A Forgotten Trace
For 82-year-old Dawid Goldman from Tel Aviv, returning to Poland was supposed to be about finally closing a painful chapter. Dawid had left the country in March 1968, during the wave of antisemitic persecution by the communist regime. He left with nothing but a single suitcase, his memories, and a profound sense of loss.
In the chaos of that time, he lost contact with his younger sister, Elżbieta, who had chosen to stay behind to care for their gravely ill stepfather. For nearly sixty years, both lived believing they would never see each other again.
Everything changed when Dawid’s granddaughter, Noa, found the Greetings from Poland website, which specializes in Jewish heritage tours and family history research. She filled out a simple inquiry form, providing just a couple of old addresses and their pre-war family surname.
Tracing the Past
Soon after, three generations of the Goldman family landed in Warsaw. They were met at the airport by a private driver and an expert historian-guide from GFP Travel. Their custom itinerary took them through the historic sites of Warsaw, past old shtetls, and around the grand industrial palaces of Łódź.
While Dawid visited cemeteries and memorials with a heavy heart, the real milestone of the trip was waiting for them in Lower Silesia.
Many reviews of these private tours in Poland praise the guides for doing extensive homework, often digging through local archives, parish records, and registry offices before the guests even arrive. This trip was no different. As their comfortable minibus approached Wrocław, their guide, Marcin, turned to Dawid with a smile.
"Mr. Dawid, you mentioned that Elżbieta always loved architecture. I have a quick surprise for you along our route."
A Surprise in Wrocław’s Nadodrze District
Instead of going straight to the hotel, the van pulled into the charming, cobblestone streets of Wrocław’s Nadodrze neighborhood. Dawid watched the restored old apartment buildings pass by, his heart beating faster. They pulled up outside a small, cozy secondhand bookstore. The guide opened the door, and the family stepped inside, greeted by the warm smell of old paper and fresh coffee.
Behind the counter sat an elegant, elderly woman in glasses, looking over some old prints of the city. Dawid froze. Despite the 58 years that had passed, he instantly recognized her eyes—they were the exact same eyes of his teenage sister standing on the platform at the Warszawa Gdańska train station.
"Ela?" he managed to say in Polish, his voice cracking.
The book she was holding slipped from her hands and hit the wooden floor with a thud.
"Dawid…? It can't be. I thought you went to America… I thought you were gone," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
History Rewritten
As it turned out, Elżbieta had taken her husband's surname when she married and moved from central Poland to Wrocław, which is why all of Dawid's old letters had never reached her. It took the dedicated research team at Greetings from Poland to connect the dots and find the shop where she spent her days.
That evening in Wrocław—surrounded by children and grandchildren who were meeting their Polish aunt for the very first time—became the highlight of the entire trip. Instead of just remembering the past, Dawid was able to celebrate a new beginning.
Later, Noa left a review online, writing:
"We came to Poland to honor our ancestors, but thanks to some amazing people, we found a living family. This trip gave us more than we ever could have hoped for."
Ready to Discover Your Own Story?
If you are ready to trace your roots, explore historic towns, and uncover your family’s unique heritage, let the experts guide you. Check out the custom itineraries on Greetings from Poland and start planning a journey that could change your family's history forever.
