Benjamin Haim Schönwald

שיינוולד בינימין חיים

Schönwald Benjámin

Born in Sátoraljaújhely on 15.10.1922

Member of “Hashomer Hatzair”

Benjamin’s family was religious. In 1943 he was enlisted in a forced labor unit. He escaped and hid at his older bother’s house in the village of Nagymuzsaj (Muzsijeve) in the Carpatho-Ruthenia region Mountains. In April 1944 Benjamin was discovered by Hungarian gendarmes, arrested but, eventually, managed to escape and arrive to Budapest by train.
After meeting Rafi Benshalom and Efra Agmon, who were members of “Hashomer Hatzair”, Benjamin joined the members of the movement staying at the “Glass House” on 29, Vadász Street and soon integrated the underground activities. He walked the streets of the city wearing an Arrow Cross armband and took Jews out of places where they were at risk to the “Glass House”. After the liberation (18.1.1945) Benjamin obtained food for Jewish orphans. He made aliya. Benjamin resides in Nataniya.