Mark Schonwetter was a young child in Brzostek, Poland when Germany invaded and his family was forced out of their home. After his father was taken by the Gestapo, Mark fled along with his mother and sister. They spent time in a nearby ghetto and then went into hiding in the Polish countryside, where they remained for three years. By the end of the war, Mark was one of only a few surviving Jews from Brzostek.
Mark emigrated to the United States in 1961 and found work in a jewelry factory. He ultimately purchased another jewelry company and remained in the jewelry business until he retired in 2018.
Join Mark and his daughter Ann Arnold, author of Together: A Journey for Survival, for this Stories Survive program exploring Mark’s story of courage and compassion.
A $10 suggested donation enables us to present programs like this one. We thank you for your support.
Photo: Ann Arnold and Mark Schonwetter
Stories Survive is made possible by the Goldie & David Blanksteen Foundation.
Public programming at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act; and other generous donors.
Watch Here:
