"I was taught by my father to be very proud and not let anyone insult me. The other kids respected me for standing up for myself, regardless of what they thought of my being Jewish."

Born: Budapest, Hungary, 1924

Family Background
Shula’s parents were highly educated and assimilated Jews in Hungary — "very proud Jews who considered Judaism their tradition, and Hungarian their nationality." Shula’s father had been a decorated cavalry officer in World War I; later, he fought against a Communist uprising in Hungary and became a well-known lawyer. Their family status made Shula’s early years privileged and relatively carefree.

Shula’s first encounter with anti-Semitism occurred at age six, when a classmate called her a "dirty Jew." Even at this young age, Shula defended herself and began thinking about this distinction between being "Jewish" and being "Hungarian."

"I have a brain and I know my people are in trouble and I would like to live and do something for my people. It was an opportunity to live in historic times — to prove yourself."

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