Sholom Hersh was born in Romania to Zalman and Pessil Hershkovitz, the sole survivor of his immediate family after his brother Itzik, sisters Rachel and Frimid, and both parents were brutally murdered in Auschwitz. His survival hinged on exceptional horsemanship and sharp wit—skills honed as a boy under his father’s guidance—which he used to care for Nazi horses and drive wagons through the war’s darkest days. Resilience and determination became his anchors amid unimaginable hardship.
After liberation, Sholom immigrated to the United States, spending a year in the hospital before finishing high school in Detroit, Michigan. It was in Canada that he met Esther, his beloved wife of 60 years, and together they settled in Brooklyn, New York. There, they raised their family while he built a thriving sweater factory in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a business that grew into a major supplier for top retailers, complete with a Manhattan showroom. His keen artistic eye and flair for pairing colors and patterns set him apart in the fashion world.
Sholom channeled his Holocaust experiences into My Holocaust Miracles, an autobiography blending raw pain with enduring hope. His gift as an author shone through, capturing a life shaped by both tragedy and faith. Success never dulled his generous spirit; known for humor and warmth, he poured himself into family, community, and causes supporting Jewish life in the United States and Israel.
In his later years, Sholom made Boynton Beach, Florida, his home, where he became a cherished synagogue member and the proud patriarch—affectionately called “Zaidy”—to a growing family. Surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he shared stories, laughter, and wisdom until the end.
He leaves behind three sons—Joshua, Paul, and Michael—eight grandchildren: Yocheved, Sol, Isaac, Pearl, Juda, Natalie, Tehila, and Bas Tzion, as well as two great-grandchildren: Esther and Serena.
Through them, Sholom’s legacy of strength, love, and perseverance endures. Gone but never forgotten, may his memory be a blessing as he rests in peace, our beloved Zaidy.
