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Lives in the Yiddish
Theatre
The Fischer Family
Warszawa, Poland
before World War II
Liza Barska Fischer
"My grandparents Liza Barska
and Herman Fischer and their three children were very active in the
Yiddish theatre in pre-war Warsaw. My father Boris, or Bruce as he was
known in the United States, was one of their children. He was the only
member of the family not to appear on stage. He managed to immigrate to
the United States in September 1938, barely escaping the fate that befell
many Jews not long after.
My father's parents, along with his sisters Luba
and
Anka, all perished in
the Holocaust. Herman and Liza met in Odessa while Herman was there on
tour with the United Troupe, the first Yiddish troupe of Warsaw. They
married a short time later and then moved to Warsaw where they made a name
for themselves in the Yiddish theatre. Herman was a director of Yiddish
plays, and Liza was a character actress. Herman was also one of the
founders of the Hebrew Actors Union in Warsaw.
Their daughters Anka and Luba also acted in Yiddish theatre. Luba, who was
married to the famous Polish actor Jacek Woszczerowicz, also appeared in
films using the name Eliza Fischer or Luba Ditris. Anka, also known as
Anna, appeared as a singer of American jazz songs in a Warsaw cafe in
1941, where just three days before, Wladyslaw Szpilman, the man whose
story was told in the movie "The Pianist" had performed. My father Bruce
didn't talk very often about his family because of the overwhelming
sadness it brought. I always wished they too could have immigrated and had
the opportunity to live their extraordinary lives here in the United
States. I would love to have known them, spend time with them, surrounded
by their love, and to listen to them tell stories about their experiences
in Poland and the Yiddish theatre of Warsaw."
next, Luba Fischer
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more fischer family photos |
Liza Barska Fischer
in Solomon Ettinger's
"Serkele"
Warszawa, Poland |
Liza Barska Fischer
in 'Rumanian' role |
Liza and
Herman Fischer
cir early 1920s
Warszawa, Poland |
Liza's husband Herman Fischer, seated far right,
reading the newspaper, with the
founders of the Hebrew Actors Union
Warszawa, Poland
cir early 1920s |
daughter/performer
Anka (Anna) Fischer
Warszawa, Poland
1938
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daughter/actress
Luba Fischer
Warszawa, Poland
1930s |
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