Sami Modiano got vaccinated: “We should not lose hope”

By Adam Smulevich*
“I have gone through many dramatic experiences in my life. A broken childhood at the age of eight as a result of racist laws. Expulsion from school, war, deportation. The horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau. And as if that was not enough, Covid-19. A harrowing experience, with so many people who unfortunately die alone, without comfort or company. However, we will slowly get out of it, especially thanks to the precious and tireless commitment of doctors and healthcare professionals. Today they made me feel at home. I was touched by their kindness and affection.”
Ninety-year-old Sami Modiano is one of the last surviving witnesses of the Holocaust. He had a tiring, yet exciting morning, last Monday. We called him on the phone when he returned home, a few hours after receiving the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the University Campus Bio-Medico in Rome. His inseparable wife Selma – who also got vaccinated this morning – was by his side.
“We are living in difficult times of great suffering for all mankind. The death count hurts me, but we should not lose hope. If we follow all precautions, everything will be fine sooner or later”, Modiano told Pagine Ebraiche.
He will carry the memory of the day with him for a long time: “We were greeted with great courtesy and affection. It was a very nice moment, and most importantly, everyone was greeted identically. Therefore, there are very positive feelings. It will take some time to beat the virus, but in this spirit we will succeed.”
Accompanying the witness of the Holocaust were – among others – the President of Lazio Region Nicola Zingaretti and the President of the Rome Jewish Community Ruth Dureghello.

(Picture by Stefania Casellato – Regione Lazio)

*Translated by Antonella Losavio and revised by Silvia Bozzo, students at the Advanced School for Interpreters and Translators of Trieste University, interns at the newspaper office of the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities.