Unpacking the Past

For Judy Frumin, the past is a puzzle, its pieces scattered across continents and decades. Growing up in East London, Judy knew she was Jewish, but her family didn’t practice traditions or share much about their roots. It wasn’t until a chance comment at a community event years later that Judy began her journey to uncover her grandmother’s story—a journey that would take her deep into the archives of history and the hidden corners of her own family.

Piecing Together a Family Legacy

Judy’s grandmother, Martha, lived a life of music, art, and tragedy. Born in Czechoslovakia in the early 20th century, Martha’s story was shaped by the upheaval of WWII. Judy’s mother, Eva, fled Czechoslovakia as a teenager, leaving behind a world that would soon be consumed by war. Eva’s memories were fragmented—brief glimpses of life in Prague, stories of carp in the bathtub for Christmas dinner, and a suitcase packed with essentials for her escape.

Judy recalls her mother saying,

Time was such a mishmash back then. I can’t remember much of it.

Judy Frumin

That suitcase, rediscovered decades later, became a treasure trove of family history. It held deeds to a family house, photographs, and letters that painted a vivid picture of the life left behind.

The Weight of Silence

Martha’s story was one of strength and loss. She was a talented artist and musician, but the war stole so much from her—including her health. She died young, leaving a void that echoed through generations.

As Judy dug deeper, she learned about the challenges her family faced during and after the war. Stories of survival, displacement, and adaptation became threads in a tapestry she hadn’t known existed. Her mother’s childhood, her grandmother’s talents, and her great-grandparents’ role in building a synagogue all came into focus as pieces of a larger narrative.

Dancing Through the Darkness

One memory stood out for Eva—her last New Year’s Eve in Prague. Just months before fleeing Czechoslovakia, Eva spent the night dancing with a German couple who had also lost their home. It was a bittersweet moment of connection and joy, set against the backdrop of looming conflict.

I never saw them again

Eva

Eva recalled, her voice tinged with the weight of everything that came after.

Judy’s journey to uncover her family’s history is more than a personal quest—it’s a reminder of the importance of preserving the stories that shape who we are.

To listen to the full episode search The Hackney and Newham History Social Podcast Episode 3 wherever you get your podcasts or listen here The Hackney and Newham History Social Club | Immediate Theatre to hear the full story.