Thank you for this. I lived in Germany, as a high school student. We took a field trip to Dachau and, eventually, Auschwitz-Birkenau. I'm not sure if it was my imagination or some sort of spiritual connection but it was as if I could feel agony, particularly in the showers and crematoriums. I was 16. I had to leave and wait on the bus because it was so overwhelming. As an adult, I worked at the State Department, here in DC. Before the Holocaust Museum opened, they had a display in the front lobby of where I worked. They had blown up photos of life, in concentration camps, to life size. It was very visceral, walking through there every day, seeing these photos so up close and personal. So now, seeing the hatred and idiocy again just makes me mad and proves to me that time is cyclical rather than linear. And I'm doing what I can to fight against hate.
My family was lucky. Both sides of grandparents left Russia (what is now Ukraine) before the turn of the 20th century. But we were taught the horrors of the Holocaust. Many of my childhood friends had parents whose forearms bared their concentration camp tattoos. We have always said, "Never again" and believed it. I no longer believe it. Any society that can elect the likes of Trump, Gaetz, Greene, Jordan, can be easily led down that path. They need someone to blame for the struggles in their lives- conveniently forgetting that we all have struggles. Thank you for sharing your father's very poignant words, and of course for honoring his love of cookies.
That was a moving remembrance. Thanks so much for sharing. Wondering if you have thought about sharing this with or donating it to the Museum of Jewish Heritage- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in NYC (where I happen to be an educator)?
Thank you for sharing that. It is profound and sadly, timely. It is remarkable that some of us, and I include myself in that category, thought this was history and not current events. Be safe.
Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life. My college best friends father was a survivor of Dachau and Auschwitz and was one of the most gentle and accepting people I’ve known. I don’t understand religious hatred. I’ve seen it but cannot fundamentally understand it
Thank you for sharing this. I'm on the autism spectrum and I try to deal with the world using logic but there is absolutely no logic to such hatred. I grew up in a neighborhood in St Louis where everyone I knew was either Jewish or Catholic. My family was Irish Catholic. Our next door neighbor was a Rabbi, his wife and their children. I remember in grade school having to go door to door on our street selling holy cards, crosses and rosaries (early 1960s) to raise money for our Catholic school. It wasn't until years later that I thought about the fact that I had sold these items to many of my Jewish neighbors who were so supportive and gracious. In high school I remember watching documentaries of the horrors of the Holocaust and I can still recall some of the images. I was taught that you should never hate the person; hate what they say and do. I cannot understand hating the personal or physical attributes of another human being but I know it exists and I have experienced misogyny. We all have to do much, much better.
Thank you so much for sharing this. We must never forget this horrible time in our history and be reminded that we must be vigilant that it never happens again.
Thank you for your father's remembrance by his letter. Impossible to comprehend the horrors. But here we are, again, today. Love remembering the good..his favorite biscotti in the jar.
Thank you for this. I lived in Germany, as a high school student. We took a field trip to Dachau and, eventually, Auschwitz-Birkenau. I'm not sure if it was my imagination or some sort of spiritual connection but it was as if I could feel agony, particularly in the showers and crematoriums. I was 16. I had to leave and wait on the bus because it was so overwhelming. As an adult, I worked at the State Department, here in DC. Before the Holocaust Museum opened, they had a display in the front lobby of where I worked. They had blown up photos of life, in concentration camps, to life size. It was very visceral, walking through there every day, seeing these photos so up close and personal. So now, seeing the hatred and idiocy again just makes me mad and proves to me that time is cyclical rather than linear. And I'm doing what I can to fight against hate.
Black peoples understand pain and the stupidity of haters. They tend to be spiritually evolved, from my observation.
My family was lucky. Both sides of grandparents left Russia (what is now Ukraine) before the turn of the 20th century. But we were taught the horrors of the Holocaust. Many of my childhood friends had parents whose forearms bared their concentration camp tattoos. We have always said, "Never again" and believed it. I no longer believe it. Any society that can elect the likes of Trump, Gaetz, Greene, Jordan, can be easily led down that path. They need someone to blame for the struggles in their lives- conveniently forgetting that we all have struggles. Thank you for sharing your father's very poignant words, and of course for honoring his love of cookies.
Beautifully written and painful to read. Thanks for reminding us.
As a second generation, as someone whose survivor parents have passed, thank you for this beautiful essay and for all the sharing that you do.
That was a moving remembrance. Thanks so much for sharing. Wondering if you have thought about sharing this with or donating it to the Museum of Jewish Heritage- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in NYC (where I happen to be an educator)?
Thank you for sharing that. It is profound and sadly, timely. It is remarkable that some of us, and I include myself in that category, thought this was history and not current events. Be safe.
Thank you for sharing. Your father wrote beautifully. It's important that he shared this with you and now, so many more. Profound.
I’m saving this to make sure all my grandchildren read it when the time is right. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life. My college best friends father was a survivor of Dachau and Auschwitz and was one of the most gentle and accepting people I’ve known. I don’t understand religious hatred. I’ve seen it but cannot fundamentally understand it
Thank you for sharing. So important to remember.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm on the autism spectrum and I try to deal with the world using logic but there is absolutely no logic to such hatred. I grew up in a neighborhood in St Louis where everyone I knew was either Jewish or Catholic. My family was Irish Catholic. Our next door neighbor was a Rabbi, his wife and their children. I remember in grade school having to go door to door on our street selling holy cards, crosses and rosaries (early 1960s) to raise money for our Catholic school. It wasn't until years later that I thought about the fact that I had sold these items to many of my Jewish neighbors who were so supportive and gracious. In high school I remember watching documentaries of the horrors of the Holocaust and I can still recall some of the images. I was taught that you should never hate the person; hate what they say and do. I cannot understand hating the personal or physical attributes of another human being but I know it exists and I have experienced misogyny. We all have to do much, much better.
Thank you so much for sharing this. We must never forget this horrible time in our history and be reminded that we must be vigilant that it never happens again.
Thank you for sharing this timely and heart wrenching reminder.
Thank you. And your intrepid father.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your father's remembrance by his letter. Impossible to comprehend the horrors. But here we are, again, today. Love remembering the good..his favorite biscotti in the jar.