Herman Seidel

Zidy led a long and illustrious life. Born in Uzhorod, Czecholslovakia, he left home in 1939, with the dream of emigrating to Palestine. The attempt failed, and he spent the war years in Budapest. When the Germans invaded Hungary in the spring of 1944, Zidy worked with B’nei Akiva, a Zionist youth group that dedicated itself to stemming the unprecedented tide of deportations. Zidy’s job was to forge blank documents provided by the neutral Swiss government, and get them to the thousands of Jews who needed new identities. In October, he was captured and tortured by the Hungarian Nazis, but was ultimately saved in a daring rescue mission led by friends from B’nei Akiva. After the war, Zidy finally sailed to Israel, met and married Hilde, and became a father. The family moved to Brooklyn, NY in 1957. Zidy settled in Westwood in 2007, after the death of his wife. Despite his harrowing young years – or perhaps because of them - he was fiercely independent and optimistic until the end. He never lost the bounce in his step. Caring, kind and funny, his sunny disposition endeared him to good friends, as well as casual acquaintances. He adored his grandsons Adam and Aaron, and passed on to them a legacy of which they can be proud. May Zidy’s spirit light up their lives forever, and those of the lives he touched. We are so blessed to have had him for so long.

Shiva will take place VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE on Wednesday, April 15th and Thursday, April 16th. The schedule will be:

7:30-7:45pm — Visit with the Family

7:45-8:15pm — Minyan Service with Remembrances and Kaddish

To join the video conference either night, CLICK HERE or join by phone at (929) 205-6099, Meeting ID: 995 6546 4986, Password: 12345.

Condolences may be sent to Cammy at [email protected]. Donations in Herman's memory may be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum or Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. (In the "Other" field, you can specify "Holocaust Survivor Needs".)