Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg: Dear Zigi Shipper’s death marks end of an era

Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg addressed guests at Edinburgh University’s Jewish society on the day he learned lifelong friend and fellow survivor Zigi Shipper had died. 

On Wednesday 18 January, a 450-strong audience listened to Goldberg in conversation with Rabbi Naftali Schiff, director of JRoots and Aish UK, sharing experiences from his remarkable life before and during the war, as well as the story of his survival and post-war life.

Goldberg had heard the devastating news about Zigi Shipper on the train up to Scotland. He spoke to the students about how he had actually saved his friend’s life on a death march from Stutthof concentration camp at the end of April 1945.

In 2017 the pair returned to Stutthof to relive their memories, accompanying the Prince and Princess of Wales.

He said he was privileged to pay tribute on the day of his friend’s passing: “Zigi Shipper of blessed memory, was a lifelong friend. Our lives became intertwined when, in autumn 1944, as Jewish slave labourers of the Nazis, we were incarcerated together in Stutthof concentration camp and when I was privileged to save his life on the infamous death march in the final days of the Holocaust. Zigi was a larger than life and effusive personality.

“It felt highly appropriate to share our joint story with the younger generation on this day- an activity to which we both committed ourselves in later years. The end of an era. I shall miss him greatly.”

The event was organised by Oli Blair, vice president of Edinburgh JSoc, together with Rabbis Shauly Strom and Naftali Schiff of Aish UK.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Provost Robert Aldridge attended, welcoming guests university students, members of the Edinburgh Jewish community and local school students.

Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, the event was a rare opportunity to hear one of the last eye-witness accounts of the Holocaust. Manfred has dedicated recent years to educating people about by sharing his story.

Rabbi Schiff, executive director of Aish UK and Jewish Futures, noted that there could not have been a more poignant date for them to host Goldberg at the largest ever event at the university.

He said Manfred “movingly paid tribute to Zigi as he retold the story of the untold horrors they endured together and their subsequent commitment to share their testimonies with young people.”