Grandson Tracks Down Great-Uncle in Paris, Uncovering Family History
A grandson, Amitai, traveled to Paris with the intention of meeting a cousin but ended up visiting a great-uncle, Albert, whom he had never met. Albert, 84, lives in Paris and is known for his unusual companion, a pet rat named Natalie. Amitai's grandmother in Israel had provided him with Albert's contact information, warning that he was not particularly polite.
During their meeting, Albert revealed details about his life, including his experiences during World War II. He recounted how his family narrowly escaped Nazi persecution in Brussels, being hidden by a man who was a Nazi sympathizer but ultimately did not betray them. Albert also spoke about being separated from his brother, Max (Amitai's grandfather), and placed in various foster homes, some of which were abusive or antisemitic.
Amitai discovered that Albert had a significant online presence years prior, appearing in a viral video on the Paris metro with his rat. His mother recognized Albert from the video, connecting him to Max. Albert's affinity for rats began years ago, and he has kept them as pets ever since, finding them affectionate and manageable companions.
Albert's life has been marked by extensive travel. He lived in a kibbutz in Israel for a time and was involved in the Dror youth movement, similar to his brother Max. However, Albert was not as ideologically driven as his brother and eventually returned to Belgium to serve in the military before embarking on decades of global travel. He funded his journeys by giving lectures about the cultures and tribes he encountered, often using a slide projector, and later worked in the tourism industry.
His Paris apartment is filled with a vast collection of souvenirs from his travels, including tribal artifacts, taxidermied animals, and religious items. Albert attributes his survival and opportunities to luck, being born at the right time to avoid the worst of the war and live in a world that was still open to exploration. He recently married Florence, who owns a pet shop, after a long period of bachelorhood, and now spends his days reading and with his wife, though he struggles with mobility due to illness.
