Ernest Levy's sardine tin

Category

Library Item

Item no

24135

Title

Ernest Levy's sardine tin

Description

A partly opened metal sardine tin desplaying a rope wick inside it.

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2011

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The sardine tin for which Levy's second book "The Single Light" is named. During the long, forced march to Belsen towards the end of the war, hungry and exhausted, he picked up a sardine tin discarded by a German guard, hoping that there might be something left to eat. But instead of drinking the dregs of oil in the tin he succeeded in fashioning a wick and lit a flame. Crammed together in a barn, he and other concentration camp inmates sang Maoz Tzur.

Ernest Levy was a holocaust survivor who after the war settled in Scotland. Originally from Bratislava he spent 48 years in Glasgow where he became a leading figure in the Scottish Jewish community. He spoke out about his experiences throughout his life, knowing that his testimony would help future generations remember this terrible time in history. For these efforts Ernest was made an O.B.E in 2002.

On his passing in 2009 his large collection of books, manuscripts and music were donated to Edinburgh City Libraries by his daughter Judy.

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