Commemoration to Zigi Shipper
By Katie Light, Third-Year History and Holocaust Educational Trust Regional Ambassador
In this article of The Bristorian, we would like to pay a special tribute to Zigi Shipper BEM (1930-2023)
Zigi was born in 1930 in Lodz, Poland, where he attended a Jewish school. When he was five years old, his parents divorced, but as they were Orthodox Jews, the divorce was frowned upon, and he was told that his mother had died instead. In 1939, when the war started, Zigi’s father left for the Soviet Union, as his father thought that it was only young Jewish men that were at risk, not children or the elderly. However, in 1940 Zigi was made to move into the Lodz ghetto, where he was made to work in a metal factory. In 1944, this ghetto was liquidated, and Zigi was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. After a few weeks, he was then moved to Stutthof concentration camp before being sent on a death march in 1945. Zigi was then liberated by British troops on the 3rd of May 1945 and came to the UK in 1947, where he met his wife, had two daughters and lived in Hertfordshire.
Zigi Shipper was both a charming and inspirational character who has spoken in schools across the country and strived to teach the next generation about the lessons of the past. He’s been a formidable individual, as in 2017, he joined the Prince and Princess of Wales on their visit to the Stutthof concentration camp. In 2022, King Charles even commissioned a portrait of Zigi that acts as a notion of Zigi’s character.
Unfortunately, Zigi passed in January 2023 and is a great loss for his family, survivors and anyone that felt touched by his story and charismatic energy.
To commemorate Zigi, two Regional Ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust at the University of Bristol would like to share a few words on their remembrance of Zigi. Zigi’s passing is a huge loss but also a reminder that we should never forget individuals such as Zigi. His story should live on and act to ensure that atrocities, such as the Holocaust and genocides around the world, should be spoken about and cease to exist.
“Zigi was an incredibly impactful person. His energy that he brought was something to be in awe of. I first met Zigi in 2019 and he was the first Holocaust survivor testimony that I had heard in person. There’s something so special to be in a room full of people, who are listening so deeply to his words. At the end of his testimony, I waited to ask him a few questions that occurred to me when listening to his testimony – he’d never met me once, but welcomed me as if he had, with the most gentle handshake. Meeting Zigi then became the reason I applied to become a Regional Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, so that testimonies like his can continue to live on. It is no secret that, unfortunately, one day Holocaust survivors will not be able to tell their story. With the passing of Zigi, this is made clearer. We need to continue telling people about his story and make sure it lives on. This is incredibly important in our current climate, where antisemitism, racism and genocide continues globally. The Holocaust may have ended 78 years ago, but the reason it is still taught still exists. We should not ignore what is happening around the world, we need to voice all their testimonies and make sure that they are taught. Zigi was an extraordinary character, but it does not mean that others cannot be like him. We should all be like Zigi and voice stories of oppression, so that others learn from it.”
Katie Light – Holocaust Educational Trust Regional Ambassador – History 3rd Year
“Whenever you met Zigi, it was obvious that he enjoyed being around people. His warmth and kindness were palpable, and his smile infectious. Despite sharing the traumatic events of his life, he left a lasting impression of hope and positivity. He believed that sharing his story was crucial, and often reminded others that while the past cannot be changed, the future can be shaped. Zigi's legacy for me is this valuable lesson. A legacy that has left thousands of young people like me with the commitment to carrying on his mission – a mission to never allow hate and prejudice to go unchecked. I will miss Zigi dearly, may his memory be a blessing.”
Edward Crowson – Holocaust Educational Trust Regional Ambassador – Politics 4th Year