Survivor Profile

Rene Mandelman was born on September 27, 1906 in Radom, Poland. Her Hebrew name was Rivka but in Yiddish she was Rene. She was kind, funny, gentle and very smart. She grew up in Poland with her parents, Hana Danziger and Zindel Mandelman, and her siblings (we think 9 others).

In the 1930s, when things weren’t safe in Poland anymore, Rene escaped to Argentina to be with her eldest sister and brother (we think) who had already fled to Argentina. It isn’t known why the rest of the family stayed in Poland - probably because they couldn’t all afford to flee. Everyone who stayed back was sadly killed in the war.

Once in Argentina, Rene met Bernardo Blumenstock. Bernardo (Bekil in Yiddish and Berek in Polish), was from Poland. He was born on January 6th, 1903 and was from Opatov, Poland. He too fled from Poland to Argentina looking for safety.

Rene and Bernardo fell in love and got married in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They then moved to Comodoro Rivadaria where Noah’s grandmother, Hanita and Noah’s great aunt, Susanna were born. They stayed there for about 10 years at which point they moved to Asuncion, Paraguay. They lived there for many years, raising Hanita and Susanna. Bernardo was a businessman and we’re not sure if Rene was a bookkeeper at some point but we think mostly a housewife. The family was very involved in zionist organizations and in Jewish groups.

In 1965, Hanita decided to make Aliyah and move to Israel. She arrived on a boat along with many other South American Jews. When she arrived to Israel, she met Meir Eliav (Marcelo was is spanish name and Ilevitsky is his original polish surname). Meir had made Aliyah in 1964 from Argentina as well. There, they got married and had Ronit, (Noah’s mom) and Anat (Noah’s aunt).

Rene, Bernardo and Susana moved to Israel on May 2, 1972 just months after Ronit was born. They moved to Bat Yam to live near Hanita and Meir and their grandchildren. They lived in the same apartment until they died. Bernardo died in 1977 and Rene lived untill 1990.

They lived beautiful lives filled with lots of family and love.

May their memories be a blessing.

Rene and Bernardo Bluemstock at their wedding

Left to right: Anat Eliav, Ronit Eliav, Susanna Bluemstock, Rene Blumenstock, Hanita Elav

This is the result of Rene and Bernardo’s family. In this photo is Hanita and Meir Eliav with their daughters Ronit and Anat and their husbands and children.

Documents showing Bernardo Blumenstock’s arrival in Israel as a new citizen of Israel.

Rene Blumenstock and Hanita Eliav (Noah’s savta) in Israel