The Holocaust Educational Trust is deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Kindertransport refugee Vera Schaufeld MBE at the age of 95.
Vera was an extraordinary woman whose gentle and kind nature touched everyone who had the privilege of meeting her. Vera turned her experience of profound loss into a lifelong commitment to education, understanding and hope. She spoke with honesty and warmth to countless young people, encouraging them to confront intolerance, racism and antisemitism.
Through her testimony in schools and colleges across the country, Vera shaped how generations of students understand the Holocaust and its lessons for today. We will miss her kind smile and gentle nature, and we will honour her by continuing her mission and ensuring that her story, and the lessons she shared, endure for generations to come.
Born in Prague in 1930, Vera spent her early childhood in Klatovy, where her father led the local Jewish community. In 1939, her parents made the heartbreaking decision to send her to Britain, believing they would soon join her. They never secured a visa, and in 1945 Vera learned that none of her family had survived. Despite this devastating loss, she rebuilt her life with courage and love. She trained as a teacher, spent time in Israel on a kibbutz where she met her husband Avram, and together they returned to England to raise a family.
May her memory be a blessing.