Testimony of Shelly Rachel (Solomon) Khoshen, born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1931, regarding the persecution of her family and their experiences in Bulgaria

Testimony of Shelly Rachel (Solomon) Khoshen, born in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1931, regarding the persecution of her family and their experiences in Bulgaria Family life; death of her mother during her birth; living with her father until the age of six; joining the family of her father; life in a traditional and affluent home; cessation of studies; wearing a yellow badge; deportation of the Jews of Sofia to the periphery in spring 1943; deportation of the family across the Danube River; transfer to a camp in the area, northeast of Sofia; transfer of her father to forced labor in road construction; suffering from cold and hunger; liberation by the Red Army; return to Sofia in September 1944; finding the family home occupied by other people; life in the yard; joining Hapoel Hatzair; registering for illegal aliya; help from Jewish Agency representatives for youth aged 15 to 18; leaving Sofia for Eretz Israel on the aliya ship "Bonim VeLochamim"; capture by the British; deportation to Cyprus; aliya to Eretz Israel in August 1947; rehabilitation and absorption.