Tribute to Renée Borycki née Sieradzki, who died on July 6, 2022

The Shoah Memorial pays tribute to Renée Borycki née Sieradzki, a woman of heart, tireless activist for the memory of the Shoah, who passed away this Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in her 85th year, a few days before her birthday on July 16.

Blima Sieradski and her daughter Renée. Paris, 1940. © Shoah Memorial/coll. Renée Borycki
Renée Sieradzki was born on July 16, 1936 in Paris. Her parents Mordka and Blima, originally from Poland, arrived in France in 1931. Mordka says Max is a hairdresser and Blima works in sewing. They live on rue Faidherbe in the 11e arrondissement of Paris. On May 14, 1941, Max is summoned to the Gymnase Japy for 'situation examination', it is the so-called 'ticket green' raid. Immediately arrested and sent to the camp of Pithiviers, Max will remain there for more than a year then will be deported on July 17, 1942 by convoy 6, to the camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

On 16 July 1942, Renée and her mother narrowly escaped the roundup of the Vel d'Hiv. Welcomed in Livry-Gargan by an acquaintance, they will remain hidden throughout the war in a closet, of which Renée will keep heavy consequences all her life.

At the end of April 1945, Renée finds her father Max, a survivor and terribly scarred. Max shares with his wife and daughter the horrors of his life in the camps. Hairdresser at Auschwitz, he refuses to take up the profession again and becomes a tailor. Renée testifies that at home her father lived only with the deportation, receiving only deported friends. Max goes to many commemorations in deported attire, often accompanied by his daughter. Renée marries Bernard Borycki in 1959.

Their son Alexandre, also involved in the transmission of the history of the Shoah, is today president of the association Mémoires du convoi 6 et des camps du Loiret.

Renée Borycki at the Shoah Memorial 27 January 2015 © Photo Jean-Marc Lebaz/Mémorial de la Shoah

Renée delivers a final testimony on January 12, 2022 for the Shoah Memorial, which she concludes as follows "I am at the end of my life, this is the last time I will bear witness, it’s my duty"

Review the testimony 

The Shoah Memorial joins in the pain of his son Alexandre and his two granddaughters and offers them its condolences.