Rachel Zeiber Gordin
By Dara Zeiber Perfit
Raya (Rachel) Zeiber Gordin was an amazing, amazing woman, as you will see. The story moves me every time and I feel saddened that I never really got to know Raya (my father's sister) well. My French was not good and it was hard to communicate the few times we met although it was very obvious that she had great affection for me as Isa's daughter. She was very close with him and I think their shared war experiences were an additional bond. I have a book of children's songs in French that she sent my mom when I was born.
Raya was born in St. Petersburg where my father's part of the family was allowed to live because of the family business which made prosthesis for solders wounded in war. This was very valuable to the Tsar's government and it meant they were allowed to live "Beyond the Pale." My cousin, Sergey, in St. Petersburg now, was able to take a photo of where they lived and the store my paternal grandmother worked at for her uncle Markus Sacks/Zakus. Sergey also found some amazing ads for the store. At some point in her late teens-early 20's, Raya went to Italy to study with Maria Montessori directly but when she returned to Russia with her certificate, it wasn't recognized and I believe she couldn't open a Montessori school there.
She met Jacob Gordin and married. He was a young philosopher involved in much thought about how Judaism can fit into the modern world, European culture, etc. He was a Talmudic scholar, a Kabbalist, and a philosopher. Information with a picture of Jacob can be found at JEWISHHERITAGE: Jacob Gordin. An amazing article. How dedicated and passionate they both were! He is mentioned in Modern French Jewish Thought in the Brandeis Library of Modern Jewish Thought among other books. As many others were, they were both disappointed with what happened to the ideals of the Russian Revolution. They felt they could not stay in Russia and moved to Germany in 1923. He was a friend and a devoted follower of the philosopher Levinas and their philosophies influenced each other to some extent. I believe Jacob worked with Levanis on some of his papers. Levanis is quite well known among philosophy students today.
Raya opened a bilingual Montessori school in Berlin (see photo on home page) which was well thought of and even had children of the SS. A wife of an SS officer, whose child was at the school, took Raya aside one day and told her that it was important that they leave immediately. Thankfully they listened and went to Paris in 1933. At some point they had trouble finding living space for themselves and their young daughter, Noemi, and took her to our grandparents in Lithuania to live for several years. I have a wonderful picture of Noemi being held by my then teen-age father from that time. Jacob was able to establish himself in Paris and had philosophy students studying under him.
Raya and Jacob joined the Resistance and were able to save many, many Jewish children. They had to escape Paris and Jacob's students carried him south to the area near Spain. He was ill and could not walk that distance. At some point along the way, Noemi had appendicitis but they could not take her to the hospital because they would be found out. Amazingly she survived, but because of the adhesions in her abdomen from the appendicitis, she was not able to have children later. I cannot imagine what Raya was going through as this emergency occurred.
Jacob died in 1947. Raya and Noemi were stateless after the war. Raya had to take care of Noemi alone, and that could not have been easy. Noemi was able to get to the U.S. eventually through Canada, but Raya had to stay in Paris where she open a bilingual Montessori school—French language for part of the day and Hebrew for the remainder. She asked parents of prospective students if they lighted Sabbath candles and if they didn't the students were not accepted. She kept the school going well into old age. Isa was able to visit her many times before she died and I believe they communicated often. Of course, Noemi visited whenever she could. With Noemi's husband working for the UN in Geneva, it was possible. They also were able to find their other sister Susannah who had selflessly saved the major library during the war from flooding and other destruction. She was made a Heroine of the Soviet State and was very proud of that honor.
Raya was honored as a heroine of the French Resistance and there is a street named after them in Paris. I cannot truly comprehend the heroism of this part of the family, including my father Isa, during the war. I am honored to be related to them.
– Dara Zeiber Perfit