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Solveig Levin (105 years old) has survived two world wars, the Holocaust and a Cold War. Readers of Aftenposten have nominated her for the Oslo Citizen of the Year award.
Solveig Levin (right) has been nominated for the Oslo Citizen of the Year award. – I have had a rich life, although I have a lot of pain, he says. Here with her daughter Mona Levin. Photo: Jan T. Espedal
- Cast your vote at the bottom of the case:
– I think it’s a difficult time with the coronavirus, says contemporary witness Solveig Levin.
Levin lived at his home at Gabels Gate in Frogner until 11 months ago. He now lives in Jødisk bog seniorsenter, next to the synagogue. She reads Aftenposten every day and stays informed about what is happening both in Oslo and in the world.
Now our readers have nominated her as one of the candidates for Oslo 2020 Citizen of the Year. She is not sure if she deserves it.
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– Absolutely cruel to be quarantined.
The justification for the nomination reads:
“She is an important contemporary witness in a year of growing anti-Semitism. Levin managed to escape to Sweden during World War II. But he had to live with the loss of family, friends and an entire Jewish community in Oslo. She is a person of whom everyone should learn in school. Where others would have given up, Solveig Levin continued. “
– I don’t understand why I’m nominated. There are at least 100 others who deserve it more than me. I vote for him, the doctor, for Espen Rostrup Nakstad, says Solveig Levin over the phone.
She is in quarantine because one of the employees is infected with coronary disease.
– It’s absolutely cruel to be in quarantine. We are completely isolated, but we have no other choice. During these ten days we will do three tests.
– All I do is read. I also have knits and puzzles, he says.
Solveig Levin on his 105th birthday last year. On December 29 he will turn 106 years old. Photographed by violinist Ole Bøhn. Photo: Ole Bøhn
Much time to think
You also have a lot of time to think about life.
– My life is full of sadness and joy. A pain that never passes, he says and talks about his little brother murdered in Auschwitz and the flight to Sweden during World War II. On going back to Oslo and living with the loss of family and friends.
– I have had a rich life, even though I have a lot of pain. I had a wonderful life with Robert. Following his career from when he started playing at Rosekjelleren until he ended up as rector of the Norwegian Academy of Music, it was great, she says.
Solveig Levin married the pianist Robert Levin (1912-1996) in 1938. The daughters are the journalist and author Mona Levin (81 years old) and the music educator Sidsel Levin (76 years old), who for many years was director of the Jewish Museum from Oslo.
– I also have three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and three or four extra great-grandchildren. Everyone is so attentive to me. That they bother to have so much contact with me, I think it’s great.
Levin believes that she has a rich life even after the death of her husband.
– I have had the great pleasure of having a great network of friends, as well as family. I am grateful for both friends and family, she says.
The Levin family in Sweden during World War II. Fv Mona, Solveig with Sidsel on her lap and Robert Levin. Photo: Private
Growing anti-Semitism
– I often sit and think about everything I have experienced, and I think it is very sad to see a growing anti-Semitism around the world. There has been anti-Semitism since the dawn of time and I never think it will end.
Levin believes this is due to a lack of historical knowledge and understanding among many.
– You fled across the border into Sweden during the war. What do you remember from today’s leak?
– You know what? I remember everything. I remember every step that was taken. It was a dramatic escape, and I had Mona, who was three years old, with me. But we had a wonderful without limits. I remember it well.
About the time during the occupation, he says:
– I remember the fear we had all the time. But we still couldn’t imagine all that was to come. That Jews should be subjected to chemical genocide. It’s awful. It is a pain that never goes away. When we returned to Oslo, all the Jews had lost someone. And some Jews had lost everyone in their family.
– What would you say are the biggest challenges for Jews today?
– It’s the growing anti-Semitism.
Quarantined
2020 did not go as planned for anyone. Nor for Levin
– I think quarantine is difficult. And that is for many.
– What do you think of the pandemic?
– There are so many things we don’t know about the virus. But Nakstad has been fantastic the whole time. It has helped us stay calm. So it is he who should receive this Aftenposten award.
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