Holocaust survivor rescued by Chief Rabbi Herzog reunites with his grandson, President Herzog

In the summer of 1946, David Danielski arrived at the Katowice railway station in Poland, part of a group of over 500 Jewish children rescued from the Holocaust. These children had been saved by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog and the Vaad Hatzala, the rescue committee he had established. Danielski, now known as Danieli, became one of Herzog's "children."

On Tuesday, Danieli met with President Isaac Halevi Herzog, the rabbi's grandson, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. The president, whose relatives have distinguished careers, was keenly aware of the rescue operation his grandfather had undertaken. He often quoted portions of the Shema prayer to identify Jewish children among the displaced ones.

Danieli's story is one of survival and resilience. When the Germans arrived in his hometown of Rybnik, his parents sent him to a farm, where he helped with chores. However, the farmer eventually sent him back home, realizing the danger Danieli posed. On the streets, Danieli encountered a non-Jewish neighbor who promised to protect him, and she did so by hiding him in her home. Despite the hardships, Danieli managed to survive, even receiving a Christian baptism.

After the war, Danieli moved in with the Kapitza family, who welcomed him into their home. Under the German occupation, he attended a German-run school and even joined the Hitler Youth. With the help of the Kapitzas, he eventually made his way to Israel, where he lived for 42 years, raising a family and contributing to the development of the Negev. Danieli recently celebrated his 94th birthday, a testament to his remarkable journey.