In the mid-19th Century, der Reute Yussell walked to the town square of a small Jewish Shtetl in Eastern Poland. The authorities named him AugenBraun for his brown eyes. This is the story of Yussel’s grandson Eliahu Augenbraun, his son Ahron Augenbraun, his daughter Eliene Augenbraun, and her son… me.
Eliahu Augenbraun was the head of the family in Lancut, Poland. He was killed, along with most of his family and friends, in 1942.
Eliahu Augenbraun (right) smokes a cig while posing for a photo. 1910s, Poland.
Ahron and Dvora hid quietly in a forest as their parents were executed.
Ahron Augenbraun (left) and his sister Dvora Augenbraun (right) hanging out with friends in Israel, 1958
Ahron snuck into British Mandate Palestine. In 1946, he joined the Lehi militia, then the Hagana, then became a police officer and amateur boxer.
Working papers for Ahron Augenbraun written in Hebrew, 1946
General Moshe Dayan waived to his tank unit as they crossed the Sinai desert in 1956.
Egyptian officer’s sword, taken in battle by Ahron Augenbraun. Photographed on a balcony, Oct. 21, 2026 ©AlexAugenbraun
Dvora stayed in Israel with her daughter Estee.
Dvora Augenbraun (left) with daughter Estee (right) holding some babies, Israel, 1960
Ahron met Loretta Shapiro on a boat from New York to Tel Aviv, 1960.
Ahron and Loretta (middle) meet each other on a boat, April 1960.
They got married 4 months later.
Ahron and Loretta at their wedding, surrounded by friends and Ahron’s sister Dvora (left). Israel, July 1960
They settled down in Wilmington, Delaware, and ran an interior design store.
Tilly the cat sits on a blueprint from Wilmington Designed Interiors. Oct. 21, 2026. ©AlexAugenbraun
They named their first child “Eliene.”
Loretta, Eliene, and Ahron Augenbraun sitting in their home in Wilmington, DE. 1965
They named the next two Joseph and Jeanne
Jeanne transitioned to male after their mom died. They now go by Joshua.
On the left: Eliene, Dvora, Joseph Augenbraun.
On the right: Loretta, Joshua Augenbraun
1978
Eliene, or “Leenie” was a band nerd.
Eliene Augenbraun holds the clarinet she played for the Fighting Green Knights marching band. Wilmington, DE. 1973
Eliene got married twice. She also got divorced twice.
Eliene’s first wedding, flanked by her parents Loretta and Ahron, her cousin Estee Adoram and her son Izzy. 1989
Eliene finally had a son in 2003. She named me Alex.
Loretta and Ahron pose with their only grandchild in their daughter’s apartment in Riverdale, Bronx. 2005
Ahron and Loretta are no longer with us… But there stuff is.
China cabinet drenched in items Loretta and Ahron found on their many travels. Oct. 21, 2026. ©AlexAugenbraun
Eliene and Alex are working on a documentary about inter-generational trauma.
Eliene working at her desk on Oct. 21, 2026. ©AlexAugenbraun
We have a lot of sources
Ahron Augenbraun’s discharge diploma from the IDF. Taken Oct. 21, 2026. ©AlexAugenbraun
Generations of trauma.
Family tree drawn by Eliene Augenbraun, shot Oct. 21, 2026. ©AlexAugenbraun
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