Student Profile: Bluma Zajac

An excellent call that twelve-year-old Bluma would be more likely than 1-year-old Bluma to have signed the album! A third Bluma Zajac was born in 1907, a bit too old to still be in school. The Bluma you have found is also within an appropriate age range for School #10B, leading me to believe that this is the Bluma who signed the album, so I’m going to mark your research on this stage as “confirmed.” Keep up the good work!

Bluma had different addresses listed on JewishGen's Lodz Ghetto list.

First address listed was Franz 38.  Second address was Kuhle 6 10, followed by a change of address on 03/10/1942 to Cranach 34.

Bluma had the same address listings as Chana Zajac (b 12/15/1907) on JewishGen Lodz Ghetto list.  Due to her exact address changes, and her age, I believe her to be a good fit to be Bluma's mother.  Also listed on the list was a Hela Zajac (b 1918 or 1919).  She had the same Franz address and flat as Bluma, but was sent to Chelmno on Transport 10 (as listed on JewishGen list).  I believe this may have been Bluma's older sister, who was transported to Chelmno before Bluma and her mother were transferred to the 2nd address.

Good research! As you probably noticed, there are two records for Bluma Zajac (b. Sept. 9, 1928). One of the records matches your conclusions: Bluma is listed at Franz. 38, Kuhle 6 Flat 10, and a change of address registration on October 3, 1942, to Cranach 34. Note that the second record lists Bluma as having lived at Wald 6 Flat 10. There is a good chance that this was the same as Kuhle 6 Flat 10. Also, note that it is very significant that Bluma was registered at a new address on October 3, 1942. This would mean that she avoided deportation to Chelmno in 1942, and it significantly increases the likelihood that she survived at least until the ghetto liquidation of August 1944; so, definitely look for further evidence related to Bluma in stages 3, 4, and 5.

As for Chana and Hela, Chana is a very good match to be Bluma's mother or aunt, given the birthdate and addresses. I'm not as confident about Hela. She has the same last name and same street address, but since there is no flat number listed for Hela, we have no way or knowing whether they lived in the same unit. They may have been related in some way, but she may not have been Bluma's sister. Keep up the great work!