From generation to generation, Eva’s story continues to be told

“Eva was the last of the continental refugees to pass away. She was always generous in her support of the AJR, a cause that was close to her heart,” said Susie, reflecting on her mother’s long-standing commitment.

Saying how she now saw it as her responsibility to keep telling the story of her ancestors, Susie said: "Never again is happening now. I’m now part of the second generation, and I work with the Holocaust Educational Trust, going into schools to share our family’s story. I talk about my mother’s story, as well as my father’s and stepfather’s experiences. I tell these three stories to children, and it’s become my passion to ensure they are heard.”

Eva’s story is one of survival and resilience. Born in 1930 in Nuremberg, Germany, to Tilde Neuburger and Sigmund Buxbaum, she grew up in a family with strong ties to the shoe industry.

Eva Schapira in her younger days[Missing Credit]

Her grandparents owned shoe factories, and she spent her early childhood in the loving care of her family in Bamberg. But as the Nazi regime’s rise increasingly affected Jewish families, Eva’s life would take a tragic turn.

In her talks, Eva would recount one of her most vivid memories – seeing a synagogue burn and a Jewish being severely beaten.

After being sent to Switzerland, she and her mother moved to the UK, where she began a new life. After her parents’ divorce, she attended a convent school near Rugby and later moved to Blackburn to live with her father, where she completed her education and trained as a domestic science teacher.

Though she had aspired to study history, her parents’ disapproval led her to pursue a different career. Eva later married twice—first to Ronnie Loble, who passed away young from MS, and then to Kurt Schapira, a neurologist.

Eva’s son-in-law, Andrew Kaufman MBE, who is also the AJR Life President, spoke about the ongoing work of the Refugee Voices project. He highlighted how the initiative, which has been running for over 20 years, has captured more than 3,000 personal testimonies from refugees and survivors.

Eva Schapira (front) and three generations[Missing Credit]

In addition, Eva’s 17-year-old great-granddaughter, Ella Kauffman, has now taken up the mantle of Holocaust remembrance. “I think it's really important... it's my responsibility to continue that memory, especially since my great grandma and a lot of people in that generation have sadly passed away. Now it's the responsibility of their children and their grandchildren, their great grandchildren, to kind of carry on their legacies.”

Ella, who is studying A-level history, further emphasised the importance of Holocaust education for the next generation: “I just think it's so important. I think it's such a fascinating period of history to study as well. It's quite like a big interest of mine.

Ella is now the fourth generation of the Shapira family to be an active member of the AJR.