His Mother Testified at the Eichmann Trial, and He Rescues Books: A Holocaust Survivor's Fascinating Interview

Reuven Kampnienie was born in 1942 somewhere in Italy, during the height of World War II. His father was taken from Florence to Auschwitz, where he was murdered, and his mother entrusted him to a non-Jewish family until 1945 when, miraculously, she managed to rescue him and bring him to Israel before the war ended.

“I was just a baby during the war, and I don’t remember anything,” notes Kampnienie, now living in Jerusalem, a father and grandfather to many. “But when I was 19, my mother was invited to testify at the Eichmann trial. In this historical trial, representatives from each Nazi-occupied country were invited to describe the suffering of Jews during those years, and my mother was chosen to testify about Italian Jewry. She was the sister of the famous Rabbi Dr. Nathan Cassuto, who was very active in the Jewish community in Italy, and she was chosen because she endured severe hardships and witnessed the suffering of the Jews up close.”

“The time of the trial was unforgettable in my life. I felt very tangibly how my past impacts my entire existence, and as a Holocaust survivor, it instilled in me the desire to continue documenting the heritage of Israel.”

The Mission: Saving the Books

Kampnienie spent his childhood and youth in Kvutzat Yavneh, where he moved with his mother near the outbreak of the War of Independence. He later married and enlisted in the permanent army, serving in the Intelligence Corps until the age of forty, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

In those days, a surprising change occurred in his life. “Being so involved in the intelligence field, it was expected that I would look for a job that required extensive intellectual knowledge,” he notes. “Additionally, I have long been engaged in writing commentaries on the Jerusalem Talmud and have authored a few books, which increased the likelihood that I would seek an intellectual and research-oriented job.”

But Kampnienie surprised everyone by setting up a workshop near his Jerusalem home, where he began meticulously restoring ancient books. “There were two reasons for this,” he explains. “I love to read, especially non-fiction, and I also have a passion for crafts. Initially, I thought of becoming a welder, but after the idea of repairing ancient books came to mind, I realized I could combine these two loves. Indeed, I’ve been in this field for over 40 years now.”

“Incidentally, I inherited the blend of intellectual learning and craftsmanship from my late mother, who was a mathematics teacher and held a doctorate from the University of Rome until her passing about thirty years ago. She prepared students for high school exams and trained teachers, yet she also engaged in handcrafts, embroidery, ceramics, and sewing, seeing no contradiction between them. I also feel connected to crafts alongside intellectual pursuits, which is exactly what keeps me in the profession for so many years.”

Who are the people who come to your workshop, and why would anyone want to restore ancient books?

“I meet two types of people: book collectors who acquire books at auctions, from collectors, or other dealers, sometimes spending a fortune, and want to strengthen them to preserve them for many years. But there are those who inherit books passed down through generations. Sometimes these books have monetary value, and other times just sentimental value, but it’s important to them to keep these books in good condition. So, they come to me to request repairs for preservation.”

A Surprise in the Binding

Kampnienie emphasizes that his main work is in binding restoration. “If it’s possible to restore the existing binding, I certainly keep it, only strengthening the corners and the book’s spine. When dealing with the restoration of bindings, I sometimes encounter intriguing phenomena. Because in books bound 300 to 400 years ago, there was often a shortage of cardboard, and so paper sheets were frequently used. Thus, when I dismantle the bindings, I sometimes find old pages within them with printed Torah insights or prayers, sometimes even handwritten. It sometimes turns out that these pages are much older than the book itself, and their monetary value is higher. However, it’s crucial to note that I do not deal with the monetary appraisal of books. But because I have many clients who work in appraising ancient books, I refer those interested in finding out the book’s value to them,” he explains.

Kampnienie also shares a unique story: “One day a history professor came to me with an old book with an ancient parchment cover glued to cardboard, asking me to strengthen the binding. I immediately recognized the cardboard had no value, but the parchment needed preservation, so I gently removed the cover and submerged it in a water bath. After two minutes, I returned to see the water had changed color. I quickly removed the cover, realizing the parchment was likely illustrated on its inner side, and indeed, I wasn’t mistaken. When I separated it from the cardboard, I found inside a wonderful illustration of a ketubah. It wasn’t a complete ketubah, only the upper decorations, but they were very precise. When I called the book owner, he was very impressed with the discovery, and being a historian, he identified the date of the ketubah creation based on the parchment and the illustrations, dating it to the 15th century.”

Siddurim from the War Years

Book restoration goes beyond just binding, as Kampnienie often encounters the need to care for torn pages, especially in siddurim used daily, and prayers like morning blessings or kri'at shema that are frequently recited. “The closer the pages are to the binding, the more at risk they are of wear, as there are no other pages to protect them,” he explains.

And how do you handle such situations?

“I must admit that paper restoration expertise is on the margins of my work. While I do engage in this, there are greater experts than me. Personally, I usually do a quick restoration and my clients are satisfied with that, but for significant needs, I forward the books to the Hebrew University, where there is a special machine for restoring ancient books. It’s built with a network of screens on which torn paper is placed, passing through them a paper pulp that seeks out holes or tears, and fills them in a very professional manner.”

What about missing letters?

“Restoring letters is less common, but there are collectors who fill them in themselves, sometimes even copying entire missing pages so that the book is complete and nothing is missing.”

Kampnienie personally notes that he is especially moved when books that survived the Holocaust are brought to him for restoration by descendants of their owners. “A siddur used by Jews in Auschwitz recently came to me,” he notes emotionally, “as well as many holy books found after the war in attics or cellars. Each time I restore them with trembling hands, thinking about the great privilege we have as Jews to continue the eternal Torah, even after years of exile, to preserve the precious books important to us and pass on the tradition.”

He also has a message for those considering restoring their books: “If you feel a special value in the book or a close connection to it, it’s worth investing, and even if the book seems beyond repair, it will surely look better after treatment. But if you have no interest in praying from a siddur that your grandmother shed tears into, or holding a book that belonged to your grandfather's grandfather, it’s worth passing. Such books can be bought in a store at much lower prices. Restoration is meant only for nostalgia and antique enthusiasts, and that’s exactly why I am here.”