About the Fund
This fund was created to support Holocaust education programming for students in grades 5-12 in public, private, or parochial schools and community organizations. This could include hosting a speaker, materials for research or Holocaust and/or Tolerance education programming and services, visiting a traveling Holocaust exhibit, and other initiatives. Established in 2024 by child Holocaust survivor, Dr. William, and spouse, Phyllis Gingold, this fund aims to reach non-Jewish audiences across Central Illinois to promote tolerance for peoples everywhere.
About Lilly and David Gingold
David Gingold was born in 1907. Lilly (Leah) Weintal was born in 1913, the oldest of siblings Froim and Chava. Both were born in Warsaw, Poland, where their families had lived for centuries. Lilly worked in a bakery, and David, who had a fourth grade education, worked in various factories and other blue collar jobs.
After marrying in 1932, Lilly and David welcomed their first son, Sam, into their family in 1933. They lived in Warsaw amidst rising antisemitism, and tried to flee the bombing of the city in 1940 only days after their second son, Baruch (William) was born. Lilly’s siblings joined them to escape, but the Weintals’ never saw their parents again. Unfortunately, the group was caught by the Germans and taken back to the city.
The Gingold's spent the next two years trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto. Surrounded by starvation and death, Lilly spent every hour taking care of baby Baruch, supported by Chava. Froim and David were sent to forced labor camps every day, and dug secret tunnels at night. Sam, only 7 at the time of their capture, smuggled food through the tunnels and collected dead from the streets.
Through David’s perseverance, the family escaped through the tunnels and eventually made it to the Russian border. They got separated from Chava and Froim during this journey, and were only reconnected decades later after grandson, Jeffrey, began to search. The Gingold's were sent to a Russian work camp in Zhambyl, where they remained until 1943. After a tumultuous time in Kazakstan, including Davids arrest and release 6 months later, they returned to Szcaecin, Poland after the war ended in 1945. American soldiers led them to Föehrenwald - Greenwald, a Displaced Persons camp in Berlin, in 1946. It was here that Lilly and David welcomed their third son, Jacob.
In June of 1951, Lilly, David, Sam, Baruch and Jacob made their way by ship to Ellis Island, where they were sent to live in Milwaulkee, Wisconsin. There, Lilly found work in a bakery, and David worked in various factories and other blue collar jobs.
David passed away in 1984, and Lilly passed away in 2008. They are survived by their son William and grandchildren Jeffrey, Tamra, Steven, Jason, Elaine, and Shara.
Their story of resilience and survival is told in Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy, written by Sam Gingold's son, Jeffrey. All author royalties from the book are generously donated to support the Nathan and Ester Pelz Holocaust Education and Resource Center (HERC).
From right to left: Duvid (David) Gingold, Froim Weintal and Chava Weintal (siblings of Lilly)
Lilly and David Gingold in Warsaw, Poland, 1932