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

Blima Sieradski and her daughter Renée. Paris, 1940. © Shoah Memorial/coll. Renée Borycki

Renée Sierexpliquent 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 11th.^e Paris arrondissement. On May 14, 1941, Max was summoned to the Gymnase Japy for a "situation review," the so-called "billet vert" roundup. Immediately arrested and sent to the camp of Pithiviers, Max remained there for more than a year then was deported on 17 July 1942 by convoy 6 to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.

On 16 July 1942, Renée and her mother narrowly escape the roundup of the Vel d'Hiv. Welcomed in Livry-Gargan by an acquaintance, they will remain hidden throughout the war in a closet, from which Renée will bear 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. Barber at Auschwitz, he refused to return to the trade and became a tailor. Renée testifies that at home her father lived only with the deportation, receiving only deported friends. Max went to many commemorations in deported uniform, often accompanied by his daughter. Renée married Bernard Borycki in 1959.

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

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

Renée delivers a final testimony on January 12, 2022 for the Shoah Memorial, concluding: "I am at the end of my life, this is the last time I will bear witness, it is my duty."

Review the testimony 

The Shoah Memorial associates itself with the pain of his son Alexander and his two granddaughters and presents its condolences to them.