February 24, 2025, Rose Girone passed away at the remarkable age of 113 in Bellmore, New York. At the time of her passing, she was recognized as the oldest known Holocaust survivor, a living testament to the endurance of the human spirit.

Reflecting on Rosa’s life journey—from her early years in Poland and Germany, through the adversities of World War II, to her entrepreneurial successes in America—one witnesses a narrative of unwavering perseverance and adaptability. Her legacy is not merely one of survival but of triumph, courage, and an enduring commitment to purpose. Rosa Girone’s life serves as an inspiration to all who hear her story, a powerful reminder of the strength of the human will and the indomitable nature of hope.

sources

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210405-how-china-saved-more-than-20000-jews-during-ww2

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/06/1192118339/jewish-refugees-shanghai-world-war-ii#:~:text=Jewish%20people%20had%20been%20moving,and%20during%20World%20War%20II.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/rose-girone-worlds-oldest-holocaust-survivor-dies-at-113/

https://www.reuters.com/world/oldest-known-holocaust-survivor-rose-girone-dies-age-113-2025-02-27/

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