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2 THE '45 AID SOCIETY (HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS) PRESIDENT MANCHESTER SIR MARTIN GILBERT C.B,E., M.A" ER.S,L CHAIRMAN VICE PRESIDENTS MAYER BOMSZTYK MBEALE HIS HONOUR ISRAEL FINESTEIN Q.C. VICE CHAIRMAN BEN HELFGOTT M.B.E. H ELLIOT LORD GREVILLE JANNER OF BRAUNSTONE Q,C. SECRETARY PAUL YOGI MAYER YI.B.E, LOUISE ELLIOT ALAN MONTEFIORE, FELLOW OF BALLI­ OLCOLLEGE, OXFORD COMMITTEE MEMBERS DA11E SIMONE PRENDEGAST M BANDEL (WELFARE OFFICER), D.B.E., J.P', D.L. S FREIIvlAN, M FRIEDMAN, KRULIK WILDER M GOLDFINGER, V GREENBERG, HARRY SPIRO D HERMAN, S IRVING, J KAGAN, CHAIRMAN B OBUCHOWSKI, I RUDZINSKI, BEN HELFGOTT C SHANE, H SPIRO, H OLMER

VICE CHAIRMAN SECRETARY (LONDON) ZrGI SHIPPER MRS RUBY FRIEDMAN

TREASURER SECRETARIES (MANCHESTER) K ~VILDER MR AND MRS H ELLIOT FLAT 10 WATLING MANSIONS, WATLING STREET, RADLETT, HERTS WD7 7NA

SECRETARY JOURNAL OF THE M ZWIREK '45 AID SOCIETY 55 HATLEY AVENUE, BARKINGSIDE, EDITOR IFORD IG6 lEG BEN HELFGOTT

A1l submissions for publication in the next issue (including letters to the Editor and Members' News Items) should be sent to: RUBY FRIEDMAN, 4 BROADLANDS, HILLSIDE ROAD, RADLETT, HERTS WD7 7BX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SALEK BENEDICT for the cover design. RUBY FRIEDMAN and ARZA HELFGOTT for their kind assistance. PEGGY LUCAS for the typing of the Journal. ANGELA COHEN (daughter of Lottie and Moshe Malenicky) for facilitating the printing of the JournaL

Design by DOUGLAS GABUAT & LEE SABINI 020 8418 5555

3 , INDEX

Page 5 SECTION I Page 36 AMBULANCE DEDICATION Page 65-72 ISLAM AND EUROPE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE CEREMONY IN ISRAEL David Pryce-Jones Anne Pei.erson Page 6 CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS Page 73 SECTION VI Ben Helfgott M.B.E Page 36-37 INAUGURATION OF THE TEACHERS GARDEN AT BOOK REVIEW Page 7 SECTION II YADVASHEM PAST AND PRESENT Anne Peterson Page 73-74 OUTIVITTING HISTORY Aaron Lansky Page 7-8 THE SQUARE OF PEACE Page 37·38 SPEECH BY FIELD Reviewed by Aubrey Rose C.B.E. J anina Fischler Martinho MARSHAL LORD BRAMALL TO WELCOME THE Page 9 SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY Page 74·77 SAY THE NAME '45 AlD SOCIETY TO THE Judith H Sherman RETURN TO RAVENSBRUCK I.W,M. FOR THE SCREENING Juditb Sherman Introduction by OF HERB KROSNEY'S FILM Professor David CarrasC{) Page 10 SIXTY YEARS AGO I DO ''THE BOYS: TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY" ON NOT DIE Page 78 SECTION Vll Juclith Sherrnan THE OCCASION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY CORRESPONDENCE Page 10 EVKA'S REQUEST OF OUR ARRIVAL IN Judit.h Sherman ENGLAND Page 78 COMMENT ON THE Lord Field-Marshal Lm-d Bramall SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY Page 11 MY DARFUR MOTHER JOURNAL Judith Sherman Page 38·39 "MlR SENNEN DU' Herman 'faube Aubrey Rose C.B.E. Page 11-12 RECOLLECTIONS OF Page 78 THE CARING SOCIETY PRIMROSE JEWISH Pa~ 40·42 HOW SWIMMING YOUTH CLUB INFLUENCED MY UFE ShirJey Huberman ThelmB Marcus Susie Halter Page 79 A LETTER OF Page 13-14 MY ENCOUNTERS IN Page 42·43 A DREAM FULFILLED APPRECIATION GERMANY Jerzy Lando Alfred Huberman Anita Lasker-Wallfisch Page 44·48 A PLEA Page 79·80 THERE WAS STILL HOPE Page 14-15 LIBERATION OF DACHAU Lily Pohlrnann CONCENTRATION CAMP Chris Archbold Wit.old Cult Page 49·50 THE SPIRIT OF TOLEDO By a commentator Page 80·81 PROTEST AGAINST SCHOOLBOY'S POEM Page 15-18 THE PRICE OF IGNORANCE Page 51 REFLECTED PRIDE AND BETRAYAL Witold Gutt Michael Bandel Page 51 ROMAN HALTER Page 81 SECTION VIlI Page 18 ABOUT FAITH Page 52 SECTION IV OBITUARIES The Late Rabbi Hugo Gryn SECOND & THIRD GENERATION Page 19 SECTION III Page 81 A TIME TO REMEMBER - HERE AND NOW Page 52-53 '45 AlD SOCIETY SECOND HARRYWAJCHENDLER GENERATION UPDATE Ray Winogrodzki Page 19 THE BARMITZVAH THAT WAS 65 YEARS LATE Page 54 A DAY TO REMEMBER Page 82 CHAlM LEWKOWICZ Louisa Barnett Victor Poznanski PhD Eve Pearl Page 19-20 MY POST-WAR JOURNEY Page 55 THANK YOU FROM THE Page 83 NUSZI ROSENBERG FROM 1945 TO THE SECOND GENERATION PRESENT TIME Lesley Fox Testan David Herman Gtlna Shwarzman Page 56·60 A MEMORABLE 24 HOURS Page 83·84 RAY JACKSON Page 21 REVISITING WINTERSHALL WITH MY DAD (JAKUBOWICZ) Jack Hcr.ht Alien Fryden berg Shy Jackson Page 21-23 MAJER STERN'S Page 61·62 .MY THOUGHTS ABOUT Page 85 HASKIEL ROSENBLUM ROOTS TRIP VISITING POLAND Marion Stern Daniel Sbane M.ichael Etkind

Page 24 THE HOPE OF SURVIVAL Page 62-63 REME~mER AND NEVER Page 86 SECTION IX IN CAMPS FORGET Kurt Klappholz Av; Brand Page 86-87 MEMBERS NEWS 2005 Compiled by Ruby Friedman Page 25·27 PSYCHOSOClU ISSUES IN Page 63·64 GOOD EVENING - HEROES THE LIVES OF SURVIVORS OF THE SECOND Page 88-89 SECTION X The Late Shamai Davidson PhD WORLD WAR Tali Asher Page 28·31 A RETROSPECTIVE Page 88-89 MANCHESTER NEWS 2005 JOURNEY Page 64 BECOMING AWARE OF Compiled by Louise Elliot William Samelson THE HOPELESSNESS OF DEFENCE Page 90 SECTION XI Page 32 RETURN TO BERGEN Shlomo Raz Rosenberg BELSEN Page 90 FORTHCOMING EVENTS Eva Oppenheimel' Page 65 THE PRESENCE OF l\'IY AJ\TD ANNOUNCEMENTS GRANDMOTHER BLUMA Page 33-34 HOLOCAUST MEMORLt\L Hilary Duchovnay Page 90 SECTION XII DAY 27TH JANUARY 2005 Witold Gutt Page 65-72 SECTION V Page 90 ANNUAL OSCAR JOSEPH THE ANNUAL LEONARD G. Page 35 THE FOOTBALL MATCH MONTEFIORE LECTURE HOLOCAUST AWARDS Paul Openheimel'

4 SECTION 11 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It is always a pleasure to write a few words of introduction to the Journal. It is now almost thirty years since the first issue was published, edited by Kurt Klappholz, whom we all remember with affection.

In the past few years a number of you have published your memoirs. This is most welcome, as the educational aspect of teaching the Holocaust spreads through Britain and many other countries. Holocaust Memorial Day is now an established educational focus in Britain. The International Task Force for Holocaust Education, of which Ben Helfgott is an active member, is involved in educational work in twenty-four countries. That number is growing.

Among those of you whose memoirs have been published recently are Jack Klajrnan (Out of the Ghetto), 188Y Hahn (A Life Sentence of Memories), Sidney Finkel (Sevek and the Holocaust: The Boy who Refused to Die) and Roman Halter (Romek). Jack Kagan, whose memoirs Surviving the Holocaust with Russian Jewish Partisans were published six years ago, has now edited a major work on the history of his hometown, Novogrudek, entitled Novogrudek: The History of a Shetl.

The more memoirs, the better. As your President, who has writ­ ten your collective story, I welcome the publication of as many of your individual stories as possible.

This issue of the Journal will give pleasure to all of you, and, as your President, to me as well. Once more, Ben Helfgott is to be congratulated that - among his many onerous and important commitments, including as a Vice-President of the Claims Conference, which has done so much for survivors - he has found the time to prepare such a readable work.

Martin Gilbert

5 CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS

005 was a momentous year in the While recognlslng that we have been annuals of our Society. It began on the blessed with good fortune, we cannot ignore 227th January by meeting H.M. the the fact that 60 years after we have survived Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at St. what Sir Winston Churchill referred to as James' Palace and on page 90. Witold Gutt "horrors and miseries beyond comparison describes the honour and the privilege of in human experience)', the President of being recognised by Her Majesty and com­ Iran should threaten to wipe Israel off the memorating the National Holocaust map. Furthermore, he has invited leading Memorial Day with her on the 60th anniver­ Holocaust deniers to a Holocaust Denial sary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Conference which will take place in Teheran. Yam Ha'shoa and our annual reunion, By dismissing the Holocaust as a myth, which took place on the 8th l\1ay, marking the he is aiming to .de-legitimise Israel - to 60th anniversary of our liberation and rehabilitate anti-Semitism. After all, the the end of the Second World War, was Holocaust has generally been recognised as another unforgettable event, especially one of the most terrible crimes that ever that it was attended by over two hundred of took place and surely the very emblem of our second generation and a large contingent evil in the modern age. If that crime is a of our members from many parts of direct result of anti-Semitism itself, then the world. The reaction to this event is anti-Semitism is inevitably discredited by described by Lesley Fox-Testan and most people. Allen Frydenberg in Section IV - Second At the same time "The Protocols of Generation. the Elders of Zion", which were exposed as a Another of the highlights of the year was fake in 1921, are widely circulating in the the reunion in l\1ay in Israel where many of us Moslem world as propaganda against Jews as travelled simply to celebrate with the Israeli effectively as it was used in Nazi Germany. fraternity. Here again, the large contingent This danger can no longer be ignored and of the second generation was conspicuous must be taken seriously. and their presence rewarding. The comments In 1935, James G. McDonald, a offered by Shlomo Raz-Rosenberg in Section Commissioner for refugees at The League of IV were poignant when he described the Nations, resigned, stating "convinced as I am pivotal change of attitude in Israel towards that desperate suffering in the countries the Shoa from "Why did they go like lambs to adjacent to Germany, and even more terrible the slaughter?" to one of understanding and calamity within German frontiers) are admiration. The visit in Israel included the inevitable unless present tendencies in the dedication of the ambulance donated by Reich are checked or reversed. I cannot our Society to Magen David Adorn and the remain silent. I should be recreant if I did not dedication of a teachers' garden at Yad call attention to the actual situation and Vashern in memory of the educators who plead that world opinion, acting through the perished in the Shoa. A short account of these League of Nations and its member states and even ts is described by Anne Peterson. other countries move to alert the existing and Herb Krosney, an American film producer impending tragedies". living in Israel was inspired by the story of We know what happened to the League of "The Boys" and was motivated by Sir Martin Nations and we know unfortunately what Gilbert's book "The Boys - Triumph Over the consequences were when collective Adversity" to make a film about us, using the security failed in the 1930s. The United same title. We celebrated the 60th anniver­ Nations, too, has failed in its collective sary of the arrival of the first group of 300 of responsibili ty by not deterring or punishing 'The Boys' by holding a reception at the the aggression or reverse its consequences. Imperial War Museum, followed by a showing We as victims and witnesses of the most of the film. Field Marshal Lord Bramell heinous crime in history are duty bound to introduced the film and his speech on that continue relentlessly to warn mankind of occasion and an article by Aubrey Rose are what can happen to our civilisation printed in this edition. when indifference and disunity prevails.

6 SECTION II PAST AND PRESENT The Square of Peace By J anina Fischler hen I was a child, in Martinho never came back. Friends, Krakow, the autumn acquaintances, who "popped W was my favourite Janina lived in the Krakow in" for a while to give, to season. It still is. I thus Ghetto from where she receive news, to share hopes chose the month of October to escaped at the time of its final and fears, promising to keep make my annual pilgrimage liquidation in March 1943. in touch, never came back. to Krakow. I stayed, this She survived the war in And total strangers like the time, in a small, comfortable hiding. Her story is told in Kalfus family, who became hotel in Krakow's pre-war her book "Have You Seen My friends and who lived in that Jewish Quarter - Kazimierz. Little Sister?". Like many room to the very end of the It was only a stroll from there others who did not come to Ghetto existence. They left to Podgorze - the wartime England with the ((Boys JJ, holding their child by the Ghetto area which has she joined our society in hand and never came back .... remained, virtually, intact. recent years. She is a regular My mother's younger Although few material contributor to our journal. sister, Aunt Regina, died in changes have taken place that room. Died of grief in in the last sixty years, Memory is a gift ... and the night of the 11th the Square of Peace - the a duty... Prirno Levi. November 1942 ... the room Ghetto's only open space slept. My 16-year old cousin, which served, then, as a mar­ Zofia, left that room to be shalling yard and a homely, tiny, shoddily constructed, starved, to be worked to handy killing ground - was individual cubicles. All are death by successful Leipzig re-named soon after the war. sturdily padlocked. industrialists at the It now bears the name of The window of "our" room Skarzysko Kamienna "The Ghetto Heroes' Square". faces the courtyard. Its Chemical Plant... We, the Jews, lived during interior is hidden behind a By December 1942, when the years 1941-1943 within a fully-drawn, chipped and the Krakow Ghetto had stone's throw of the Vistula, cracked, Venetian blind. The barely three months of ''life'' so that once I have crossed window has a wide external left, yet another ingenious the bridge over the river, the stone-ledge. I spread upon it stratagem was thought up to Square, grey and empty, the fresh flowers I brought. I part the young and the fit spreads before me. Members stand there for a while. It is from the frail and the help­ of my closest family and a mild, peaceful afternoon. less. The Ghetto was split I lived in The Square at Autumnal fragrance is in the into two sectors - "A" and "B". No. 4 - our second abode in air. The sky is blue and clear The Labour Contingents and the Ghetto - right up to the - just as it was on the most the Jewish Police lived in Liquidation Action in March tragic Ghetto days. And I Sector "A", "Useless Mouths" 1943. The dreary, one-storey remember them - the many lived in Sector "B". A screen, corner building is still inhabitants of that long, as primitive as it was tempo­ there, fully functional, fully shadow-filled room. It is rary, was erected between the inhabited. A touch of mod­ unlikely that there is anyone two sectors - lines of barbed­ ernisation, of comfort, has, else, alive today, who could wire stretched from wooden however, been implemented re-create, people that room as stake to wooden stake. It had in the intervening years. it was, then, at the height of two narrow gates, guarded When we lived there one our misery. by the Jewish Police, for a communal outside toilet Both my grandmothers limited and strictly super­ served the whole building. walked from that room, vised degree of movement The mIsery of it! I unknowing, to their death. was authorised between the now notice, in the bleak Aunts, uncles, cousins, close two sectors. In the evening, courtyard, a longish row of and distant relations left and in the bitter cold, one would

7 see young people, living in doorway. And I, an old nowhere as clean, as neat, "A", carrying a saucepan, a woman, call out to them; as cared for as she. I was dish, a frying-pan of cooked tender diminutives, fond shabby. Already a vagrant ... food to their parents, family... nicknames.... They do not "Mamma says I must living in "B". Children came hear. They do not respond. become independent... it up to the wire and stretched To reach the doorway, to open means I must learn to look out their bare hands .... the door .... after myself. .. " I could not A 12-year old orphan, and Now, in October 2004, I take my eyes off her; she was they knew better than any­ walk slowly along the dim quite tall for her age, but body that I was an orphan, passage and stop in the skinny and pale. A plain had no right, no business to doorway. One last look .... child. Her nose already so much as set foot in Sector Maybe it is my last visit ... prominent, was pinkish. "A". Equally, Joseph, my 19- Did I catch sight of a lithe Only the eyes, large and soft, year old brother, a member shape, a filigree outline? did the colour of fine jade, held of a worthy lime-quarry I hear a child's voice whisper one. "Aren't you cold, Irene, press-gang, belonged, per­ my name - "J asia, J asia ... » standing here?" She was fectly legitimately, in Sector One day, in the winter of naturally quiet, timid... She "A}). He lived in that squalid, 1942, when the Krakow now spoke unna turally tightly-packed room at No. 4 Ghetto had been cleaved into rapidly and boastfully. She The Square of Peace. I two halves and '(the end" was had been told to be confident. tagged onto Joseph. He was nigh, I saw, as I approached And now independent as my life-support. And nobody No. 4, Irene Kalfus standing well. She did not understand grudged me a corner in that in the doorway. She was on why she needed to be either; room. Nobody minded my her own. An astonishing or how these skills were to be presence In that room ... sight. Her mother was manifested. HWe are safe. which I see in such vivid nowhere to be seen. She was We live in "A". I am going to detail through the drawn on her own! Irene Kalfus - leave the Ghetto. Soon... I Venetian blind... That room the youngest and the most am going to stay Vi/ith friends. where we gave vent to the vulnerable inhabitant of our Papa's friends... I am going rawest human grief, where room. She was dressed for to live with them. Mamma scalding tears ran down our going out. She had her and Papa will come to take faces... That room where warm winter coat on and a me back when the war is Fenia Kalfus, a descendant matching bonnet - the strap over. They promised. Jasia, of generations of strictly neatly fastened at the side of will the war be over soon?" observant, deeply pious her chin. Where could she be ('Irenko, Kotus, ja nie

Jews, listened to her small going? I looked around for wiem ... " (Irene 1 kitten, I daughter recite unfamiliar her mother, but she was not don't know... ). It will be dark prayers in preparation for there... Darkness would set soon. You have been standing survival... That room which in early on those short winter here for some time. Let's go is there to this day, and on days, but it was still daylight in." She put her gloved hand whose external window-ledge - frost-laden, opaque. It had in mine. Her mother was on I place flowers in memory of stopped snowing and the tenterhooks with anxiety. those for whom it was the Square, on our very doorstep, She had a small saucepan of final earthly shelter. glistened with the freshly milk warming on the stove. I I now stand by the window, fallen snow. Irene was wanted to help Irene take her I look, I listen... I close my snugly dressed; she did not coat and bonnet off, but I eyes to evoke them. They seem to feel the sub-zero remembered, in time, that come, as if in a dream, a temperature. I said: she must become indepen­ surreal dream... They are "Irene ... " and she nearly dent. Fenia Kalfus handed stubborn, determined... They smiled. I loved that child. I a beaker of warm milk to her crowd the cold, narrow looked at her. I wanted to put child. She tipped the remain­ passage. They push and my arms around her, give her der into a glass for me. The shove. They want to make it a hug, but I was not sure child nodded her head. to the doorway... To the air. if she would like it. She Irene Kalfus, aged ten A long, crooked line of was quite fastidious about years, perished in Auschwitz phantoms is making for the physical contact. And I was in May 1944.

8 Sixtieth Anniversary Return To Ravensbruck Judith Sherman - April 2005 ifty years ago I go back And I also show him the to commemorate the Judith (nee Stern) lived with three slices of bread in my F 50th anniversary of my her younger sister Miriam in bag which I bring from the liberation. It is my first Weir Courtney and in hotel every morning. This return. Immediately upon Lingfield House. She studied time I will not enter being seated on the Social Science at the L.S.E. Ravensbruck without bread Lufthansa plane going there, and later emigrated to the in my bag. And this time too I I ask the stewardess for USA where she lives with send a postcard to my home water - for water from a her husband, Reuven, a address. And this time German woman. This time I regular contributor to this all of us, family members will have water on the way to journal, in New Jersey. of INTACT families, place Ravensbruck. From the She recently published a roses onto the lake - to Camp I send a postcard to book "SAY THE NAME", remember. myself - to my home address. a survivor£s tale in prose and This time ~ this sixty years This time I will he back to poetry. An introduction to later time - I am aware of receive it. I say Kaddish in her book appears in this different changes. The sign Camp Sachsenhausen - the journal by Professor David above the gate "Arbeit Macht men's camp near Caraso in Section VI Book Frei" - Work Makes You Free Ravensbruck - for my father Review. - is no longer there. The Ele and his brother Moshe. barracks, where 6 to 8 of us My father was in Sixty years ago I am shared a narrow bunk- if we Sachsenhausen when I was liberated from were lucky, for others slept on in Ravens bruck - but at the the floor, or standing up - the time neither knew where the Ravensbruck barracks were no longer other was. Now I know and Concentration Camp. there. And soon we prisoners hope he hears my Kaddish. will no longer be there. And I God, see to it. I place a flower keep wondering - who will onto the lake in This time my husband, remember this place that Ravensbruck, the lake where Reuven, sons David and should not be, but must be the ashes from the cremato­ Allen, and granddaughter, remembered. For we must ria were thrown; a flower Ariel, go with me, Ariel is use this place of darkness for those who have no-one thirteen and a half years old, and ugliness, this Holocaust to place a flower for them. In close to the age I was when place as a beacon to gird the Commemoration Parade deported there. During the against. To protect against I march under the banner commemoration ceremony, its repetition - towards our­ of the Israeli flag. With the TV cameras are focusing selves, towards any people, reverence and gratitude - if on the dignitaries present. any time, any place. only we had an Israel back I say to the producer of Ariel, my granddaughter, then .. the TV programme - "The takes pictures, "to show my Now, sixty years later - in dignitaries are not the school," she says. Ariel the April 2005 - I return to significant element here, not witness. Ravensbruck agaln. To for us prisoners. The food I write the book "Say the commemorate the 60th there on those tables is. Name" to say the names - to anniversary of the liberation. That is what we notice first." remember - to gird against.

9 Sixty Years Ago I Do Not Die

Judith Sherman - April 2005

Sixty years ago I do not die. Though my death sentence is there. Sixty years - filled with life and life events. Youth, adulthood, old age. Family. Friends. Garden. An evolving tale of life's flow. And the old tale of sixty years ago remains. Much shorter in duration - eternal in duration. It stays and sticks. Screaming hunger. Frozen pores. Dead by morning. I write the book "Say The Name: A Survivor's Tale" The story is imprinted before I write it. No e]aborations. No additions. No forgetting. An old film finally developed. I write the book to reclaim their territory - their visibility. Hear the names. The laughs. The summer splash in the river. See their bicycles, candle sticks, poppy seed cake. Fair hair, dark hair, grey hair. Toothpaste, mended shoes, plum trees. I write the book to damn the dark that dismembered the Sun. For sixty years their names inhabit me.

Make room for them, world, I am not space enough.

Evka's Request Judith Sherman here are only a handful the photograph face down of Jewish families left when Evka leaves for school­ T in the village. My sent back to him, lest he stop then) on her return from friend Evka's family is for the writing. school) Evka rightens it. next transport. Evka comes Papa's letters come only This regular ritual is never by with a request. about two to three times a discussed. They are sweetly "As soon as we get there, I year. Her father left for protective of each other will send our new address to America seven years ago. whilst from far away America you so you can send us Papa's The plan was that he would Papa keeps the hurt and letters/' she says. send for the family as soon as hopes alive. Maternal grand­ "I will," I reply. "But why he saved up the fares. Evka parents keep the family fed. don't you send the address to was five and her brother I pick up one letter from him directly?" Isaac three when he left. In the post office, but receive no She looks hurt. "Papa is every letter he states the forwarding address. Evka used to writing to this tickets will arrive "soon." must not have an address. address." Every letter brings hope and At what point are the "Promise you will check for disappointment. Evka knows letters no longer delivered? his letter every day at the him by the one coloured No longer written? What post office. I told them to give photograph he sent. It is does he make of this - tha t it to you." I promise. in a silver-plated frame papa in America whose Evka badly wants Papa's on a small lace coloured photograph in Kurima moves letters and she is equally table. Out of hurt and from upright to downright to concerned that they not be frustration her mother turns upright.

10 My Darfur Mother Judith (nee Stern) lived with her younger sister Miriam in She sits I, her ripped daughter Weir Courtney and in upon bareness curse you, you prayer Lingfield House. She studied watching, unseeing mouthing Social Science at the L.S.E. watching, your freedom spouting and later emigrated to the her wounded memory you always "again"

U.S.A., where she lives with I of shrieking cows standbys. her husband Reuben in New I slain husband Be you cursed with Jersey. In recent years she drowned son. my mother's memory. has been lecturing on the Holocaust. Recollections of the Primrose Jewish Youth Club By Thelma Marcus OW many milestones myself and Deena and do we reach in one Thelma and her late husband what was supposed to be a H lifetime? Not many of Solly were leaders of the part-time job of four and a us have achieved as many as Primrose Jewish Youth Club half hours each a week, a The Boys (and Girls) who in the early fifties. total of nine hours, very arrived here 60 years ago quickly engaged our full time from the war-torn ravages commitment and became a of Europe, their horrific Although I have visited other way of life. experiences and fmal release exhibitions in Israel and Los By this time most of the from the various concentra­ Angeles, I was both club members were studying tion camps. impressed and angry again at or working and living in It was, therefore, with what was portrayed and I am digs and what we set out to much. pleasure and humility encouraging both friends and do was to establish a "home that I was invited to cele­ family to spend time there from home", together with brate the 60th Anniversary of and reacquaint themselves cultural, sport and general the group's arrival in with the bestiality. In my recreational activities. England and to witness the opinion it should he manda­ The building was spacious most moving film narrated tory for every school child to and contained a good library, by Sir Martin Gilbert, and to visit. snooker and games room, a listen to Lord Bramall, Judge During the 60 years a general hall, a garden, other Israel Feinstein and Ben further phase was reached smaller rooms and most Helfgott pay tribute to the when, due to the efforts of the importantly a canteen where struggle and survival of Central British Fund, the one could obtain a bite to eat, young men and women who Primrose Jewish Youth Club snacks, tea, coffee and cold had clawed their way back to at 523 Finchley Road was drinks, all home prepared. begin their lives again. inaugurated and at last we The fact that one could leave What was particularly were able to leave the church work, come in, eat and drink, poignant was the attendance hall in Swiss Cottage. relax with friends was the of some of the children, A fine three-storey house most important factor in themselves now adults and was converted into a purpose creating a wonderfully warm parents, supporting the work built centre, and like the atmosphere of belonging. of their parents. "Windmill Theatre" we never We then had to structure Two days later I revisited closed except for Shabbat. the club in order to cater for the Imperial War Museum to The top floor was a self­ all tastes. Committees were see the Holocaust Exhibitlon. contained flat for Solli, set up to decide on activities

11 and we enjoyed tremendous Our Art classes flourished, the youngsters, we organised su pport from so many people as did our Israeli dancing a camping holiday abroad to eager to make Primrose an group, mainly girls, spurred La N apoule in France, a outstanding club. It would be on by Shoshanna our Israeli great success even though we invidious to mention names dancing teacher who worked had to keep an eye on the since there were so many tirelessly with us to achieve a girls! willing helpers and I would really high standard. By this time a further tran· hate to leave out some and We looked really good in our sition was taking place, mention others but I am costumes and gave numerous romance was in the air and certain who they were and performances ... couples were becoming they remain fresh in my Frequent visitors were engaged and subsequently memory. Richard Harriet and Oscar married. Two couples come to We arranged general lec· Joseph, who were delighted mind especially, Vivienne and tures on topical affairs, to see such a busy and Kopel, for whom 8011i and I debates on issues of the day, a purposeful agenda. Rev. were "unterferers" and Olive drama club was formed and Harry Levy, from West and David married. We had we competed successfully Hampstead synagogue, came to convince Olive's dad that within the A.J. Y (Association as often as he was able and David was a sound young for Jewish Youth), as did our his presence was much man and she'd be alright. football team who rehearsed appreciated. There were others, of course, during the week and played After Shabbat and who started a new life and in the league on Sundays. throughout the weekend families of their own. Table tennis was most there were dances and social We had sadness of course, popular and the Snooker events. Claire & Abe left for U. S .A. \ table always in demand. One of my precious memo­ Marion and Meyer to Israel. One of our other successes ries were the Sederim that Natek left for the D.S.A. was the magazine which was we held in the club where so Unfortunately he did not produced carrying articles many attended and helped. enjoy many years. contributed by guests and Willing helpers set tables, I often look back at our club members and which helped prepare vegetables time at Primrose. Solli and I was very well received and etc. It was a most wonderful loved our time there, we eagerly read. family atmosphere and worth loved the "open house" to our I well remember going to every minute of the hard flat, we forged friendships the Conway Hall to watch work. that were precious to both of Ben competing in the We celebrated other us, and we learned so much. weightlifting trials and Chagim of course, Chanukah, Eventually though we subsequently being chosen to Succoth, etc. realised that due to the way take part in the Olympics Of course I mustn't forget we were running our lives, and we were all overjoyed that we decided to open the there was little quality time and immensely proud when club to young Jewish girls for Deena, and Solli, who was he won a Bronze medal at and boys from this country. by this time working for the The Commonwealth Games The influx was tremendous Jewish Blind Society as the in Cardiff. and the mIxIng of the Chief Welfare Officer, was We were well supported two groups was an instant under pressure, due to his by Elsie & Charles Warren success. The young people growing- responsibilities and who strove to coach the learned much from the evening commitments, to drama group, which included original members and give up the club, which we enthusiastic participants ensured that the club would reluctantly did eventually.. making scenery> arranging continue to play a part So our lives and Primrose make·up and costumes. in the community. The only were a portion of the sixty We did well in the adjudica· stipulation was that if years we've been celebrating, tions and our contributions they came from school they a never to be forgotten were corn mended for their had to go to the Library and experience for both of us. professionalism. do their homework before I do hope your memories Mark Gaudy, another joining club activities. Their are as happy as mine and. lecturer, was very popular, parents approved! that we succeeded, together, taking discussion groups. Soon after the inclusion of to achieve our aims.

12 My encounters in Germany wo of my trips Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and went to Berlin for their to Germany this first meeting. Tyear were somew ha t Anita was deported from her After the execution of her different from my usual talks hometown, Breslau (now husband Helmuth James in schools and varIOUS Wroclaw) to Auschwitz where, v.Moltke, and the end of the German organisations as an inmate, she played the war, his widow Freya had who occupy themselves with cello in the camp orchestra. emigrated to America with their past. Later, she was sent to Bergen­ her two young sons. Shortly I mentioned the 'Kreisauer Belsen, where she was before my trip to Berlin I Kreis' at the end of my last liberated. She came to received the news tha t one of contribution to this paper, England in 1946 and her sons had suddenly died assuming that everyone three years later she became and I was sure that she was knew what I am talking a founder member of not going to come all the way about. the English Chamber from the USA to Berlin. She In the meantime I Orchestra. She published her is in her mid-nineties. I was discovered that very few story, "Inherit The Truth wrong. She came and it was a people know what I am 1939 - 1945». She is an pleasure to meet this digni­ referring to here, and curi- indefatigable speaker, both in fied and down -to-earth lady. 0usly enough... I suddenly England and Germany and The meeting took place in a find myself involved directly she is a regular contributor to room in the Dresdner Bank. with the above mentioned our Journal. I t was a sweltering hot day. establishment. Only now it is The committee consisted of referred to as 'Freya von some members of the Moltke Moltke Stiftung for the New educated ln Berlin and family, various middle aged Kreisau.' London, was violently Germans, some young people Just very briefly: Kreisau - opposed to Nazism, and who work in Kreisau, and one now called Krzyzowa - lies turned his talents and Jew, myself. some 50 km south west of training toward countering As ever, the problem is Breslau and was bought in the deportation and murder about raising enough money 1867 by the Fieldmarshal v. of Jews and executions of to keep the place ticking Moltke and became a family captured soldiers. He brought over. In the evening there home which was handed on the most brilliant resisters was a concert in a disused through the generations and of his time to his country electricity works, something finally became the home of estate in Kreisau, where like the Tate Modern. The Helmuth James v. Moltke they covertly planned the event was attended by many whose mother was born in assassination of Hitler and hundreds of people. There Capetown and was no doubt the creation of a democratic were the usual never-ending an important influence in Germany. speeches but some really introducing a liberal Anglo­ Well, Hitler was defeated, talented young musicians Saxon attitude into this most of the resisters had been played and I feel that any~ family. Many years ago I was executed, Kreisau became thing that brings people given a book called Letters to Krzyzowa in Poland and fell together on a quest of mutual Freya 1939-1945. These are into complete disrepair. After understanding, cannot be beautiful letters written by the fall of the 'Mauer' it was bad. Helmuth James to his wife repaired with money from lVly next trip took me to a Freya from Berlin where he the German Government. place called Wolfenbuttel, was working in the It must be over a year ago some 50 Km from Hanover. Intelligence Service. He was now that I received a letter There was a sort of master­ a key figure in the resistance asking me if I would consider class for young writers who to Hitler. He was betrayed becoming a member of the had published their first book and arrested in 1944, and the Committee for the 'Freya von and were working on their letters continue from various Moltke Stiftung for the New second one. I received an prisons until his execution on Kreisau', as it is called now. invitation to talk to them January 23.1945. Well, I accepted the invita­ about 'Heroism in the West'. Helmuth James had been tion to be on the committee I admit I got a bit of a shock.

13 Luckily I had just been lent next in line for a sort of 'semi' representatives of the human Martin Gilbert's book: THE sainthood. race. RIGHTEOUS and he says in Edith Stein was a Jewish The conversation became the preface that if one wrote girl from Breslau who con­ more na tural when he asked the names of those people verted to Catholicism long if I happened to know who have been officially before 1933. She was hidden Elizabeth Wallfisch. (My recognised as 'righteous', it in a convent when Hitler daughter-in-law.) He has her would fill a book with 20,000 came to power. The Nazis recordings and we launched pages. I also named several obviously knew her where­ into a heated argument about people who I consider to have abouts, located her and sent the interpretation of Baroque behaved heroically: Raoul her to Auschwitz, where she music. It was much more Wallenberg, Frank Fo]ey, died in the gas chamber. enjoyable than discussing Harald Poelchau, a priest I had a good argument with collective guilt. in the Berlin Tegel prison, my Catholic counterpart Just by the way, who ran a veritable 'saving when I said that one has to be Wolfenbuttel is a fascinating shop' for Jews, finding honest here. Edith Stein did place. It is famous for its hiding places 1 food coupons not die as a Catholic martyr most amazing old library and even employment for but simply as a Jew. created by a minor German 'illegals' or 'U boats' as they I gathered from the partici­ nobleman who was bored called Jews. pants of this master-class in some remote place and col­ In short, I talked about the that the Catholic gentleman lected as well as wrote books. people to whom the Nazi felt very uneasy about my One of the librarians there ideology was totally unac­ being there. Toughl was Lessing. Lessing was not ceptable and who had the I questioned him about this Jewish and was a great integrity to behave like at the end of the session friend of Moses Mendelssohn. human beings. My question and it transpired that he He wrote the play 'Nathan is whether this is heroism per had never ever met a Jewish der Weise', an antidote to se or simply basic morality. person before. I was the first Shylock, no doubt inspired by The next day was the turn one and he was simply scared the personality of Moses of a Catholic gentleman. His and embarrassed! What can Mendelssohn. topic was 'Sainthood', and in one say! There is a big statue of the his long and rather boring We still have a long way to 'Jew Nathan' in the middle of talk he mentioned Edith go before we will be able to Wolfenbuttel. So, all told, I Stein. It appears the she is deal with each other just as had an interesting time.

Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp By Witold Gutt D.Se., Ph.D., M.Sc., C.Chem., FRSC., FCS

VVitold Gutt D.Se., Ph.D., M.Se., C.Chem., FRSC., FCS., came In the communique to England with the Southampton group in November 1945 issued by allied Supreme and lived in the Finchley Road Hostel. He was Senior Headquarters yesterday Principal Scientific Officer and Head of Materials Division at morning it was stated:- the Building Research Establishment of the Department of the "An order by 8.S. Environment. He is now a consultant in chemistry and Reichsfiihrer Heinrich Chairman of the British Standards Institution Technical Himmler on April 14 Committee of Cement and Lime. tha t no prisoners in the notorious Dachau concentration camp 'shall n the 60th anniversary HIMMLER'S DACHAU be allowed to fall of VE-Day (VICTORY ORDER which is reproduced into the hands of the OIN EUROPE), 8th below, as printed in The enemy alive'" has come May 2005, The Times repub­ Times on YE-Day. into allied possession. lished its edition issued on He had ordered the YE-Day. On page 6 of the 8th HIMMLER'8 DACHAU camp to be evacuated May 1945 edition I found ORDER 'immediately. '"

14 This order, of which we and how such a march would Some of the Americans spoke in the camp were unaware, is have ended. Polish and I was able to make a highly significant and For once the SS failed to contact with them at once. historic document, dealing as carry out Himmler's order. Allied journalists (who it does with the intended fate We ate the food without included Lee Miller), accom­ of the prisoners held in the waiting. As we were panying the troops, were camp just before the time of starving, that was both shattered by the condition of its liberation by the American beneficial and not surprising, the prisoners) of whom many Army on 29th April 1945. and the Americans got there were too weak to recover. A few days before the liber­ in time to save us. There were heaps of bodies ation, we were unexpectedly It IS noteworthy that by the crematorium, and on a provided by the SS with Dachau was the first railway siding a train of fifty rations of food, including Nazi concentration camp wagons, full of dead bodies. tinned items, and were told to established in March 1933 as Among the 33,000 sur­ keep them for a journey. a base for the incarceration of vivors were many Catholic Clearly, following Himmler's critics of the regime. priests and 2,539 Jews (see order given on 14th April My first intimation that M. Gilbert The Holocaust p. 1945, preparations were the amazing liberation was 799, Collins). made to evacuate the camp taking place was the sight and march the prisoners of American soldiers shooting Witold Gutt somewhere. It needs little at the SS guards in the Ex-prisoner Dachau imagination to guess where perimeter fence towers. No. 147597

The Price of Ignorance and Betrayal By Michael Bandel ot many people have could continue to trade and heard or read about Michael came to England in who should not. Under the N the following - part of early 1946 with the anti-Semitic government, led the history of the Holocaust. Czech/ Hungarian "boys". He by Admiral Horthy, the t and the late Baruch is an active member of our majority of Jewish businesses Pollock, were born in the Committee and is the Welfare had to close. The second most eastern part of what Officer of our Society. requirement was more was then Czechoslovakia, extreme and very hard; we known as Carpathian had to prove Hungarian citi­ Ruthenia, in the region of the Romania and also part of zenship. This was extremely Carpathian Mountains, in a Carpathia. This it did in two difficult because the older border town called J asina: stages: the first in September generation had been born this bordered Polish Galicia. 1938 when my area was under the Austro-Hungarian Ours was a family of six, my occupied by the Ukrainians, empire and the younger parents, myself and three as Hitler had promised them generation under the sisters, one older than me an independent state. Czechoslovakian govern­ and two younger. We were Hungary, however, pressed ment. It was a very poverty­ ultra -orthodox, bordering on Hitler to occupy my part as it stricken area - and to quote fanaticism, followers of the was Austro~H ungarian until the late Rabbi Hugo Gryn, Vistnitzer Rebbe. My late 1918, and they promised to who came from the same father left Yeshiva at the age support more the war effort, region: "When G-d gave out of twenty-six to marry my with a bigger army. So, in poverty, he gave nine-tenths mother, which was, of course, March 1939, Hungary then to Carpathia". Therefore, to a Shidduch. took over my part of travel to the capital was When Hungary allied itself Carpathia; soon afterwards almost impossible and the to Germany, to acquire the anti-Jewish laws were pro­ proof needed practically territory back that it had claimed. Firstly, all Jewish non-existent. lost in the 1914-1918 war, it businesses had to submit a In August 1938, Joachim occupied part of Slovakia, trading licence to Budapest von Ribentropp, for Germany, part of Yugoslavia, part of where it was decided who and Molotov, for Russia,

15 signed a non-aggression pact. trucks. For some time we and shot. One of them who Germany invaded Poland had no idea what was hap­ was not actually killed, hid and Russia did the same to pening there, until some under the dead bodies and, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia escapees came back and told when the murderers left, he and Polish Galicia - so now us of the atrocities and mur­ managed to scramble back, we were bordering Russia. der being committed in was patched up and sent Many people believed that Kolomei-Stanislavov, Lvov, clandestinely to Budapest. they would be better off and many other places. Any The date of this event was 22 under Communism and came escapees caught were beaten I var, corresponding to May, from far and wide to cross and tortured at Police head­ and my father wrote it in his over the border. Some were quarters, not far from our diary, to keep a yahrzeit. shot as spies, some sent house, and we could hear the In 1943 we had to wear a to Siberia and some were screams. One episode stands yellow star, 4"x4"; there was actually sent back, having out in my mind, of a man a total restriction on travel. been told 'If you are a good being beaten, tortured, then We were permitted only a Communist, you fight the tied to the tail of a Hungarian few hours a day to be outside enemy from wi thin'. officer's horse and being on the streets. To say how At the beginning of 1940, galloped to the border which difficult this was is very hard. all Jewish males aged from was 10 kms away; he would One instance was when a 12 to 55 years had to register. not have reached it alive. neighbour committed suicide, The adults were conscripted The Carpathian Jews were the few elderly men left were into forced labour battalions made to walk to Kamanec­ too scared to carry the body and the youngsters had to Podolski where there were to the cemetery. We did not attend army drill and gun ready-dug ditches. They have such a vehicle as a handling sessions. It was for­ were told to undress and they hearse. Being past bidden to buy fuel; we had no were then shot on August 27- Barmitzvah age, I was asked coal or gas, only wood to use 28th 1941. Some were tied to do it. That was the first for heating. The winters together and thrown alive time I have seen a body laid were extremely cold, with into the rivers Dniester and to rest) with no coffin, just temperatures falling to any­ Dnieper. like they do in Israel. They thing between minus 20-40 Teenagers had to report on put a bag of Israeli soil under degrees. That was so cruel Saturdays, not for army drill the head, obtained by the and we had to resort to but to work, unloading Chevra Kadisha. Two pieces bribery or, like my father and cement, as they were build­ of earthenware were placed me, to get up at 2 or 3 am in ing fortifications in the on the eyes and a twig p1aced all weathers to steal wood mountains. We were taken to in the hand. There is a from the timber yards. On the border to clear the snow superstition that when a June 22nd 1941, Germany so that the criminal child is named after that invaded Russia and Polish Germans, Hungarians, deceased person, the earthen­ Galicia under the code name Romanians and Ukrainians ware falls off the eyes, and 'Barbarossa', so now we were could cross over, get drunk, when the Messiah comes the bordering Germany/German and they would mimic the twig helps the soul to go to occupied land. A Hungarian cries of the Jews before being Jerusalem. District Chief of Police killed - "Shema Yisroel" and In March 1944, Germany rounded up 16,000-20,000 also they would cry out Psalm invaded Hungary. It was Jews on the pretext tha t they 130 - before Pesach and the could not prove citizenship, Jewish community did not and these were deported to "I call unto thee 0 Lord, know how to get flour for 'the East'. As the trains listen to my voice". matzah-baking. The Joint were passing through J asina, Distribution Society man­ in one of them I saw my In the spring of 1942, they aged to send some, a quantity maternal grandparents, brought fifty-two rich of which was kept in our uncle, aunts and cousins. Slovakian Jews to our town house as we were reliable for They were held in a sawmill and held them in one of our Kashrut. On Erev Pesach, at the border from where synagogues. When food was the German army was going they were forced to walk taken to them, they were told to the front line and two across the border; some were they would not need it. They soldiers were billeted in our taken by Hungarian Army were taken across the border house. This was the first time I had seen one. Our The following evening, the most difficult to procure house was spotless for train stopped at a railway arms. I said this was rubbish Pesach. On the sixth day of siding where the Hungarians as the front was only 200 kms Pesach, a young girl next handed us over to the a way and they brought the door knocked at our window German SS and we were injured day and night; for a at 2 am, crying, screaming, marched to the Ghetto of bottle of vodka or slivovic not that they were coming to take Mate Szalka. From there we only could you get hand guns us away and this the were taken to Auschwitz, but you could have bought a Hungarian Gendarmerie did, where we stayed only a short small Hungarian tank!!l to take a census. The day few days and then my father after Pesach, two gendarmes and I were transported to (3) I quoted him the case of knocked at our door and gave Mauthausen and from there Erzso Kastner, who had nego­ us half an hour to pack and to one of its sub-camps, called tiated with Adolf Eichmann assemble on the street. Ebensee, these latter two in and Becker to permit a train There were about 150 - 200 Austria. What happened carrying 1,680 Jews(?) to people there but no-one, during that time is another leave Hungary for but no-one even protested! story. Switzerland, as a sign of We were marched to the My father died in my arms, "good faith on the part of the Jewish cemetery and in Ebensee, Erev Pesach Germans". How were those believed we were to be shot. 1945. I was liberated by the people chosen? They assembled about 1,500 Americans on May 8th 1945. Jews there, each family were Mter liberation, I had three He replied that as they did taken into an hotel to be priorities; to search for my not know if any of European beaten and searched for family, to recuperate and get Jewry would survive, to safe­ money and any other valu­ my health and strength back, guard its continuity, they ables. The next day my and to confront someone chose rabbis, teachers, acade­ father asked permission to go from the Hungarian mics, musicians... I told him home - he had forgotten J udenra t to get some I thought this was rubbish. I something. Permission was answers to questions that had been told by a friend who granted. I asked to go with had tormented me. That survived, living on Aryan him and we walked through opportunity came in the early papers in Budapest, that the deserted streets - and 1960s when Dr Stephen Roth people had been chosen who back - without a guard. We gave a lecture on how they were family and friends of did not escape to the moun­ coped with the Holocaust. members of the Judenrat, tains because of our family. Mter the lecture I asked the and others who could pay the Three and a half days later following questions: most money... we were marched to the Like another family - the railway station 11/2 kms away. (1) He, being in Budapest, Weiss's. In the 1950s, Railway wagons were sta­ the capital city and in Kastner was accused in tioned there, used by the Central Europe, must have Israel of collaborating with Hungarian cavalry going to known what was happening the Nazis; the judge told him the front. They were filthy to the Jews in Europe. Why that he had 'sold his soul to dirty. We were made to clear did he not pass any informa­ the Devil'. Kastner was shot the straw and dung and 70 - tioD, or warnings to the heads down on the steps of the cour­ 80 people were herded into of the towns and villages? thouse and the killer was each wagon; one door was left His reply was that they did never found. He was buried open. On the journey, the not want to cause panic. outside Haifa, in a forest, and train stopped at the town of not in consecrated ground. Chust to take on coal and (2) With the knowledge they A few years ago a documen­ water. Father had an aunt had, why did they not send tary was shown on Channel 4 living nearby and he actually specialists to teach us self­ TV en ti tIed 'The Last Train got off the train to go and see defence? If Marshal Tito of Out Of Budapest', dealing if she was still at home. She Yugoslavia had survived five with Kastner's negotiations was, and she gave him some years in the mountains, with Eichmann, in which bread and some Hungarian surely more of us could have Kastner was shown to money hidden inside it, and survived the six months left promise Eichmann that he he returned to us in the before Russia liberated our would not divulge the desti­ train ... region? His reply was it was nation of the trains.

17 In the early eighties, Jim I anti-Semitic. Jim AlIen I believe that they Allen published a book wrote that the Hungarian considered us illiterate, entitled 'Perdition'; this Judenrat had 'sold Jews to poverty -stricken, Yiddish· was later dramatised and Nazis' in order to obtainfhelp speaking Chasidic Jews ~ produced at The Royal Court achieve the State of Israel. dispensable!! ! Theatre in London. However, I do not believe that! Tha t was, and IS many, if not all, Jewish I do believe the despicable. organisations objected Hungarian Judenrat 'sold That was, and is - betrayal. strongly to the contents of the out' Carpathian Jewry to play, stating that it was save 'Hungarian Jewry'.

About Faith The Late OU may think this is a Rabbi Hugo Gryn I t made for a sense of strange thing to say - (Reprinted from Journal helplessness. Victor Frankl Ybut when I was a No.3, April 1977) is a psychiatrist, who was in teenager in Nazi concentra­ the camps himself. He wrote tion camps in Germany - I about a fellow-prisoner he discovered God. Not the God survive another day~ knew who dreamt that on of my childhood. I lost him - There was an important 30 March, 1945 the war or lost sight of him - around change in the meaning of would end and he would be the crematoria of Auschwitz. some key values. Freedom is liberated. No real news was I prayed that he "do something you and I consider possible and when nothing something" and when he did tha t we have - and if you are happened this man not, I turned my back on him imprisoned - it is taken developed high fever on as well. away. But in the camps free­ March 29 and the next But later - in the slave dom had become what you day he died of typhoid. labour camps and, I were - and this shaped the Disillusionment, according to suppose, in retrospect too, attitudes you formed to your Dr Frankl, brought quick when I saw more clearly the situation and to your destiny. decline of bodily defence. different ways the human Apa thy could only be over­ My own experience bears spirit can respond to people come by force of spirit. Or this out: there was always a and events. you could give in to it and so spate of rumours about; In the camps there was "a disintegrate from within. about food from the Red regression to primitiveness"­ Irritability and brutalisation Cross, or the approach of that is to say, our interests could only be suppressed the Russian Army, or the became restricted to the most through intellectual and proximity of the Americans - immediate and urgent needs. emotional effort. If you could and when events proved Food and water and sleep. not do this - you became less them false - morale dropped Because there was hardly - considerably - than a like a cement bag. Only an any food, and crowded condi­ civilised human being. inner sensation - that in the tions combined with vermin I t became a choice: to fit end evil will be defeated - plus 14 hours of work a day, into the surroundings and gave any kind of certainty. gave little chance for sleep - swim with the tide - this was And afterwards - when I we were, in the main, towards primitiveness. Or to look back on my experiences apathetic and irritable. Not struggle against a dreadful and suffering - and it is so much zombie-like, more environment and swim purely good luck that I am tired animal-like. If you saw against a powerful tide. I alive - I realise that there is that magnificent programme began to see it then - and see nothing left to fear in this on BBC2 recently - "In it much more clearly now; it world - except God. Many Memory of Justice" - you was a matter of spiritual people lost their faith in God have your own set of images. effort. in the concentration camps. All thinking was concen­ The worst handicap had to Many others - I among them trated on a simple and single do with time. No-one knew - learnt to believe or believe point: to get through today; to when the experience will end. again in God.

18 SECTION III HERE AND NOW The Barmitzvah that was 65 years late

(Reprinted from The Ho1ocaust survivor, Borehamwood Times) "When Rabbi Plancey who was in a concen­ made his sermon, he had half Atration camp on the congregation in tears. It his 13th birthday, finally Louisa Barnett was wonderful." celebrated his barmitzvah at The Olmers' en tire family Borehamwood and Elstree Bursting with pride, Mr from around the world were Synagogue last month Olmer said: "It was such an all there for the service - the at the same time as his honour to be barmitzvahed frrst time they had ever all grandson. on the same day as my grand­ been in one room together. Polish-born Harry Olmer, son, Danny. It's something Additionally, the day was 78, was interned in Plaszow, I've always wanted and to do marked by the 60th anniver­ a Polish concentration camp, it in such a special way was sary of Mr Olmer's wife as he turned 13, and was incredible. being liberated from a unable to celebrate his "I worked so hard for that concentration camp. barmitzvah, the traditional day and having my family Although Harry was coming of age ceremony for around me and Rabbi prepared to be barmitzvahed, 13-year-old boys. Plancey, who made it so he wasn't expecting to be His mother and three special - it made it all worth­ called up with his grandson sisters had been taken away while." Danny for the customary and gassed as soon as the war Mr Olmer's son, Philip, blessing. started. said: "1 t was such an emo­ Rabbi Plancey, who has led Throughout the war, tional experience to watch the congregation for 30 years, he was moved to many both my father and my son said: uI have never seen camps before being liberated get barmitzvahed at the same anything like this before. It in 1945, and came to time. Something I and the was an exceptional morning England suffering from rest of my family will never in that we were able to typhus. forget. celebrate something which It was there he met his "We wanted to do was never celebrated all wife Margaret and settled in something special for him those years ago. Potters Bar to start their and decided this would "It was extremely family, before eventually be the greatest honour in the emotional and something I moving to Mill Hil1. world. will never forget."

My Post-War Journey from 1945 to the Present Time

By Gena Schwarzmann assing years have however, was taking me and only one uncle survived a habit of changing on a long journey of inner the war and I considered Pus physically and grief for the lost loved ones myself very lucky to have at mentally. When liberated and the personal struggle least a fragment of my family. from Nazi persecution in of finding some joy But my fa they was then 1945 one believed that whilst trying to discard serving in the British Army freedom will also liberate us the feeling of loneliness and in Egypt and was not from all the pain of long years drift. demobilised until 1947 and of suffering. The reality, Miraculously, my father my uncle was in a DP camp

19 in Germany and was later to Dov made allowances as to Festivals or free days were make his way to New York. what I could cope with times of reflection and I arrived in Israel (then and how long it took me to painful memories, despite Palestine) in October 1945 complete a certain task. the fact that I was more with a group of twelve To collect the newly laid fortunate than most, having orphans. We experienced a eggs every morning took a father and an uncle. perilous journey over a period me more than two hours, Memories habitually of seven months, avoiding whereas other workers did ta un ted me when other Polish Nazi sympathisers the same in just twenty people were happy in the still thirsting for Jewish minutes. Some time later bosom of their enlarged blood. After all we went Dov appointed me to take family circle. At times through, we did not expect to care of the chicks released like these one ponders on still be haunted, but reality from the incubators. One day what could have been, if only proved us wrong. I heard Dov say to one of his our loved ones were with On arrival in Israel, our colleagues: "Let the child see us now. group was dispatched to new life around her and the I consider myself to be Kibbutz Gan Shmuel after an beautiful colour of sunshine fortunate to have achieved initiation of six weeks in an on the chicks." much against all odds. I agricultural women's farm in I spoke very little Hebrew served in the Israeli Army Petach Tikvah. at that time and Dov spoke and was proud to take part in I was then eleven years old no Polish but his implicit Israel's rebirth. Regrettably bu t the oldest in the group kindness showed through. I had to leave Israel due to a was a thirteen year old boy. He taught me Hebrew when skin condition which in hot The kibbutz committee he could, took time to help me climates was crippling. decided that our group of acclimatise to the work England became my home, children should work for four routine and guided me to a wonderful country in many hours per day, six days a what was expected of me. ways and a country that week and learn Hebrew and Dov noticed that one of his contributed to my personal History also four hours daily. team members addressed me happiness and intellectual I do not think tha t the with: "Soap, take the basket advancement. I have kibbutz committee really of eggs to the kitchen!" managed to attain two understood our predicament Before I could react to this degrees despite the fact that or what we had experienced cruel connotation, Dov the Nazis deprived me of my and how much more fear, demanded from the kibbutz formal education and despite terror and uncertainty we member an apology to me the fact that I had no concealed not knowing where and in a calm voice told this financial means of support. to find security and true person to leave the hen house Neither my father nor my protection in yet a different and never to return to work uncle were able to help me culture. in it. financially at that time. I was assigned to work in My kibbutz teacher, Tzvi In London I met my future the hen house to assist Dov Ciechanowski, once referred husband, a lecturer in and his team. Dov was a to this episode by simply aerona u tical and mechanical kind man and understood sayjng that Dov would like engineering. We have three both my inner struggles and me to have compassion on the sons and a daughter and my limitations. In his team person who hurt my feelings now we also have ten grand· of workers Dav had no·one and that this would be a fine children and hope that they under the age of eighteen gesture on my part towards will enjoy a happy and so I was, as he said: like that person. This was a peaceful future and that their his daughter who was lesson for me to respect both lost heritage will not scar of the same age but, unlike Dov and Tzvi for their their lives the way the me, she had no work concern for both the offender Nazi legacy has scarred and obligations. and the victim. damaged ours.

20 Revisiting Wintershill Hall By Jack Hecht he weather was not realised where I was coming very promising on the from and said she had a copy Tway down but next of Sir Martin Gilbert's book day we a woke to brilliant "The Boys". She explained sunshine. It was late October that her parents-in-law had and ~aureen and I were in owned the house since 1948 Bournemouth. My plan for and the family name was that day was to look for a Balfour. Without more ado, village called Durley and for she invited us into the house. a particular house called Jack Hecht at Wintershill. The present Hall was built Wintershill Hall. I and in 1852 and was granted the several of the 'boys \. who Eventually we arrived in name of a manor house. It landed at Eastleigh airport the small village of Durley. suffered a fire eight years ago on 31st October 1945, had We had to ask someone if and consequently it had been taken to the house. It they knew the house and changed since I lived there. I was like a halfway house they pointed us in the right did recognise the staircase where we could adjust to our direction. We turned into a and the bedroom I shared new country and be assessed with several others. The narrow lane with pasture for our futures. furnishings were exquisite land either side inhabited by Alec and Hetty Ward had throughout the building. visited the house once (Alec farm animals - and suddenly Apparently, the original was in the same group) but there was Wintershill Hall in estate dates from 1420. This unhappily found no-one there all its glory. The memories is now a ruin in another part to show them round. We came flooding back for me, of Durley. In 1939, Mrs hoped to be more successful. especially the fine columns Sebag-Montefiore owned the We rang the police and they ei ther side of the door. house and we are assuming gave us the exact route, Now was the hour of that because it was in her having a map showing reckoning. Should I knock at hands, it was donated for the Durley. And so we set off on the door? Well, we had come survivors' use. our adventure. all this way so let's take a Thanking our hostess The journey could not have chance. profusely, we made our leave been nicer - driving through I rang the bell and an after walking round the large New Forest country with the elegant lady came to the door. grounds and feeling very leaves and grasses bursting I briefly told her why I was pleased that we had made with colour. there. She immediately the effort. Majer Stern's 'Roots' Trip By Marion Stern or 60 years Majer overnight at a place called showed no interest or Marian is the wife of Majer, Nyiregyhaza before reaching Finclination to go back to who came to England in the the Ukranian border. We the places where he grew up. winter of 1946 with the were warned that it can take that is, until his friend told Czech/ Hungarian "boys". He hours to cross the border, him that a group was being and Marian emigrated to depending on the mood of the formed to go at the end of Israel where they now live. man in charge! It took May. Within the group of They are frequent visitors to nearly two hours, which our twenty that went, we were a London and keep in close guide assured us wasn't bad group of eight - five friends touch with the members of at all, but there was very that were at school together our Society. little traffic at the time, and three spouses. which makes one wonder how Our early morning El AI where we boarded a bus for many hours it can take when flight took us to Budapest the Carpathians. We stopped they are busy.

21 Majer was born in Svalava, the direction of the football the house would not let him Czechoslovakia and moved to field and found it still intact in and were very suspicious Mukachevo (Munkacs) in and in use. We made our way and unpleasant. He was very 1939, after the family sold back, walking along the river~ upset by it. The reception at everything in order to and got cleaned up and the school was rather better emigrate to Chile. They had changed for dinner; a rather and they were received by the their visas and were due to poor affair in what is known Director to whom they told sail from Danzig on 7th as the Kosher Ki tchen which their stories. Majer asked to September. The Germans stands in the grounds of the see the gymnasium and we marched into Poland on 1st hotel. Thereafter, we chose all trotted down there to find September and war was our own places for dinner and that everything looked the declared! The Hungarians a te very well, although we same as it did sixty years ago! took over the country again had to wait an interminable The place is still a school in 1939 and then the USSR time until we got the food, and classes were in took it over at the end of the since everything was freshly progress. We also went to a war and when Ukraine cooked. government office about became independent, it We stayed at The Star obtaining birth certificates became part of Ukraine. Hotel (The Csillag) in the but it was too complicated to As we entered Mukachevo, centre of town, opposite the get into. the excitement grew and Town Hall, which still looks Half the group of twenty became intense as they the same except for the green came from different places in looked for places they could colour it was now painted. the Carpathians and they recognise. As soon as we had The area has been nicely spent the day visiting their checked in and deposited our landscaped but many areas villages with our bus while luggage in our rooms, our off the main street are in a we did our own exploring. At group set off to explore on bad state of disrepair and 1 pm we piled into a mini-bus foot. Majer led the way neglect. The hotel was built with a driver that Majer straight to where he thought or renovated a few years ago hired at the hotel and he took his house was . and it was by a Mr Roth, a rich us to Svalava, where lVlajer there, still recognisable, American Jew who was born was born, but everything had although slightly altered. in Munkacs and wanted to changed there except for the Opposite the house was the make it possible for Jews to railway station. He knew dilapidated building that had visit their place of origin beforehand that the house become the schoolhouse after and have somewhere to stay. they had lived in was no the Hebrew Gymnasium was He invested a lot of money longer standing, so he just confiscated and until they in the proj ect and is said wanted to get out of there. were herded into the ghetto. to be losing heavily. We continued up to Volovec We returned to the hotel, There is also a courtyard where he used to visit his which was only five minutes restaurant, complete with grandfather with the same away and others joined us on live, old·fashioned music for result; only the station our trek through the town. dancing (under the stars) remained unchanged. The The Russians had changed w here we ate and the food big timber-yard of his grand­ all the street names and had was good and cheap. The father by the station and his removed all the old names; Kosher Kitchen feeds the big house were no longer even the numbers were poor Jews living in the standing and, in their place, changed. We did find what town free of charge or for a stood ugly blocks of flats built had been known as the nominal amount. There are by the Russians. On the way ''Yiddish Gass" but most of approximately five hundred back we stopped at the the buildings have been Jews living there, mostly Schoenborn Castle to have a changed and the only thing elderly, and there are also drink. It is used today as a Jewish there now IS a some Israelis working there. convalescent home and has commemoration plaque on The following morning, the acres of beautiful grounds to the wall at the beginning of eight of us walked to the wander through and the the street. We also went to Hebrew Gymnasium, but weather was marvellous the market place to buy first we went to the house whilst we were in Munkacs. cherries but they had already behind the school where one The next day the whole packed up. We continued in friend lived. The people in group was taken on a trip to

22 Ungvar (Uzhorod) with a the eight of us split up in Majer knew where it was local guide who spoke order to 'tie up loose ends'. and when he and his brother English. She talked a lot Majer and I and one friend went back there after the about the history of the area who used to live near him, war, he found that the and upset us by saying went, once more, in the whole basement had been the Jews emigrated after the direction of where they lived, dug up but they never war. When she made an Majer having decided that he found that box. When he unscheduled stop at the wanted to see the inside of walked out with it, the people castle that we had visited the the house and yard. He rang living in the house just previous day, I found an the bell without hesitation gaped. Now, in fact, the opportunity to talk to her and and, after a few minu tes, basement has less headroom explain how upsetting her two women appeared at the as the steps and floor have words were and how they window and Majer tried to been cemented. distorted history. explain in Russian what he Our friend's house had also We were taken to a wanted. Very few people been divided in to two units museum which was a there speak or understand and nobody seemed to be collection of different houses, Hungarian now and so there but he didn't want most of which had thatched language was a bit of a to go in anyway. We went to roofs, showing how people problem all the time. We check out the field where used to live, and included were very lucky in that she Majer took the cow to graze furnishings and utensils) was a nice woman and agreed every day and found that a farm implements, the well to let us in. The moment house had been built right in and the schoolhouse. Then Majer went through the gate the middle of it and the we went to what was once the and saw the yard and the pathway that he used synagogue with a beautiful entrance to the basement, he to go through near his high-domed ceiling and knew he was at the right house had now been closed off vitrage windows with Magen­ house. He had been a little by small buildings, possibly Davids. Majer remembers unsure before because the workshops. The garden going to this synagogue with gate had been changed and a with the fruit trees was his uncle when he stayed room built above it which still there though and was with his aunt and uncle from they had not had. Now he full of memories for the time to time. The Russians was told that the house had two friends. had added a staircase and actually been divided into That afternoon we left upper floor and turned it into two units. We were shown Munkacs and headed back a concert hall. The outside of around the house which the way we came and every­ this building is now being these people had moved into one felt satisfied that they renovated and no longer four years earlier and which had closed the circle. We resembles a synagogue but had acquired a bathroom and made our way back across the rather reminded me of places toilet since Majer's family border, stopping over once I saw many years ago in had lived there. At the back more in Nyiregyhaza where it India. The guide had made of the garden, which was far was pouring with rain (the so many mistakes directing smaller than I had imagined weather had been hot and our driver out of Munkacs it to be, still stood the sunny all the days we were in and then again around cowshed and outhouse but Munkacs). The following Ungvar (he was from without the original roof. As morning we made our way Budapest) that we were left for the basement, that had back to Budapest where we with very little free time also been divided between spent less than two days there to wander on our own the two houses and so Majer under dark grey skies and and only had time to get a was unable to show me the showers. We visited the big bite to eat before heading exact location where his synagogue and the new back to Munkacs. Luckily, fa ther had hidden the Jewish Museum which we had a superb driver family's valuables. In their showed a very moving film who got through seemingly day it had been an earth floor about how life was for the impossible places. and the box of valuables had Jews in the Carpathians The next morning was our been buried in the furthest before Hitler. last one in Munkacs and so corner under the wall. Only

23 The Hope of Survival in Camps Kurt Klappholz

e know that the The late Kurt Klappholz Americans. During the average chance of came to England with the march in the direction of Wsurvival in the Southampton ({boys". He was Dacha u we once had to camps was low, and that it a Reader in Economics at The stop on the road to allow a varied through time. For London School of Economics different column the right of example, it must have fallen and the former editor of our way. You will recall that substantially during the Journal. during those marches the evacuation period which guards had two kinds of preceded the end of the War. arrangement for dealing with I seemed to be acutely This tension between the stragglers, either a straggler aware of these changing perceived objective reality of would be shot by the guard chances of survival. As the one's survival chance and the nearest to him, or some evacuation period proceeded subjective refusal to accept it guards at the rear of the I regarded my chance as, was illustrated by an incident column would be detailed for objectively, getting smaJler I still vividly remember. this work. The second and smaller and indeed We had been marched out arrangemen t had been approaching zero. Yet, of Flossenburg when the adopted for that other subjectively, I somehow did camp was evacuated in the column. Since we now stood not believe that I would die. face of the approaching still, and our energies were temporarily released from the effort of marching, the extent of the prevailing slaughter forced itself upon us as never before. We silently looked at each other in muted horror as if to say: "at this rate our turn will come any moment". Yet, subjectively, we probably refused to believe it. In this particular case, however, the subjective beliefs of most of us were to be justified. Two or three days later the American Army overtook our column of marching skeletons. We were free - quite suddenly we were no longer prisoners whose lives had been at the mercy of any guard, but people who could even rely on the American Army for protection. Quite suddenly the moment had arrived of which we had been dreaming constantly for years but about whose likelihood of arrival we had always been ambivalent. And when the moment arrived we were too Kurt Klappholz photographed by UN"WRA after his exhausted to greet it with the Liberation. joy which it deserved.

24 Psychosocial Issues in the lives of Survivors n Israel the survivors The Late Shamai given central significance form a large and integral Davidson Ph.D and expression in annual I part of the population. (written in 1981) memorial meetings for the They are our neighbours, destroyed communities, in friends, and colleagues at Shamai was the Director of the Holocaust Remembrance work. They are our husbands Shalvata Mental Health Day, in teaching programmes and wives and their children Centre, Hod HaSharon, in the schools, and through become our daughters-in-law (Tel-Aviv University Medical constan t reporting in the and sons-in-law. School), Professor of media. A specific part of the Holocaust and Social At the interpersonal level, identity of each Israeli who Trauma Studies, Bar-llan however, the individual was not born in the country University, Ramat Gan. survivor's Shoa past was relates to the country of As part of his research in general avoided. In origin. Thus, people are often work, the author interviewed, our culture people are referred to as "Yotzei and thus got to know, many uncomfortable in the pres­ H ungaryl), "Yotzei Li tall, members of our Society. He ence of the survivors of ''Yotzei Iraq". clearly belonged among (lOur man-made disasters. In the Holocaust survivors, Friends and Well-wishes". personal encounter with however, are often referred to (Ed.) them images arise of as if their country of origin victimisation and helpless was the "Shoa" - as ''Yotzei confrontation with death Shoa". Having been in the There was a powerful and horror) of humiliation "Shoa" thus displaces relevance and coincidence and loss, and the misery of and takes precedence over of psycho-historical and the struggle to survive in the country of origin and extremity. These images personal themes in the becomes the central feature arouse feelings of anger, fear "rebirth" of the Jewish people identifying the individual and guilt, emotions which we in the Land of Israel with the survivor and his family in the prefer to avoid, although need to fight for its survival eyes of his fellow-citizens. we also want to know what Designating survivors in and in the creation of really happened. this way demonstrates an new lives and families by the For many survivors them­ important aspect of the surVlvors. selves the recalling and Israeli attitude to the The re-establishment of relating of their experiences survivors. It means that links and continuity with the was extremely painful and identity is defined in relation values and goals of the humiliating - hence the to exposure to the trauma of pre-Holocaust past was a natural tendency to try to the Holocaust and may powerful influence in over­ forget. The reluctance that even be used as a stereotype coming the trauma of loss of I they often sensed in others to for certain characteristics family and community. For listen to what they had and reactions. In general, many survivors who came to been through reinforced their however, in Israel the Israel in their late teens and tendency to avoid talking survivors have not been early twenties actlvIty, about their dreadful experi­ singled out for special belonging, and identification ences. They justified their recognition and they - like became fused into a cohesive silence in the general society all the other o1im - were whole infusing meaning into in terms of the inability expected to play down their their new lives. In these of the others to understand origins and traumatic past ways Israel became a huge what they had experienced. and become active citizens rehabilitation project for the In this way both the sur­ contributing to the building survivors of genocide. vivors and the surrounding and defence of the new At community and society interacted to main­ State and embrace the new national levels in Israel, the tain, by and large, a shameful emerging Israeli identity. Holocaust has always been silence.

25 Accepted as cItlzens with children before the and strengths within more or less full rights and Holocaust, the multiple the individual and his opportunities in most of the losses of spouse and children, environment in the recovery, societies of the democratic of siblings and extended adaptation and integration of world in the post-war era families, created tremendous surVIvors. We have been where they settled, their burdens of mourning. The focussing these studies on surVIvor identities and memory of the former those who were in their teens experiences were avoided unmourned spouse and and early twenties at the end and remained shadowy and children sometimes cast a of the war. This age group in unexpressed except when shadow over the new general seems to have been meeting wi th fellow­ marrIage and family less adversely affected by the surVIvors ln the special relationships. In this age traumatisation and made intimacy and solidarity of group, the symptoms of the the best recovery despite the mutual aid or social groups. so-called "concentration camp fact that their adolescent For many years we have survivor syndrome" such as years were spent in been studying the impact of depressions, fears, flashback ghettos and concentration trauma on the life cycle of associations, guilt feelings camps. "Survivor syndrome" individual survivors, as well and nightmares, have been symptoms were present to a as the possible transgenera­ more evident. much lesser extent and tional influence of this Survivors in general survivor guilt often entirely impact within the families of tend to be vulnerable to absent. the survivors and on future disappointment, separation, It was much more possible generations. illness and death in members for this age group to resume The degree of recovery and of their families and close development, education and the quality of integration of friends. Furthermore, for occupational training. As a survivors of massive trauma some who have lived lives result, marriages which are related to an interaction of constant actlvIty and occurred years later were of many factors and results over activity and are often usually on a more solid in a wide range of differing highly successful achievers, basis than with many of the outcomes. Despite the cata­ cessation of activity can older survivors who made strophic dimensions of the create serious problems. At hasty liaisons and gave birth trauma and the immense such times when facing to children very soon after losses, the experiences and stressful life events, the liberation. their significance were suppressed painful memories An im portan t finding in different and unique for each of past suffering and loss our studies of survivors has individual. can flood back ca using or been the role of small groups, Many factors determined reinforcing depression and friendships, and protective how the individual was anxiety. relationships in enhancing affected, such as age during However, the vast majority the chances of survival in the the Shoa, personality of survivors did not become camps. resources, the quality of psychiatric patients and have Almost all the well func­ family life in childhood, the shown remarkable capacities tioning "teen -age survivors" capacity to form relation­ in overcoming the effect of interviewed had experienced ships, and confidence in one's the extreme experiences helping relationships in the ability to affect one's fate. and multiple losses, creating camps and for many these Furthermore, belonging to a new lives and healthy experiences have remained community, group or ideology, and successful families. as valuable memories often the professional success, Unfortunately, generalisa­ cherished as a humanising have been important factors tions were made from clinical and ethical influence in the struggle to overcome symptoms which did not do throughout their lives. the effects of the traumatic justice to the strength Furthermore, the bonds past and to find meaning and and complexi ty of the lives of which were created in the satisfaction in the years since survivors and their families. concentration camps and the Holocaust. Our research studies today during the rehabilitation For many survivors who are mainly concerned with period after liberation have had been married and had understanding the processes continued as an important

26 social support system for aged and older, they are ture, writing prose or poetry many of them throughout confronted with a return of etc), Holocaust studies as their lives up to the present. suppressed Holocaust memo­ well as communal and In the different countries in ries as part of the normal social activity have been of which they now live, mainly process of reflection on and considerable value for sur­ Israel, England and North review of past life at this vi vors in "working through" America, many have main­ stage in the life-cycle. their experiences as well as tained close contact and In the early years after the constituting meaningful affection for each other, war the attempt to come to communication of real often of a sibling bond terms with concentration importance for the rest of nature, throughout the past camp experiences and society. thirty-six years with much Holocaust losses would have They wanted "to speak" but mutual caring and helping been so painful that it was waited because they "did not behaviour. The intensely avoided and postponed until know how and with whom". supportive quality of the this later period in life when Nowhere has this been better network of relationships of the passage of time may have expressed than by the gifted small and large groups, such rendered the traumatic surVlvor - writer Aharon as the '45 Aid Society, events more distant and less Appelfeld: enabled much exchange of intolerably painful. reminiscences and mutual Furthermore, until then all "Human suffering is the support and encouragement. the psychic energy of many lot of everyone, These self-help surVIvor survivors was mobilised to but the way to the groups have been of meet the demands of suffering of extremity, considerable help for many work and growing families like to death itself, is the individuals, allowing for a which provided purpose and escape from it; slow "working through" of meaning in their lives. Some losses and other traumata in of the survivors who now feel but what can we do solidarity with others who the need to talk even connect when each attempt to had similar experiences. the return of Holoca ust escape Some of these groups, memories with an increasing al ways returns us in the especially if spouse and disillusionment and disap­ end to ourselves, children were involved, pointment with the state of to our childhood, to the became substitutes for the society and the world. camps, and to the ghet­ lost extended families. Such The ways of "coming toes? support systems may well to terms" with, and have replaced a need for "overcoming" Holocaust In this circuit of escape "therapy" which might have traumata utilised by individ­ and return our arisen without it. ual survivors are multiple self-awareness moves, Today, thirty-six years and complex. Each phase of and until we (work later, many survivors who the life-cycle presented new through' it we shall not were adolescents or young opportunities for "dealing be free". adults during the war feel a with') the traumatic memo­ need to talk about their past; ries and losses with great (From "Essays in the to return to and even to variations in individuals (for First Person" by Aharon attempt a belated "working­ example episodes of delayed Appelfeld. through" of their Holocaust mourning). Creative artistic Zionist Library, experIences. Now middle- expression (painting, sculp- Jerusalem, 1979, p. 144.)

27 A Retrospective Journey William Samelson, o I live in the past? Ph.D. Not so when the Nazi People ask when I tell scourge overran the Dthem about the life I William obtained a Ph.D. ~n European continent. All lived in Hitler's hell. No, I. Comparative Literature & vestiges of civilised society respond, I don't live in the Philosophy. He has written crumbled under their past, but the past has a way lnany books, both fact and assault. Cruelty became a of intruding into my life fiction. His latest book common occurrence; kind­ daily. It lives in me when my 'Warning and Hope - Nazi ness was an exception. Hitler heart aches for the great, Murder of European Jewry" viewed the Jew as a scientist irreparable, losses I have was published in 2002. would view a dangerous suffered. My heart is still disease or virus, thus he filled with pain, for the engaged in a struggle to suffering I endured and for "have-nots" and did all in eradicate (aurrotten) the the torments my loved ones its power to lighten their "bacillus". The analogy of underwen t before Nazi burden. Thus, a precarious disease allowed the perpetra­ assassins mercilessly slaugh­ balance was struck and the tor to dehumanise his tered them. human condition prevailed victims and, thereby, I also remember the almost bearable. facilitate mass murder. 17th century philosophers, I remember my grand­ Hence, Hitler's minions felt Leibnitz and Voltaire. The parents, my uncles and no more qualms about killing' former claimed that ours a unts, cousins and various a Jew than one would feel is "the best of all worlds". other relatives and friends. about exterminating a deadly The latter responded with a Most of them were gentle VIrus. question: "If this is the best of people, immersed, each in As a boy of eleven, I experi­ all worlds, I wonder how the their own way, in eking enced a most extraordinary others are?" The story of my out a living, minding their event in the history of life allows me to ponder both own business and mindful human evolution; an event so statements on equal terms. of other~s privacy. To be horrific, so lacking in adjec­ Common-sense dictates sure, there were some trou­ tives to describe it, that we that there are no guarantees blemakers amongst the now call it Shoah or for a "good life'~. We are not Piotrkower Yidn, but they Holocaust, September 1, always dealt from the top were dealt with justice 1939. Nazi Germany invaded of the deck. It is easy to and due attention to their Poland. On that day, Stuka conclude, therefore, that life civil rights by the Shtetl dive-bombers wreaked havoc is part heaven, part hell. authorities; the rabbis and on Piotrkow. We ran for cover Some people create their own the council of elders. We had toward the trenches called heaven or hell. Others fall a cheder (Hebrew school) ''bomb-shelters''. For the first victim to the evil forces and employed a melamed time in my brief existence, I that are bent on destroying (teacher) who educated the experienced the sight of whoever comes in their way local children. There was a death. Men, women, old and of reaching success. Chevra Kaddishah Ca philan­ young, small children in The Piotrkower Yidn, as I thropic burial society that mothers' arms, lay strewn remember them from my assisted in the internment and fragmented on the pave­ ancestral home, could be of unfortunates unable to ments along the trail to the divided into the common bear the burdens of the final shelters. Their bodies were categories of humanity; obligations). All of those shattered into fragments; some counted into the very treasured institutions acted beneath them the ground was fortunate, others were less in concert so as to secure crimson red and soaked in able to draw out of life the satisfaction to as many as their blood. I was terrified good fortu ne . It was a fact was possible. It was a and deeply pained by the of daily life. As such, the civilised way of caring for sight} saddened by the community recognised its people from the cradle to the cruelty of humans toward responsibility toward the grave. humans. It was then, as an

28 eleven·year·old boy, I lost my hate grew to a great rage bitterness occupied my entire innocence; I knew things inside me, my heart was psyche and love was only a would never be as they filled with its venom. Daily, I faint glimmer reminiscent of had been in the days of old. prayed that my jailers would the distant past. While I My childhood was lost, as it cut open my chest and bite gradually recovered my ga ve way to a premature into my heart, drink the strength (during seven adolescence. venom and die. But the months of hospitalisation), I My belief in human inhu· enemy grew stronger each hungered for knowledge to manity was significantly day, as did my hatred toward enable me to avenge my strengthened with the arrival them, and my health declined losses in lives and property. of German troops in Piotrkow exponentially to the point of Though I really wanted to on September 5th. Soon, the resembling a living skeleton become an assassin of my Nazis rounded up the Jews that was about to expire. enemies, I soon realised into the ghetto, forced them And the hatred I felt toward the futility of my intended into slave labour, concentra· the Germans soon encom­ undertaking without the tion camps and, finally, to passed all mankind, for there knowledge it necessitated. their terminal destination seemed to be no one in the Therefore, as soon as I had in death camps. My entire whole universe who cared left the hospital, I applied for fa mily, save my brother about my bitter fate; neither entry into a high school in Roman and my father (who God, to whom I addressed my Wiesbaden, Germany, the was a POW in Stalin's Gulag) prayers, nor the free world. place where my brother and I fell victims of the Nazi "Final Everyone had abandoned us lived then. Solution to the Jewish in our hour of need. I hated As I was placed in a class Question", a German and distrusted people. I was with my peers, it was soon euphemism for their killing alone to fend for myself, as I realised that I did not fit into of European Jewry. Mter grew into my teens. a high school graduating the liquid a tion of Hortensia Yet, in that dark hour of class with my limited and Kara Glass works, mankind, there were some know ledge of a sixth where Roman and I faint glimmers of light grader. The school principal were "employed", the Nazis brought about by random relegated me to the care of a "resettled" the ghetto Jews. acts of kindness of those few professional tutor, Frl. Paula The old, the handicapped~ righteous Gentiles who on Kaiser, who was to prepare mothers with infants and occasions risked their own me for my graduation. It was children unfit for work, filled lives to lighten our burden. It a daunting task, especially countless freight cars that was that occasional kind since my teacher was legally transported them to the word, a smile, and a shared blind, a former Nazi Party nearest extermination camp: portion of bread that helped member, one I hated and Treblinka. My mother, Bela, us through another day. Still, mistrusted with a continuing and my little sister, Felusia the bitter hatred and the paSSIon. were among them. weight of the injustice So many questions During the five·and-a-half wrought upon us transcended preoccupied my mind then; years that followed, I had feelings of trust and love of would I be able to trust any been confined in various mankind. person again? Was I ever labour and concentration When the American GIS going to grow capable of camps. While there, I was liberated me on May 1, 1945, loving man and nature exposed to the utmost depri­ I was physically reborn. An again? They were both cruel vation' infectious diseases, old man at the tender age of enemies up till now. Would I severe hunger and frequent seventeen and a half I be able to lead a "normal" beatings and humiliation at weighed 76 Ibs. Hardly the life with a loving wife, the hands of my jailers. I was weight of a grown-up. children and friends? And, being punished for the crime Mentally, I was a functional most importantly; would of having been born of a illiterate, having completed 6 I be capable of procreation? Jewish mother. An innocent grades of formal schooling Those were the things anger invaded my soul, and it and in the absence of educa· I vaguely understood that grew into unbounded hatred. tion during the six and a half worried me constantly, It was then I had begun to years of incarceration. obsessively, especially the hate my enemies. But as my Emotionally, hatred and procreation part.

29 Soon, Paula (as she went me that if I could trust one of our dreams, the United on with her business of person I might begin to trust States of America. I was re-educating me), made me humanity as well. looking forward to this understand that all persons When I told Paula that journey all my life and employed in the Third Reich I was considered a child especially after having been had to be card-carrying prodigy, playing the violin liberated by the US Armed members of the Nazi Party, from the time I was three Forces. I wanted to become and that she was one of them. years old, she was silent at part of the American dream; Endowed with a sense denied first. She was an accorn­ a dream of a tolerant to the rest of us, in spite of, or plished pianist, and she knew and united society "with perhaps because of, her how six-and-a-half years of liberty and justice for all." I handicap~ she was able to musical inactivity would was eager to learn the "see" me for what I was and atrophy the dexterity needed English language in order to sense what it was that made for performing any art and find work and resume my me the way I was. While the inflict irreparable damage on interrupted education. .. , major portion of our time an aspIrIng musICIan s Soon, the colleges I had was spent studying reading, dreams. I shunned listening attended had given me writing, and arithmetic, to music and attending an understanding of the PauIa succeeded in drawing concerts, thinking how I academic environment; its me back at first into the might envy the virtuosi for advantages and short­ natural environment through the success that was denied comings. My father's trade of innocently devised trickery me. Here, too, Pauia's tailoring had taught me and without arousing my wisdom vvorked its magic. the benefits and disadvan­ SUspIClon. One day, the great violinist tages of unionism. In his "The tulips must be in full Heifetz, my childhood idol, attempt at becoming rich bloom already, William," she visited Wiesbaden for a through inventiveness, he remarked one day, "would concert at the famed exposed us to the pitfalls of you care to take me for a Kurhaus. I was aware of that the legal system and its walk?" And while we walked rare treat, but hesi ta ted tragic consequences. My together, she enquired about to attend. 01eedless to say, brother's inability to cope the multitude of colours at PauIa's invitation, we with the fast~paced American before us and about the first attended the performance. life forced his return to a buds appearing on the At first envious and tearful, I regimented military routine. branches of the huge elm sat without acknowledging The disappointments with trees lining the avenue. At the great master's virtuosity. our American brethren and first hesitant, I soon began to Cautiously, PauIa took my their insensitivity to our past feel at home with flowers trem bling hand into hers experiences and present and trees and the clouds in and squeezed it tenderly. needs cut deeply into the the sky and the raindrops "William," she whispered in preconceived and romanti- in the spring, as well as the the darkness, "it is you up cised notions we had snowflakes during the there, my dear, think of it harboured about them. winter. All of that. I this way, my dear, enjoy." I The wastefulness of the described in minute detail to responded, likewise in a Americans became soon my teacher Paula. And I whisper, "I love you, PauIa." evident in the midst of an gradually allowed her to "see" My conversion was complete. over-abundance of goods. me by placing her chubby From that day on, I would tell And their neglect of their fingers on my face and hair. I my friends and acquain­ civil rights belied the myth of shared her joy when she tances that it was the US GIs a true democracy. I had la ughed and her sadness who had saved my life, but it become a fence-straddler and when she wept. We had was my teacher Ms. Paula objective observer of the become trusted friends. I Kaiser who saved my soul. American people and rediscovered the joy of laugh­ In February 1948, my their worldviews based ter and felt the moisture of brother Roman and my on Monroe's isolationist tears. My "conversion" into a father Henryk (who mean­ doctrine. human had begun. Reason while deserted the Soviet Nightmares of the past had slowly replaced those gnaw­ Army and joined us in plagued my nights and ing old feelings. It came to Germany) set out for the land dream fantasies of my lost

30 family visited me at any we were blessed with two grandparents; so many unexpected hour. I would sons, Henry and Morris, in uncles and aunts and bewail my past and think of that order. My degrees and cousins, and dear friends, all the things my loved ones publications brought me of whom are part of me as I and I could have achieved if honours and invitations from venture into the winter of my only things would have been my erstwhile antagonists, life. different. My little sister the German government. My In my travels on the would have been allowed first visit to Germany was speaker's circuit, as I bear to experience life's trials extremely traumatic but witness to the darkest period and perhaps found true useful for my career. in the history of ci viIi sa tion, I love and gotten married; I However, my father's refusal never fail to mention those might have become a great to accept my Ph.D. degree as gentle people of Piotrkow violinist and a physician; a valid Doctorate as he lay Trybunalski whose lives have as was my father's wish. dying burned a lasting scar of been snuffed out by Nazi My parents might have guilt and false modesty, executioners. In speaking of prospered and enjoyed their which was hard to overcome. the perpetrators, I also recall grandchildren. As I look back at the those righteous individuals I was drafted into the choices I contemplated after without whose random acts Korean Action in 1951, my liberation from Nazi hell, of kindness many of us would which disrupted my studies I rest assured that I have not have survived Hitler's and the completion of ventured on the right jour­ plan. I am reminded of the the Masters' Degree in ney. The dedication to my ancient saying, as it rings Comparative literature. work as professor foreign loudly in my mind through­ Fearing for my life again, I languages and comparative out my deliberations: 'When imagined the worst, only to literature throughout a forty­ you save one life) you save be sent back stateside and year career in Academia humanity." thus avoiding the hazards of fulfilled my dream of My work and my ideology protracted combat. In 1953 I becoming a productive are, necessarily, a reflection left the Army and continued member of society in spite of of my past and my parental my studies in the the adverse influences during desires. Nevertheless, honed Humanities. I married a my formative years. My by years of disciplined study Cuban (Sephardic) lady in many publications, academic and introspection, I have 1954, and two children were as well as personal accounts, cut a bargain with the past born soon thereafter (James have absorbed my energies to by aspiring to accommodate in 1956 and Regina, 1958). I the point of having been the future. My sense of my was on my way in pleasing forced to abandon my first self is based on this uncom­ my father regarding the marriage after the children promising principle on which "replenishment" of our deci­ had been settled, each in I have built my life after the mated family tree. Sadly, he their own private life. Shoah debacle. But through did not live to see his grand­ Presently, approaching the it all, my maternal grandfa­ children for he died in 1958, 60th anniversary of my liber­ ther Srulko's admonition two months after Regina's ation, I live happily with my echoes in my mind: "Welwele, birth. My father's untimely second family in Texas; my always keep your dignity, death caused me great sor­ wife Jenny Mai, and three love your people, and never row and pain. Especially children, Brian (20), Sharon forget where your roots are. painful was his refusal to (19) and Karin (14) years old. Beyond that, never forget derive naches (pleasure) from If my dear parents are what happened here." my successes in the academic observing me from afar, they These words he spoke to me, field, having insisted that the ought to be pleased, for I in a last embrace, as he only worthwhile profession have lived up to my promise en tered on his terminal for his son was a doctorate in to replenish and to be fruitful journey. The Piotrkower medicine. Mter completing in every way, and to live a Jewish community, he had the M.A. degree, I continued useful and happy life of the loved with all his heart, work on my doctorate (ph.D.) righteous. My thoughts ended with that embrace as in philosophy and compara­ travel to my loved ones often; well. It is all now part of me, tive literature and completed my beloved parents; Felusia; and it will remain so until my it in 1960. In 1962 and 1964 my paternal and maternal last breath.

31 Return trip to Belsen By Eva Oppenheimer

t was on Friday lunchtime dotted around (including one I including my 40 year old that a few to my parents). Trees nephew. I survivors, and their surrounded this place It was after the services families met up at Heathrow with birds singing in them. that a small miracle Airport, with Stephen Smith It was eerie wandering happened to me. We were and some of the staff of around, a place that has bussed over to the nearby Beth Shalom. We were going haunted me for such a British Army barracks to Bergen Belsen for the long time. Paul and Rudi for lunch - vegetable soup, liberation ceremonies of remembered so much more of various rolls and cheeses, that camp 60 years ago. I was where each of the barracks followed by fresh fruit. feeling very nervous, but was: and I tried so hard to I was sitting on one of the having my brother Paul and find the barrack where my long trestle-type tables, his wife Corinne there helped mother died, and where a talking to people around me. (my other brother Rudi came family called. Birnbaum The army had by this later that day. looked after me. time requested that perhaps After arriving at our hotel One of the few remnants the younger people would in Hanover (incredibly clean of the camp is the railway have their lunch outside as and tidy) we went to track, with its awful ramp, far more people had come Synagogue, and met up with overgrown now by weeds, than they anticipated. many more survivors. Our There is talk that some of My niece, who was with her party, however, did not go to the foundations which were parents, rose and offered the service, but went instead burnt down by the British an elderly couple her seat into the building next door, Army because of the many and the empty one next to it. which was the old people's diseases are going to be My brother Paul was home, for our dinner, which excavated, which will give an talking to them, asked what was specially cooked for us, idea of hovv- the camp their name was and where as we did not want to keep looked. It will, however, did they come from. Imagine the staff waiting. I had no never give the impression his surprise when the lady idea that so many elderly of the filth, the awful stench said her maiden name was Jewish people were living in and the loneliness people Birnbaum. Immediately, Hanover. The building felt there. Paul asked her if she looked seemed very large. It was Sunday 17th April, we after orphan children in after dinner ~ which was very arri ved ear ly for the good - we started reminiscing commemora tion service . It the cam p and on one of the about Belsen 60 years ago, was quite cold and wet, trains tha t left Belsen before and. also Rudi, who by this but blankets and umbrellas the actual date of liberation. time joined us, telling us were handed out. There are No, she said, it was my about his day at the two memorial sites at mother who looked after Memorial Service at Hyde Belsen - one for Polish about 50 children, and I was Park. prisoners of war, gypsies one of them. It was an The next day we went and homosexuals, and extremely emotional day for to the airport to collect Jewish people. It was there me, to find someone whose Paul's three children and that we gathered first. I'm mother looked after me so one grandchild (Lara), sorry to say that the service many years ago. Hugs, kisses and then went off to the there did nothing to comfort and many thank-yous for camp. Many people were me. The second service at looking after me were said already there wandering the Jewish Memorial, which over the next hour before we around the grounds, which was about two hundred went our separate ways. were now beautifully kept, yards from the other one, was Belsen for me now is where with grass and heather, very moving and left so some goodness can come out and a few tombstones many people In tears, of suffering.

32 Holocaust Memorial Day - January 2005 A Survivor's View he day 27.1.05 marked I shall never forget the the 60th anniversary of by Witold Gutt feelings of hope and thankful­ T the liberation of the ness that accompanied my Auschwitz Concentration flrst sight of the American Camp. The theme of the the presence of The Queen soldiers who liberated memorial day was, Survivors, and The Duke of Edinburgh. Dachau on 29" April 1945. Liberation, Rebuilding Lives. The Prime Minister, the It is noteworthy that the HM The Queen and HRH Home Secretary, the Leader task of reading the names of The Duke of Edinburgh were of the Opposition, as well 3,000 of the victims later present at all the events that as religious and other com­ in the programme was given took place. munity leaders attended. Six to the grandchildren of Those invited to this hundred camp survivors, and Holocaust survivors - the national commemoration some camp liberators had children were not present, were survivors of concen tra­ been invited to attend with we heard their VOIces. tion and extermination th eir guests. This reading gave implicit camps liberated by the allies, An important aspect of the recognition to the continuing liberators, representatives commemora tion has been influence of the Holocaust of affected communities and the recogni tioD of the on the lives of the senior public and religious resilience of the survivors in children and grandchildren of figures. the Holocaust and in the surVIvors. The day began with a rebuilding of their lives. Music of the highest reception at St. James's This was evident in many of quality featured strongly in Palace at which the highlight the key speeches and was the memorial programme. was the presence of HM The explicitly stated In the Music is a medium which Queen and the Duke of written introduction to may sometimes, better than Edinburgh who met the camp the programme by the Prime words, evoke in tense feelings. survivors, some of whom Minister and the Home During the proceedings, were presented and spoke Secretary who state, "We photographs of the camps to them. The historic sur­ recognise and deeply respect were proj ected on to the stark roundings provided a the courage and determina­ walls of the hall, bringing the comfortable yet dignified tion of survivors who rebuilt audience into close contact setting for the guests to their lives in harsh and with the enormity of converse with one another difficult circumstances, the suffering. Such visual and exchange memories, having lost families, liveli­ evidence serves to condemn In the afternoon a major hoods, communities and the Nazis for ever, and shows commemoration took place at cultures." Tribute was also those who deny the Holocaust

Westminster Hall, in the I paid to the role of the for what they are, traitors to Palace of Westminster, in liberators of the camps. humanity.

Yom Hashoa - Survivors with their Survivors at the Yom Hashoa Memorial grandchildren lighting the memorial Service. candles.

33 In a significant address the Chief Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks urged people of all creeds to challenge prejudice and intolerance. He paid tribute to survivors and wondered how they had found courage to continue having witnessed such horrors. He said, 'Just as the eye can be blinded by too much light, so the soul can be broken by too much darkness. Yet theirs was not. They re-affirmed life, built families and cared for one another.' He continued, 'The survivors have borne the weight of memory. Now we must carry it and hand it on to our children.' Lighting of the Memorial Candles at the 60th The Prime Minister used Anniversary Reunion. as his main theme the effect of the Holocaust on his own The ceremony opened with which was brought back to generation. Elgar's '0, Harken Thou,' London under Army escort. Anglican Christians were and a reading from "If this is During the ceremony this represented by the a Man,' by Primo Levi, lamp \vas carried into Archbishop of Canterbury, whose writing is unrivalled Westminster Hall, to light 60 and Roman Catholics by in Holocaust literature, candles, one for each year Cardinal Murphy O'eonnor, followed by an introductory since liberation. The Queen who mentioned that the Pope address given by Lord and The Duke lit the first two had urged Catholics to renew Winston. candies, and a procession of Then came a heart-rending survivors lit the rest. The their understanding of the performance of Bloch's showing of the scenes of the Jewish roots of their faith. 'Scenes from Jewish Life' by video was interspersed with The vast, cold Westminster the Royal Philharmonic extracts from the oratorio Hall with its great hammer­ Orchestra, with magnificent named 'Annaliese' using beam ceiling was a fitting solo playing by the cellist words from the diary of Anne setting for this commemora­ Natalie Clein. Frank. tion. The oldest of the In the next item, Susan Under the heading parliament buildings, it Pollack described in a video 'the Forgotten Holocaust' the housed the chief law courts of her rescue as a skeletal murder of the gypsies and England for six centuries, teenager by allied liberators other targeted groups, and here deceased Monarchs at the gates of Belsen, and including gays, was recalled. and great statesmen such as her recent visit to the site of The disabled black athlete Winston Churchill lie in the camp where she again Ade Adepiton told us from state. met the British Major who his wheelchair that as a My Mother, Jadwiga Gutt rescued her. She had been black disabled man he would nee Peiper, died in Auschwitz very brave to make the ha ve been in line for extermi­ in 1943 and I spent the night return journey and her nation, and the Boros Gypsy preceding the Memorial Day account was very poignant. Ensemble played a poignant thinking about her. There at Belsen, she lit ·a gypsy lament on traditional candle in a miner's lamp instruments. Written 28th Jan 2005

34 The Football Match By Paul Oppenheimer

o mark the annual the older MPs had been experiences in schools and national Holocaust replaced by younger colleges and universities. T Memorial Day 2005, researches and staffers, to Three days after The the Holocaust Educational score 3 goals without reply. Football Match, on 27th Trust and the All Party In a final frenzied burst of January, the national Parliamentary Football excitement, the HET team Holocaust Memorial Day Club arranged a football won 5 - 4. was commemorated In match between children and The subsequent reception Westminster Hall. grandchildren of Holocaust explained the intention of Her Majesty The Queen survivors against MPs. keeping the Holocaust in the and HRH The Duke of The match was played on public eye, raising awareness Edinburgh were in atten­ ~onday 24th January 2005 of the issues and tackling dance and there were at Upton Park, home of West racism in sport, by reaching speeches by Holoca ust Ham United Football Club an audience interested in survivors and the Prime and a notorious multi-racial , football, but not so knowl­ Minister and the Chief Rabbi area. edgeable of the Holocaust. and by Sven-Goran Eriksson, Both my 'Second The facts of the Holocaust who recalled the England Genera tion' sons Nick (age should never be forgotten, football team visit to 40) and Simon (age 38) even 60 years after the Poland during the previous volunteered to play for the liberation of Auschwitz. year, when he led the entire HET team, whilst my Survivors of the camps squad on a tour of Auschwitz brother Rudi and myself were were available to talk to - an experIence never to be Holocaust surVIvors In young people and tell their forgotten. attendance. Several hundred local school children had been invited to refreshments, watch the match and fill the stands. Nancy Dell'Olio - girl­ friend of Sven-Goran Eriksson, the England team manager - kicked off to start the match and by half-time, the HET scratch team were leading 3 - 1. Both Nick and Simon contributed well, being extremely fit from regular match play, but never having played on such a large professional pitch. The MPs, including lan Duncan Smith and managed by Lawrie McMenemy, played decidedly better in the second half; perhaps some of Paul and Rudi at the match.

35 Ambulance dedication at Magen David Adorn Head Quarters in Israel. Ambulance Dedication Ceremony By Anne Peterson n the morning of and its radio code No. 32 Friday 13th May 2005, Anne is the wife of Dauid in red, awaited the formal O members of the' 45 Aid Person (Pietrikowski) who handing over of the keys. Society, accompanied by came to England with the Members were told that Chairman, Ben Helfgott and Southampton "boys". the ambulance had already some American and Israeli seen service, including the supporters, made the journey night-club bombing in Tel to the Gertner Institute, briefed on the work of the Aviv in 2004, as well as many Tel Hashomer, for the formal Centre and although our patrols. Following speeches handing over of our ambulance was handed over by Ben Helfgott and the ambulance to rvlagen David in London in 2003, it now Centre Manager, Avi Zohar, Adorn at the Israeli Blood stood proudly outside for its the unveiling took place to Centre. Elli Benson, the unveiling. This was an aus­ great applause. All the mem­ Director of the Friends picious occasion to coincide bers signed the Israeli flag Society, who thanked the '45 with the 60th Anniversary of which has been brought back Aid Society for their financial the Liberation of the Camps. to London. Refreshments support, warmly welcomed Our ambulance, proudly were then given to the the members. Members were bearing its '45 Aid inscription members. Inauguration of the Teachers' Garden in Yad Vashem n Sunday 15th May 2005, a party of sixty­ ,D'IID;) I~ flJlJn Otwo members of the '45 , 'Nl~lIOOJ~ O'llf);) )I'J 01)(; r Aid Society visited Yad 'iln .')~ oonl') rn. ~~ll9 "Ill'] '4' JHI~ Vashem. The first part of the , '''~JN visit took place in front of the garden endowed by the members of the '45 Aid to honour the memory of the educators who perished in the Shoah. The members were welcomed by Solly Kaplinsky, Chairman of the Teaching School, who discussed the purpose of the

36 school. which was to educate belief in human values. standards and the mISSIon teachers, who would go forth He praised the work of the going to continue the and teach around the world second and third generations, direction of the' 45 Aid. the legacy of the Shoah. whose relevant research gave Ben Helfgott then The inauguration was then purpose and meaning to presented a cheque for carried out by Avner Shalev, Yad Vashem. In his address, £50,000 to the Centre and with a moving tribute to he emphasised that teachers spoke about how the idea the '45 AL\id Support over the are the key factors in arose in 1995, which has now years and how their shared promoting the remembrance been realised. A plaque was memorles would keep the and promised to keep the then unveiled.

Dedication of the Teachers Garden at Yad Vashem Jerusalem.

Speech by Field Marshal Lord Bramall to welcome the' 45 Aid Society to the Museum for the Screening of Herb Krosney's new Film "THE BOYS: TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY"

am delighted and hon­ you and your families under English, adapted and sup­ oured to have been asked Nazi occupation and how you ported each other, found l to address you this coped with the aftermath of education, training and jobs, afternoon. that experience. and raised families. We are here for the And now there is a film, I am particularly glad to he premiere screening of a film developed with Sir Martin's here this afternoon, because which has been made about guidance, and narrated by it allows me to say a few you, the '45 Aid Society, who him - which will bring the words about the Holocaust came together as youngsters story to a wider audience, Exhibition, which essentially of the concentration camps Those who see it will hear tells your story, and to give back in 1945 and who rebuilt you describe in your own you some idea of the impact your lives in this country words the terrible privations which it has had on our after the war. you endured in the Nazi visitors, Your story was of course camps, and your physical As you know, I had the told first in words by Sir recovery from tha t time in privilege to be the Chairman Martin Gilbert in his very the weeks immediately after of the Museum's Board of illuminating book "The the war, They will learn Trustees during the time that Boys", which came out a few about your impressions of the Holocaust Exhibition was years ago, a moving account this country when you conceived and developed. of the suffering inflicted on arrived, how you learned It represented a significant

37 turning point in the history of Exhibition been received? Krosney, its director, has the Museum, We had never VVell, it has had a very done an inspired and very tackled a genocide before, profound impact. It steadily professional job of tracking and we were novices in the receives between 700 and 800 down original photographs field of Holocaust scholar­ visitors each day. and roughly and film, and interweaving ship, an area which as you a million and a half visitors these with the testimony so know is fairly complex. ha ve now been through it. many of you gave him. Our I know from Suzanne And those visitors find own Paul Sargent in the Film Bardgett, who directed the themselves utterly absorbed Department made a special exhibition, that one of the and quite often overwhelmed , contribution through finding great satisfactions of her by what the Exhibition tells the remarkable film footage team was the fact that they them. of many of you embarking on were able to meet so many of There are not many public the RAF planes which you, and to hear your stories places in London today where brought you from first-hand. people stand in complete Czechoslovakia, and he IS VVe are extremely grateful silence. But that is what they with us today also. for the trust you placed in our do in the Holoca ust And so to conclude, I institution to present this Exhibition. understand that the film appalling event accurately And the comments left demonstrates that it was and sensitively. As you know, behind by visitors show that indeed a stroke of genius - as we had an Advisory Group they take a great deal from it your mentor Yogi Mayer to help us in this task, and - not simply learning the his­ describes it - to keep you all several of them are well tory, but asking themselves together in 1945, something known to you. very profound questions. which fostered your together­ Sir Martin Gilbert helped I don't know how I would ness and sustained you us with the historical, inter­ have behaved - wrote one as you went forward in to pretation, as did Professor visitor - and I pray I never adulthood and life's chal­ David Cesarani, who I am learn. lenges in your newly-adopted delighted to see here today. And VISItors frequently country. Ben Helfgott, Chairman of comment on what it took to And so today, on the the' 45 Aid Society, guided us survive and their admiration sixtieth anniversary of your and opened many doors for for the survivors. One wrote: arrival in this country, the us, as did the late Rabbi It's the triumph of the Director General, Robert H ugo Gryn who sadly died spirit which comes through in Crawford, and I are delighted before the Exhibition was this display. to welcome you here, and completed. I am delighted to And so to the film. I under­ invite you now to watch say that his widow, J acqui stand from Suzanne that it is Gryn, is here today. a really remarkable social "The Boys: Triumph over So how has the Holocaust document and that Herb Adversity" .

"Mir Sennen Du" By Aubrey Rose C.B.E.

Aubrey is an ardent supporter of our Society. He is a former Vlce-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, an original member of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, and spent five years as a Commissioner of the Commission for Racial Equality. His autobiography uThe Rainbow Never Ends" will shortly be published.

had not been in a concen­ have perished. I might have courage of the British, of tra tion camp. I had survived. Churchill, and eventually I not perished. I had not The strip of water between of the combined Allied power. survived. Had my parents Britain and the Continent Alongside so many other not left Eastern Europe had enabled me to live children and youngsters, I earlier in the century, I might in freedom. So had the had endured the nightly

38 bombing, the Blitz, had children, eager, happy voices We saw too how the Boys, slept on Thbe platforms, or in and faces, a re-union. Ten there were gir Is too, had shelters in the garden, the years before I had joined come to Britain, lived in home. But still, I was free. them on the 50th anniversary hostels, went out into the Not so those, of my age, of their liberation. I had sat world, resumed their frac­ w ha languished in degrada­ then next to one of them, the tured education, learned tion in those camps, never incomparable Rabbi Hugo English, welded themselves knowing from day to day Gryn. Earlier this year into British society. It was whether they would ever I had the privilege of inspiring for me to sit there, know freedom. Not even, in attending their 60th re-union looking at those on the screen one way, were their captors celebration. describe far-off-days, how free. They were imprisoned, Now here we were, a warm they felt, what they sought. mentally, even physically, as sunny 'fuesday, not far from Despite all they had endured, part of a wicked conspiracy of the modern London Eye~ the there was no hate, no hate, violence and brutality, Gothic Houses of Parliament, vengeance. They were real the em bodiment, as Churchill the heart of London. We human beings and would perceived, '''of many forms of heard welcoming speeches, never sink to the bestial soul-destroying evil". the former Chairman of the depths of their captors. Among those Jews who had Trustees of the Imperial War I looked around at the survived were 732, whom Museum. Field Marshal audience and saw the same fate subsequently threw Lord Bramall and its General faces as those talking to me together. They were a Director, Robert Crawford. on the screen, Ben Helfgott, handful among millions. Later we heard also from Roman Halter, Krulik Wilder, They were young. Almost all His Honour Israel Finestein David Herman, Harry Spiro, had lost their parents, their Q.C., and Ben Helfgott. We Sally Irving, Michael Etkind, families. assembled in the Museum's and many others. As the terrible war ended cinema. The Museum and its The secret of their survival in 1945, I, in London, was staff had always been such in Britain, their esc~ pe in to surrounded by my parents, friends, had worked so hard normality? It was their my family. A few had died in to set up the Holocaust continued unity. They had the bombing, but I could hope Exhibition within its walls. kepttogethe~throughoutthe to resume a normal life. I Now The Boys own '45 Aid years, as one devoted family was the same age as many of Society, had invited us all to or band of brothers and 'The Boys', as the 732 see a film. sisters. They had remained became known. I knew then Our gu id e through the in touch, supporting one nothing about them, who film was wonderfully lucid another. They had blossomed they were, w ha t they had historian Sir Martin Gilbert forth and, in a special way, endured. But for a lucky whose book had brought to had triumphed. chance I could easily have life in print, in written words, No wonder the film was been one of them. the story of The Boys. called 'Triumph Over I looked around, 16th Now, the grim reality) the Adversity'. Adversity there August 2005, in the spacious epic survival of a few, made a had been, a modest word rooms of the Imperial War powerful visual impact. We for what they had suffered, M useum, sou th of the saw the episodes of the War, but triumph it had been. Thames, at the Boys the degradation of the camps, The film was well-named. and their families, Wl yes, the inhumanity of the death The Boys had triumphed husbands, children, grand- trains. indeed.

39 How Swimming Influenced My Life Susie Halter hen my mother joined the MUE and limited hours and had to took me swimming presented my family with a wear a yellow star. My friend Wfrom an early age fait-a-complis. and I decided that we really on Sundays to the Lukcs I was under 14 when I badly wanted to have a swim swimming pool in Budapest, swam my first race in the and, without the star, she probably didn't realise yearly Newcomers' race and sneaked out and went for a w ha t a great role swimming was beaten to second place by swim to a pool we didn't was going to play in my life. I Sarosi's latest protegee. frequent before. To crown it discovered buoyancy at the From that time on, she never all, after our swim we went to age of 51/2. I remember the beat me again and I won all the famous Gerbau and had moment up to this day. I the under-14 back-stroke cakes before going home. It believe this happens to many races that summer, bringing was quite a foo1ish thing to do people that certain events a lot of points to my club, the as the staff at the pool could become like a milestone in MUE. have spotted and reported us. their memory. Soon the anti-Jewish laws Of the war years, I could I taught myself a kind of came into force and I wasn't write at length; how I breast-stroke but later auto­ invited to the yearly MUE escaped from the transport matically started a double Club dinner. They only taking us to the Austrian arm back-stroke. invited one Jewish swimmer, border before being handed I was in the flrst year of my who was the senior breast­ over to the Germans by the secondary school in Raskai stroke champion. She tried Hungarians soldiers; how I Lea gymnasium when our to talk to me and told me that walked back to Budapest very ambitious gym teacher all this will be over soon and realising that my parents announced that those who I should be invited to future were already in the ghetto. could swim would take part dinners. I told her that "1 Swimming didn't come into it in the Budapest Interschool shall never again swim for at that time, but the fortitude KISOK race at the National the MUE, and immediately acquired through training Sport Swimming Pool on St left off training with them helped me to manage. lVlargaret Island in the indoor and joined the Jewish coach, Eventually, the Russians pool. I had never been to that Sarosi, the one my mum came into Budapest and soon famous pool and had never refused in the first place. the war was over. After the swum in a 33 113 metre pool. I The two girls who beat me in war, the swimmers cleaned came third in the one length the school gala became my the National Pool and we back-stroke. The first and best friends. One of them, could swim. We were under­ second were already known Eva Szekely became an nourished and despite our club swimmers. Therefore, I Olympic champion in '52 and lack of training we beat our considered myself first as a Adel Vamos lives in Australia opponents and had a very complete untaught outsider. and became the 1JOOO metres successful season. We were On that occasion, Sarosi, record -holder. once again back at school. the other girls' coach, During the war, we Jewish I took the matriculation approached my mother and swimmers were no longer examina tion and trained asked if she would agree to allowed to race, but we swam twice a day. let me join his club, the FTC. in a smaller pool and trained In 1947, I swam In My mother refused, thinking hard under Sarosi. We had the University World competitive swimming would time trials and the guests of Championships in Paris and be detrimental to my health. the Lukacs Pool were very got a bronze in the 100 I was very upset, but had to supportive, awarding us metres back -stroke. This was accept the decision. Years trophies for good times the last and only time that later, another coach recorded. the Hungarian flag went up approached me, wanting to VVhen our house had the for my third place. train me. Since I felt that I yellow star on it, as did For the 1948 Olympics in couldn't go back to Sarosi my friend Eva's, we could London, I was a probable after my mother's refusal, I only leave the house during choice for the team and when

40 my place was secured for the training sessions that I met through the Mermaid 100 metres free-style and my future husband, Roman. Swimming Club, where I possibly for the relay, I came Within a year we were mar­ was, by now, a Life Member. to London at the invitation of ried. Our son Ardyn, who won a my aunt and uncle who were At the 1950 Maccabiah I scholarship to Pembroke prepared to have me stay won five gold medals, includ­ College, Cambridge after with them for a year to study. ing one for the team race. In attending Haberdashers, got The 1948 Olympics was an 1957, both Roman and I took three full and one half Blue outstanding event. In those part in another Maccabiah. swimming for Cambridge. days, there was no Olympic This time, I gained silver in Aloma, a scholar at Village. The girls stayed at the 200 metre free, bronzes N ewnham College, St Helen's School in for the 100 metre free and Cambridge, was also swim­ Northwood and we had our 100 metres back. Once ming in the University swim­ meals at the Hendon again, a gold in the team ming club. I coached Ardyn Technical College, where the race. at an early age and he won men stayed. We travelled I carried on swimming, his 100 metres back age everywhere by tube. won the London group swims at the age of 10 In the heat, general confu­ Championship 100 metres and 11 in the Junior sion and excitement, I swam and various other events. Nationals at Crystal Palace badly and didn't make the In 1954 our first child, and Blackpool. Aviva got her semi-finals, but still I enjoyed Aloma, was born. I gave up B.A. at Camberwell Art being part of the wonderful work with Air-India, a job Collegiate after attending event and watched Zatopek which I got through a friend North London College School and Fanny Blankers Cohen in the Mermaid Swimming and swimming for them. run. Club. Her parents were in After finishing at After the Olympics were India and we were both Cambridge, both Aloma and over, I had permission to stay attending college in London. Ardyn went on Alya to Israel. and study in England and I In 1956 our son Ardyn When I was once visiting joined the famous Mermaid was born. We carried on Ardyn in Israel, he took part Swimming Club. We went for swimming with limitations. in a race at Givat Haim and I the Nationals in different In 1957 Ardyn was only one took part just for fun. Garson parts of England. Besides year old and it was wonderful Shaffer, the Olympian, and studying, I trained and repre­ when Roman decided that he resident coach there, told me sented Middlesex, the club. would look after the children that "you could get a place in In 1950, I also joined and I could go (if selected) to the coming World Maccabi through Barkochba swim in the 1957 Maccabiah. Championships for Masters Swimming Club. They were It was great to have some in Brazil". Since my cl u b in preparing for the Maccabiah 'time off'. Any mother with London was going, I too in the newly-founded country, two small children will testify decided to try for it and, Israel. We had a great to that. I had the honour of indeed, I got a bronze in the send-off in the Grosvenor carrying the team flag. I still 50 metres back and 4th in the House. The opening of managed to get a bronze. 100 metres. the Maccabiah was a most Swimming was still impor­ Since then I have been uplifting experience. Ben tant in the family. We took training as well as teaching Gurion gave the opening the children swimming at an swimming. In addition, I address. Doves were let loose early age. Aloma, a baby took my teacher training and Jewish athletes from Mermaid, became a full course at All Souls as a all countries paraded in the Mermaid at the age of six. mature student. Incidentally, festive stadium at Ramat Ardyn was, in due course, a I enrolled to All Saints on the Gan. We were feeling the member of the Hampstead recommendation of a local heat in a smart but warm Priory Swimming Club. headmaster at Ashmount in uniform donated to the Aviva was born in 1956 and whose school I set up a English Team by Marks and she, too, was a baby sWlmmlng programme for Spencer. Mr Reise was Mermaid. ILEA. our coach. During the Soon I started teaching When I qualified as a Maccabiah, I made a lot of swimming, having acquired teacher, I still continued friends. It was during the my teachers' certificate SWImmIng teaching at

41 Westminster under School Inter-house competition. Long Course Championships and took a part-time teaching I slipped, although only at Crystal Palace for the job in Islington for ILEA. judging. That afternoon I 50 metre back and freestyle Many British and was due to swim in the Welsh (there was no turn involved International competitions Masters Championship in in the long racing pool) followed. This entailed visits Swansea and instead I ended and I swam reasonable to France, Germany, Austria up at St Thomas' Emergency times, getting a gold and and New Zealand and the in London, having been taken silver. USA. I was lucky enough by ambulance with a serious Our seven grandchildren to end up with reasonable shoulder inj ury. I t was are all good swimmers. placing. The best result was operated on in May by lVIr Roman and I have our daily a second in Sindelfingen, Levy in the Reading Shoulder swim at the ripe age of 77. Germany, in a European Unit of the Royal Berkshire When at St James' Palace, Championship in the Hospital. Whilst having I was introduced to Her 200 metre free and two years physiotherapy, I started my Maj esty The Queen. The ago in Millau, France, own hydro-therapy at the sportsman introducing me sil vers in the 50 metres free local pool. said "Mrs Halter was swim­ and 50 metres butterfly Eleven months later I still ming in the Olympics". The events. have a problem with my right Queen said "Are you still My Waterloo was in arm movement but in swimming?" and as I March 2004 when I officiated January I ventured an entry answered "Yes", she said at a Westminster Under for the Southern Counties "Really" and moved on.

A Dream Fulfilled Jerzy Lando hen we read that the blind to them. My parents number of university Jerzy was born in Lodz and were wealthy enough to send Wstudents in the UK during the war lived in the their sons to study abroad; represents currently 6% of Lodz Ghetto, Warsaw Ghetto, my elder brother studied at population ~ and this is six and then on the Aryan side. the prestigious Manchester times as many as in the He came to England in 1946 College of Technology - part 1960s (HERO. 2005) - it is and was a very successful of Manchester University - hard to realise how small was businessman both in the and this is where my father, a the number of the privileged textile industry and in successful textile manufac­ few who had access to higher computers. His book "Saved turer intended me to study as education before the Second By My Face" was published well. In due course, the sons World War, where my narra­ four years ago and has would join their father in tive starts. At that time, enjoyed considerable success. running the business, with even in France, Germany and the added advantage of what Britain, university students students demanded a quota was considered as the best formed only one-tenth of one to be placed on the admission specialised education of this per cent of their total popula­ of Jews. They also demanded kind. When the war broke tion (Hobsbawn 1994, p.295). that Jewish students should out, I was starting my final In pre-war Poland prospec­ be forced to sit separately on school year, looking forward tive Jewish students had to the so-called ghetto benches, to studying in England very contend with additional though many Jews preferred soon. handicaps; gentile students to stand during the lectures A two-year spell in the were irritated by the number rather than sit there (Watt \Varsaw Ghetto, followed by of Jewish colleagues, at 1979, p.363). Consequently, two years of existence under times in excess of 20% of the number of Jewish a false Christian identity and the total number. As open students declined. nine months in a German anti-Semitism erupted in None of these problems POW camp, put an end to the post-Pilsudski era, the applied to my family. In fact, such aspirations. When I conservative and rightist like many others, we were arrived in England in 1946,

42 my first journey was to had been haunting me since I everyday discussion'. Manchester, where I was saw in front of me the first After my first year of study, hoping to get a place - most uniformed German: what I was privileged to receive the were already allocated to kind of cultural world do we bursary award from Dorothy the demobilised British ex­ live in that allows "all this" to Schuler's foundation that is servicemen - relying on my happen and why did "all this" presented once a year to two brother having been known happen? My next year Open University Art Faculty there as a former student. I course 'Ibtal War and Social students of retirement age. was too late. However, Change: Europe 1914 - 1955 The Ham & High printed an the Principal promised might bring me closer to an article under the heading me a place a year later and answer. 'Ghetto survivor Jerzy finally suggested that I should What makes Open able to fulfil a dream', the enrol in the meantime University method of dream to study for a degree. at the Textile Technology learning effective is pressure A few days ago, shortly Department of Salford Royal of meeting targets, monthly before my 83rd birthday and Technical College. He kept submission of essays - they his promise but, because of are returned with tutors' four years after I embarked I a my restricted financial comments and advice. on the project, received means, when faced with the Tu torials are usually held letter confirming the award alternative of three more once a month with an of a BA degree. Next year I years at the University and opportunity of live discussion hope to complete another one year at Salford before I with your tutor and fellow course that will allow me to could earn a living with a students. Bulletin boards add the words 'Honours' qualification, I had to opt for offer conferencing facilities to the BA. I shall look the latter. To satisfy my with other students and forward then to a graduation boundless ambition, typical course facilitators. Teaching ceremony most likely to take of a penniless outsider materials include printed place at Palais de Congres in determined to make good in a books, video and sound Versailles. foreign country, I worked for tapes. Some courses are I believe that many of over filly years under con­ supplemented by a residen­ your readers could derive stant pressure, trying to tial one-week course with a considerable benefits from create a successful textile demanding timetable at one following my example. manufacturing enterprise of the UK universities. and later a specialised com­ Optional revision courses are Jerzy Lando BA (Open) puter business, while always held at some universities 1 Contact for Open University: dreaming of what I was so before the final examination e-mail: [email protected]. cruelly deprived of by the at the end of each course. Phone (020)7485 6506 German invaders - the oppor­ My starting course intro­ tunity study at a university ducing humanities lived up to Bibliography for degree. a the promise of helping 'to Hobsbawm E., Age of At the age of 78 I retired express myself more clearly Extremes Penguin Book, from full-time work and, and develop the reading, London, 1994 having come across a analysis and interpretation prospectus of the Open skills needed before moving Watt Richard M., Bitter IJniversity, in order to com­ on to more specialised Glory Touchstone, New plement what was my life's courses at the next level'. An York, 1979 technical bias, I chose to introduction to philosophy HERO, the primary internet study 'humanities' at the Arts showed (as it promised) 'how portal for academic research Faculty; art history, litera­ philosophical issues arise in and higher education in the ture, music, philosophy, familiar questions about UK (onIine) available from classical studies, history, our own nature and situa­ h ttp:www.hero.ac. uk. uklinsid religious studies, and history tion, and ta ugh t me the e_helhigher_education_sta­ of science. It was also an techniques of analysis and tistics 6 7 6 3. cfm (accesse d ideal environment to provide argument essential to other 26/12/05) an answer to a question that academic subjects and to

43 A PLEA at the International Scientific Conference Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi: The Dilemma of Humanistic Choice in the conditions of Totalitarian Regimes

By Lili Pohlmann, Lviv, 7th November 2005 YOUR EMINENCE - DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS AND GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

y name IS Lili I have given depositions Great Ukrainian .. . Pohlmann. My and. testified on his behalf To have survived the Nazi M maiden name was countless times - in spoken occupation in Lvov is in itself Stern. 1 was born here in word, in writing, and on film a miracle; if I stand here Lwow, but have lived in - all are to be found in various before you today it is thanks London, England, since 1946. museums round the world, to the infinite humanity, I am no historian - nor am in Holocaust exhibitions and infinite courage and infinite I an academician, but I am a in books - but never before loving-kindness of the witness to history, at least to have I addressed such a Metropolitan. For it is this some events in it, and I have distinguished and influential saintly and noble man who, come here, after an absence audience as this. I shun in the most inhuman times of 60 years and 3 months, speaking in public - but the in history - at the risk to for one and one reason only; moment I was invited to his own life, as well as the to pay respect and homage attend this conference I knew lives of many nuns, monks to a GR.EAT MAN - His I had to be here in order to and priests - dared to give Holiness the Archbishop testify yet again - foremost to sanctuary to the persecuted Metropolitan ANDREI defend the good name of this Jewish people, not only COUNT SZEPTYCKIJ. Remar kab le Man... this wi thin his own residence of St. Jur, but, at his recom­ mendation, within Uniate monasteries, and convents and orphanages of the Studite Order. He dispatched letters to priests, ordering that they be read to the congregations in all churches. In these he warned his people - and I quote: that: "anyone helping the Nazis to persecute or kill Jews will be doomed to eternal damna­ tion". What more could an old, ailing, paralysed man do, than to protest thus?! And did he not, by this very act alone, defy the Nazi regime - and their willing collaborators With Cardinal HuzaJ; Head of Ukrainian GR. CATH. from within the Ukrainian Church. community?! Did he not, by

44 example, show them up for cruel perversion of the truth! He must have had the murderers that they were? SCRIPTA MANENT - yet impression that I stood in Did the head of any other despite all existing documen­ awe of him - which I most church dare to protest, as he tation and written proofs, the probably was - or was it did, in his well-documented good name of one of simply because I was a child? letters to the top echelons of the GREATEST HUMANI­ - because he beckoned to me the Nazi regime?! And when TARIANS of our times is gently and asked me to come writing to Pope Pius XII, did constantly being maligned closer. When I did, admitted­ he not begin by apologising and besmeared by unjust ly with some trepidation - he for not writing since the occu­ allegations and accusations. held me close and, stroking pation of Lvov by the Nazis, Is not a man who was instru­ my hair, he said In for fear that his letter: mental in rescuing from the Ukrainian: "He Jiuceir, H •• might fall into the hands Shoah between 150 - 200 gumuho ..... do not be afraid of those who should not be lives, primarily children my child, no harm will come reading it ... " In the same (including boys, which put to you here, here you are letter he says, and I quote; the church and the priests in safe." And immediately I felt ('The German rule is wicked, yet greater dangerl) - is not safe. An unforgettable almost diabolical - by far such a man a RIGHTEOUS moment ... He then exchanged surmounting that of the MAN??~! To she1 ter and a few words in Ukrainian Bolsheviks. .. "ARE THESE protect .150 - 200 Jews - and wi th Mr. Podoshin - his phar­ THE WORDS OF A not a single one, denounced. macist - and turned to my 'C OLLABORATOR'???!! 1" or handed over to the author­ Mother who, unfortunately, Can any evidence for the ities! And that at the time spoke no Ukrainian - but this so-called "co-operation'1 on when collaboration of the did not make any difference. his side outweigh his acts notorious Ukrainian militia With tears in his eyes, the of goodness and Christian in the round-ups and bestial Metropolitan listened when charity?? killings of the Jews was she told him that, by now, the If one refers to the infa­ rampant! This has made the only ones from the entire mous letter of 1941, it is Metropolitan's stand even family to remain alive was im portant to bear in mind the more precarious, and his she and 1. My Father and my climate of the times - that it si tua tion totally different six- year-old little brother, was written at the time than in any other occupied my Grandparents and all the when the German army was country of Europe .... more distant family, were seen as 'the rescuer from the I met Metropolitan either btu tally murdered or persecution of the Bolsheviks' Szeptyckjj when, under the sent to extermination camps who were offering false hope cover of a cold November in the years of 1942-3. The for a free and independent night in 1943, we were Gestapo - aided and abetted Ukraine. This letter was brought with my mother and by the Ukrainian Militiamen written at the time when a couple named Podoshin, to -were responsible for these no-one - I stress, no one, St. Jur. We were ushered by a atrocities. not even the Jews! - could young monk to an elegant, The Metropolitan gave envisage what the 'civilised' warm room, probably the us immediate shelter, food, Germans were capable of. .. library, and were asked to warmth, comfort - and The moment he saw and make ourselves comfortable within a few days we understood their intentions, while waiting. After a short were moved to a convent, however, he did not remain while, the main door opened orphanage and monastery. silent - he acted, and his and the Metropolitan was At his instructions, my actions spoke louder than wheeled in... A giant of a mother and I were NOT to be words... He fought with man, even in the sitting separated; we were sent to his pen - and his pen was position. his lionesque mane UBOCZ - A CONVENT AND mightier than the proverbial of white hair and long ORPHANAGE RUN BY sword. Let us not forget his white beard gave him the Studite nuns, whose Mother well-known encyclical letter appearance of a saintly Superior; was Abbess Yosifa - of 1942, entitled: "Thou patriarch. He looked at us A WONDERFUL WOMAN! shalt not kill." ARE THESE from behind black rimmed She took my Mother into her THE WORDS OF A spectacles, his beautiful steel private quarters and, as my 'COLLABORATOR'? What a blue eyes so very kind. Mother spoke no Ukrainian,

45

> .,. • '/, ..... ~ ''1' -..:;\ J'o , f .' ,. •

Celebrating the 60th . Anniversary · of our Liberation

I " "',.' " . "'." ,'. " Sister Yosifa suggested that my mother and I were able to going through the streets of from now on my Mother will repay~ in a modest way, those Lwow. SUCH FUNERALS be deaf-and-dumb... Should brave and wonderful. NUNS ARE NOT ACCORDED TO anyone other than herself for their humanity and COLLABORATORS !! ... address my Mother at any loving-kindness. For over 60 years, I could time she must remain deaf As I said before, Yad not pl uck up the courage to and dumb. She provided my Vashem - acknowledging our come back to this beautiful mother with a sewing testimonies and depositions - city of mine, a city once so machine and so she became bestowed their medal upon nobly called LEOPOLIS, but the seamstress for both the the RIGHTEOUS SISTER which, tragically for my convent and the orphanage. YOSIFA . OLENA WITER. Mother and for me, became In the meantime, I was in the Sadly, however, the same NECROPOLIS ... orphanage attached to the cannot be said in the case of But - I am here today - a convent, a partly Polish - the Metropolitan Szeptickyj, very emotional journey in partly Ukrainian child, since Despite their motto being; time ... I am here, because I my Ukrainian was not yet "WHOSOEVER SAVES ONE OWE a debt of gratitude to fluent. My name was LIDIA LIFE SAVES THE ENTIRE this man - I am here, because OSTROWSKA - my mother WORLD", after all these I hope to be able to bring became JULIA POPOWYCZ. years Yad Vashem still refuse some justice to this case, and Mother Superior provided a to recognise ONE OF THE foremost, I am here to plead genuine birth certificate for MOST RIGHTEOUS OF from this platform with the my Mother, which belonged MEN AMONG THE committee of Yad Vashem in to one of her relatives, a NATIONS; THIS GREAT Jerusalem, to acknowledge country peasant. What HUlVlANITARlAN. It is time the Archbishop Metropolitan courage! I had no papers to rectify this injustice! Andrei Count Szeptycki for at-all. The nuns and Sisters There is no substantial the lVlAN THAT HE WAS: A were all wonderful and kind evidence that the GREAT HUMANITARIAN to us - \ve were fed and :tvletropoli tan supported AND SAVER OF JEWISH clad and looked after in the the establishment of the LIVES. best way possible. Mother Waffen -SS Galizien - but, I know I speak for all of Superior was posthumously fortunately, there is us, those no longer with us recognised by Yad Vashem as ADEQUATE live evidence and those of us still alive, a Righteous Amongst the that he saved the lives of scattered around the globe, Nations and Yad Vashem sent Jews ... To mention but a few who cannot be here today, but me a copy of the certificate of them, the family of the late who owe their lives and some years back. I don't know Rabbi Dr David Kahane of the lives of the generations to who - if anyone at all - Lvov; the two sons of the follow, to the sanctity of THIS received the medal on her brutally murdered close ONE MAN ... behalf. After Sister Yosifa friend of the Metropolitan, (whose real name was Rabbi Dr Ezekiel Lewin of Please remember: OLENA WITER) and the Lvov; the two sons of the la te nuns were banned by the Dr Chameides, Chief Rabbi of WHOSOEVER SAVES Soviet Au thori ties from Katowice; Adam Daniel ONE LIFE ..... UBOCZ to SKALAT nr. Rotfeld, until recently TARNOPOL - we were send­ Poland's Foreign Minister; Thank you, Ladies and ing them parcels from the Podoshin Family; my late Gentlemen London, which helped them mother, Cecylia Stern, to survive. According to the myself. .. and many more ... Text by: correspondence exchanged In a few days' time it will LILI POHLlVlANN between my Mother and be 61 years since the death of 54 NORTH END HOUSE Sister Yosifa, these parcels this splendid man. FITZJAMES AVENUE kept them alive. I have one of I still remember very LONDON, W14 ORT her letters here with me. She vividly the stately funeral ENGLAND died in 1988, and is buried in procession at the end of Brzuchowice. I wish I could November 1944, attended Tel: 00-44-20-7602-1182 put a flower on her grave to by many dignitaries and Fax: 00-44-20-7603-7849 say: "THANK YOU"! At least hundreds, if not thousands,

48 The Spirit of Toledo A NOTE ON OUR eaceful integration MUSLIM and rituals based on alcohol, of minorities is one of MINORITY and the rest of the country P the hardest things happily floats on an ocean of to achieve. When it is "By a Commentator" beer, wine and whisky. The successful, it benefits the process of Muslim integration whole of society. When it is far from complete, and fails, everyone is the loser. or so minorl tIes who dwell there are probably historical Some groups have here. The basis for successful reasons. integrated well, though the integration is not merely the The event that is most pro­ process often takes three passage of time, the gradual found in the minds and generations. Jews have acceptance of differences in hearts of the British people is always done well, due to the appearance, faith, clothes, their survival in face of the prophetic teachings to pray habits, but basically an onslaught of Nazi Germany, and act for the peace of acceptance by the minority of w hen their very existence as society. The same applies to what I can only call the a free nation was at stake. the enormous Indian national psyche or historical Books, plays, films, pour out Diaspora spread around the consciousness and agreement on the theme, even 60 years world, though their economic to abide by the rules of that after that epic period. Yet progress has aroused envy society_ Muslims played a minimal and opposition. Fiji is an This widespread accep­ role, unlike Indians, Africans, example. tance was visibly present West Indians, in that conflict, Likewise, the industrious, when London was nominated and thus have no immediate able Chinese minority are as the venue for the 2012 innate consciousness of the also spread worldwide. When Olympics. Abroad it succeeds sheer horror of the Roloca ust, Indonesia was in an uproar in places like Singapore, with or of those who, even today, in the last decade, the masses its Council for Religious still suffer as victims of that there physically attacked Harmony. Take the J ains or war. the Chinese minority. Why? the Parsees in the DK. Indeed a leading Muslim Muslims in Malaysia go They never make the head­ cleric sat in Berlin during even further, so that the law lines. Occasionally the the war advising the Nazis. of that country creates statu­ 300,000 or more Sikhs do, That a prominent Muslim tory and institutionalised but in no sustained way. spokesman here could discrimination against the That 'headline' problem even query the existence of a substantial and capable seems particularly to affect Holocaust Memorial Day Chinese minority. the 11/2 million Muslims shows how far he, and There are similar tensions here. They are never out possibly his organisation, are world-wide, witness of the news. One must try removed from feeling part Japanese - Korean relations to understand why this is the of the national mood and and current Japanese case. history. Chinese tensions. Even in There are sections in that One has to be under­ Canada, those of French community, e.g. Ismailis, who standing of that minority. It origin often have a greater have no problem at all, is adrift from the general loyalty to province and ethnic just as there are Muslims up acceptance of values in group than to the nation as a and down the country who various ways. Historically, it whole. integrate well, and hold has always found it hard to On the other hand, prominent public and private live as a minority, witness here in Britain, consider the positions. This is intriguing the current uprisings in successful post-Second World and, in a way consoling, Phi1ippines, China, repudia­ War integration of the since Muslims, teetotallers tion of na tional laws in large Polish minority. No and some other faiths adjure Nigeria. problems, no trouble. That alcohol, whilst Jews and I ts own history does not also applies to most of the 50 Christians have prayers regard others as equals.

49 That certainly applies to its Delhi, Egypt and Russia are of his religion. Lessons could religious laws, the unequal murdered? be learned from Dave AlIen, status of women (shared with Perhaps the greatest test Spike Milligan, and the some other faiths), even and hope for integration lies Indian TV soaps, let alone regarding historically Jews In the nature of British generations of Jewish and Christians as second democracy. There IS little humorists. class citizens, and the rest democracy in IVluslim history, Yet Islam has a great, as 'infidels', a contemptuous or In Muslim states, of the positive side. The prophet term for God's creatures. type we experIence here. Mahomet built on the Judeo­ That IS part of Muslim Mos t Muslims In Britain Christian traditions to history. come from Pakistan and advance a form of moral It goes a stage further Bangladesh. The former monotheism on a people w hen people who kill country is still struggling to submerged In forms of themselves and others indis­ have a tolerant democracy, idola try. This led to a vast criminately are described as whilst retaining blasphemy military and mlssIonary 'martyrs'. There is no other laws that offend against expansion, comparable to the faith system in the world that every decent British instinct. campaIgns of Christian would regard such a person The latter country had a nations, with literary, as a martyr. gleam of hope under its artistic, medical and philo­ Of course, Muslims and founder and his daughter, but sophical developments of others might refer to prob­ have now embarked on a similar proportions. In both lems created by Western demeaning, vicious campaign cases, the good went along Imperialism, but there was against Hindus, Christians, with the bad. also Islamic Imperialism, and others. There IS no So I come to Toledo 1n whilst Islam, jointly with doubt that multi-party, Spain. There was a time Europe, for centuries tolerant, equalitarian, secu­ there when members of the followed a policy of lar democracy is the maIn three faiths learned together, human slavery, only legally challenge to the Muslim and from each other. abolished in Saudi Arabia in world. Hence, the violence of Maimonides even wrote one 1922, and still alive in the its reaction to the West, of his greatest works In Sudan. and the mass preaching of Arabic. Islam preserved Thus Islam, among hatred. classical works of Greece and other faiths, remaIns In There are other cultural conflict with aspects of divides. The mUSIC of the Rome and even brought to fundamental hunlan rights West, classical and popular, the West the wonderful set out In a serIes of in concert halls and theatres, concepts in mathematics and post-war Declara tions. is not part of Yiuslim musical astronomy of India. Hence a divergence from tradition, nor is it part of the I often wonder whether national VIews and values. Indian or Chin<:se tradition, that Spirit of Toledo can This has been a problem yet fine mUSlCIans playing really be revived, when dif­ for European nations, so the music of the West have ferences were acknowledged that Germany, recognIsIng emerged from those two but never imposed, were part this recently, has now set countries. A cultural divide of a wider understanding out a kind of loyalty test exists, but, in time, it can be that enabled people to live for Muslims. bridged. peacefully side by side. It must be galling for The English sense of Perhaps it IS wishful peace-loving Muslims to see humour is unique. There is thinking, In VIew of tha t terrorism on a war Id nothing comparable in Islam the media-indoctrinated scale has emerged only from where people take them­ extremism that pervades the Islam, and from no other selves so seriously. There will minds of young and old faith. How does this equate be successful integration everywhere. But wouldn't it with Islamic teachers stating when a Muslim comedian can be wonderful if terrorism was that Islam IS a religion of stand up publicly and make a thing of the past and peace peace, when ordinary citizens fun of himself, his Muslim descended on our stricken in London, New York, New colleagues, and even aspects and tormented planet?

50 Reflected Pride

n the occasion of the "There was strong admira - I 350th anniversary of tion for his personal qualities Othe re· admission of the and pastoral work, including Jews to England by Oliver 'his humanity, warmth, Cromwell, the Jewish charisma, inclusivity, Chronicle conducted a poll on intellect and his amazIng . , who is the "greatest British VOIce. Jew". It is with great pride "His efforts towards and joy that we read that bettering race relations and Rabbi Huga Gryn was interfaith dialogue was also voted in third place. Hugo cited. One reader described came to England in March him as a modern Job 1946 with the Czech­ after the Holocaust. 'Like Hungarian "boys" and was a the entire Jewish people, very supportive and active he was on the deck, got member of our Society. Here up and remade himself; in are a few comments by some every generation it needs who voted for him, as quoted somebody to encourage us, Our late beloved in the Jewish Chronicle. and he did"'. Hugo Gryn.

Roman Halter

"In May 2005 Roman Halter was invited to exhibit his painting at Tate Britain. The four works, Man on the Electrified Barbed-Wire, Shlomo, Starved Faces and Woman wearing a Mantilla, with their accompanying texts were powerful and highly acclaimed. The picture shows Roman with some of "The Boys" at the Gallery".

51 SECTION IV SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION li5 Aid Society Second Generation Update

embers of the Second Generation met again on 27th September 2005. Introductions were made of all '45 . M attending, naming their parent(s). The previous meet­ ing of November 2004 was summarised reviewing the achieve­ ments to date, which included the development of the Second Generation website and the Survivor's Testimonies project. Role Pleasure was also expressed that over 200 Second Generation attended the 60th Annual Reunion on 8th May 2005, with many expressing an interest and wish for further involvement Chair in the Second Generation. The Second Generation website (www.2ndgeneration.co.uk) Secretary provides continual opportunities to contact other members, locate and view excerpts from Survivor Testimonies, view and Treasurer download photographs, find out about current events and news of interest to the Second Generation and to provide a Membership forum to discuss issues within the group. Next steps for the website include collation of information and photographs and Testimonies the raising of additional funds in order to support further development. The objective of the Survivors' Testimonies project is to protect, preserve and pass on. Due to the huge scale of this Webmaster project, any additional help would be appreciated. Obviously, time marches on and we need to start achieving a memorable archive for future generations. Should you own or possess a copy of your parents/grandparents testimony, please News inform us so that we are aware that it exists. In ternational Relations

If you wish to be involved with the Second Generation Press & Public Relations or with any of our projects, please contact Philip Burton (email: [email protected] or Events Organisation telephone: 0845 226 7545).

Education

52 The Second Generation London Committee has now elected the following members into the various roles as below:

d Second Generation - London Committee Elected Roles Sept 2005- Sept 2006

Name(s) Working Group Members

Philip Burton

Rosalind Gelbart

Thea Helfgott Volunteers welcome

Philip Burton Estelle Friedman

Maurice Huberman Lorraine Simons, Tracey Moses, Leonard Rerman, Suzanne Robeson, Sue Bermange, Gaynor Harris

Laura Friedman Martin Stein, Rosalind Gelbart, Rachel Fox

Laura Friedman

Ben Lean

Steven Faull, Maurice Helfgott

J ulia Burton Maurice Helfgott, Gary Zylberzac, Relen Gordon,Lorraine Kingsley Photography: Jeremy Rosenberg

To be identified Helen Gordon~ J ulia Burton

53 A Day to Remember

his weekend, an asylum (This article appeared in The Holocaust Memorial seeker died. He wasn't "Hadashot" of the Day was held not just to Tone of the recent immi­ Maidenhead Synagogue) commemorate, but to educate grants to the UK, but had and change peoples' percep­ lived in this country for By Victor Poznanski tions. The Queen, Prime fifty or so years following Ph.D Minister and the Chief Rabbi his internment in a concen­ lent the endorsement of tration camp. This meant he the British establishment. Victor is the son of Rene and couldn't accept the invitation, British celebrities, among Arthur. He is a manager of a recently issued on behalf of research team in information them prominent Jews such as the Queen to all British Lord Winston and Step hen technology. Holocaust survivors and their Fry, helped convey the hberators, to a reception at gruesome facts and St. J ames' Palace, followed by When I was a child, memo­ the warning to future a televised ceremony at ries of the War were still generations. Westminster Hall. As he lay fresh for many people. The I was privileged to attend in his hospital bed, suffering impact, horror and tragedy the Westminster ceremony, inconspicuously in a corner, of the many atrocities perpe­ and found it profoundly how many of the carers trated on the Jews, the moving. It was a fitting understood the meaning of handicapped, the gypsies, tribute both to those that the serial number tattooed were omnipresent. But that perished and those that onto his left arm? If recent was last millennium. Now, it survived to become strong statistics are correct, only a is consigned to history. contributors in our small fraction of the carers It happened in a different, present society. The event would even understand the warmongering society, before culminated in the lighting of word Auschwitz if he chose the world was truly civilised. sixty candles, one for each to tell them about it. Surely it couldn't happen year after the liberation of This ignorance is not Auschwitz, by as many today? The testament of limited to the very young or representative survivors. the living survivors tells us uneducated. I have heard the The flame had been brought otherwise. following from well-meaning from Belsen by the Royal Far from being unenlight­ University-educated col- Guard. As my father joined leagues: "I'm not a ened, the Germany of the the dignified procession to mathematician exactly 1940s was seen as the light his candle, the voice of what is the Third Reich?" and paragon of society. Many of survivors' grandchildren "It sounds very exciting - I its Jews took significant roles could be heard in the wings. wish my dad had been in a in the maintenance of its They had volunteered to concentration camp!" leadership in science, art and spend the day reciting the Numerous people have philosophy. Many of the Jews names of a fraction of a asked me why we are were well integrated; percent - 3,000 - of the six marking the 60th anniver­ amongst them, military million that died. sary of the liberation of heroes, Reform Jews and Another Holocaust sur­ Auschwitz with the atheists. This did not save vivor has died, and life goes Holocaust Memorial Day. I them. Treated worse than on. We have a duty as Jews see two good reasons. Since cattle, the Orthodox and the to pass on his dire warning the Nazis slaughtered out­ atheists perished together from the past, no matter right the young children in industrialised human how hard it is for some whom they couldn't work to abattoirs. How could it to digest. I look forward to death, most survivors were happen? No-one really my own children reaching an at least in their teens. knows. And it is still age where I can explain This means that the youngest happening. The disregard for to them why Grandpa met of them are now in their the sanctity of human life has the Queen. seventies. endured into this century.

54 Thank you from the Second Generation

hank you to the '45 AID Lesley Fox Testan would get together and share SOCIETY, for the stories of childhood with Twonderful celebration Lesley is the daughter of their own children and in London, on May 8, 2005. Betty and John Fox, who live grandchildren. My husband and I travelled in Philadelphia, USA. The reunion in 1\1ay was a from California to join my sort of cousins' club event parents, John and Betty Fox, I for our family. These "boys" for the 60th anniversary of course). Dad was fortunate are the surrogate extended your liberation. There were to flourish, both personally family that Dad lost in eight of us, including my and professionally, In Poland so many years ago. sister Lynne Fox Brenner Philadelphia and, as a Only these men could share and her three children, result, our family has had a with us the memories of our Robert, Sarn and Jesse. We wonderful life. father kicking a soccer ball, were honoured to attend such As second generation or of wearing his first suit as an important event. children, however, we share a young adult. Then there As the evening progressed, the experience of growing up were the memories of the my father's energy level with very little (if any) first apartment in London, seemed to increase by the extended family. Growing up the first job as a tailor and minute, as he would continue in Philadelphia, many of our even the first time Dad met to hug, kiss and then intro­ friends attended "cousins' Mom at a dance. I could go duce all of us to his many club" events several times a on and on, but then I'd be friends. We listened to all of year. This was a I uxury that writing a book, not a letter. the stories that each ''boy'' the American children took Thank you, '45 Aid Society, would tell us as we met for granted. "Cousins' Club" for giving our family the best them. We clung to every events were times when cousins' club party that we word, trying to absorb a dozens of family members could have ever imagined. lifetime of memories in the space of a single evening. Every person that we met was so warm and friendly, eager to share their own piece of history that they I shared with our father. They were all such wonderful storytellers. A recollection about something as simple as borrowing a "few quid" to buy a suit, or sleeping on one another's settee for a night or two, were a delight to hear, especially when the fellow telling the story had such a delightful twinkle in their eyes. Those of you who know my father, know that he emigra ted to the United States in 1956, along with my mother and an eighteen~ month-old baby (me, of The three generations of the Betty & John Fox family.

55 A Memorable Twenty-Four Hours with my Dad

y dad Bernie and I By AlIen Frydenberg teaches my nieces and met in London on (Special to the CJN) nephews their Torah portion M May 8 for a for their B'ar mitzvah. Holocaust survivors' 60-year Bernie Frydenberg came The rabbi's son said, "If my reunIon. to England with the father taught him, then he At the Yom HaShoah Windermere group and knows." serVIce, we stood for the emigrated to The States in Dad told his story about Slng-Ing of "Hatikvah", 1948. carrying a backpack for a Israel's national anthem. German soldier. Dad asked What an honour it was for me about their age and tell the another prisoner to help him to stand between my dad and German soldiers they were carry it. Later, the German his friend Sarn, two former two years older than they soldier gave Dad a piece of Israeli army soldiers who really were. This would give bread for carrying the fought in the 1948 War of them a better chance to backpack. Dad shared Independence. I sensed those survive. He said someone his piece with that other two had sung this many prIsoner. whispered this to him when times, and it carried a After Dad was liberated he got off the train. special meaning for them from Teresienstadt, he lived Sarn never married. He that most of us will never in Liverpool and, later, at 833 plans to leave his entire fully appreciate. Finchley Road, London. He estate to ...... Later, we all stood and took me to see where he lived Dad met Joe Newmark at a toasted the Queen of England sixty years ago. Dad used to concentration camp in first and then Israel second. go down the street to a rabbi's Then the' survivors stood Czestochowa, before being house for Shabbat services, to receive a toast from all moved to Buchenwald and which used to be conducted in present, and the second Terezenstadt. Joe sat at our the rabbi's living room. generation, myself included, table with his wife Charlotte My attendance at this rose to toast the survivors. I at the reunion dinner. Near event allowed my dad to stood as a second generation the end of the reunion, after fulfil a dream. He is part of a to a survivor and toasted him hardly saying anything all family, commonly referred to in front of his best friends. night, he put his hand on by all as Hthe boys", who love At a cocktail party before my shoulder, saying, ·'1 am him dearly. This is not a dinner, a Mr Himmel from very proud of you and your biological family, but one New Jersey and Dad shared a brother. You are both built around love, respect and few memories. Himmel drove wonderful boys. I am happy trust. a tank in Israel during the to have you as my friend". Just watching these men 1948 war. Then he went back to his seat hug and kiss each other "Your dad was a real and sat down. spoke volumes about the fighter", he told me. "Your Before the war, Dad depth of their experiences dad; he was the rea] one". studied with a rabbi in his together. So many people Sarn Pivnik and Dad met hometown of Dernblin, know Dad, remember him, in Liverpool, England. Sarn Poland. The rabbi taught love him and respect him. grew up 100 kilometres from Dad how to put on telefillin Before this reunion, I did not Auschwitz. Sam's job at (phylacteries), which he still know any of them or how Auschwitz was to help unload wears today. Dad introduced they felt about him. Now I people from cattle cars, me to this rabbi's son, who know, which is important to where they had been had studied together with me, but I think equally crammed in, often for days. Dad. Dad told him he leads important to him. He said he used to whisper the Shacharit portion of the Allen Frydenberg IS a to the young children to lie service back home. Dad also resident of Orange.

56 Hinnnel

hen my father flrst the gas chambers, the crema­ when the Czech government started talking about toriums. But the Holocaust was forced out of the region Wthe Holocaust, one of did not start, nor did it end in Carpathia where his the first questions he was with the death camps. Many village of Nizhny Veretsky asked was to describe his would already be dead, a was located. The situation for experiences in the various result of acts of violence, the Jews in this region camps that he had been in. forced labour, movement into became, in my father's own Originally deported via train the ghettos and starvation words "not so good". to Birkenau, within hours my before the deportations to Organised bea hngs by father would quickly find places like Belzec, Treblinka, Ukrainian nationalists who himself in a small group Sobibor, Chelmno and had filled the power vacuum being marched down the road Birkenau began in earnest. became commonplace and my to Auschwitz were he stay Those of us who lost family grandfather; perhaps the for only a few days before during this time constantly town's most pronlinent Jew his transfer to Buchenwald. search for someone to blame and one of only two who sat When asked what for this calamity and until on the town's council of Buchen wald was like, he those conversations with my elders, quickly became a replied simply "bad". After father I tended to focus target of great interest. several weeks, he was sent to entirely on those who built There were a few who another camp called Ehrlich. and ran all of the horrible immediately rose up and When asked to describe things that I just mentioned. denounced the escalating Ehrlich, he responded "very But I consistently ignored the violence. One who IS bad". And when asked to talk others, those people who remembered fondly IS a about Dora, the camp where found themselves in positions Roman Catholic priest he was sent to next and to help, but silently stood by named Vasilyev. On several where he would spend the as the situation in Eastern occasions my father majority of his time during Europe deteriorated from clearly remembers Vasilyev the Holocaust, he answered; bad, to very bad, to very very speaking out, often at great "Now that was very very bad, bad, and finally to the worst. risk to his own personal the worstl". And it is because of their safety. For a short time It's taken me a long time to silence I was excited that Vasilyev was able to keep my understand the significance Rabbi Hammerman asked father's family, and some of of these words. Time has me to talk briefly once the other Jews of Veretsky begun to thin the ranks of again about my father's safe. the survivors and as their experiences during the But one day the mob got a children, a second generation Holocaust. It is also why I hold of my grandfather and of victims, assume the was so pleased to see the took him to the local police responsibility of recounting performance this afternoon station. It was well known their stories, we struggle put on by a group that is not that the assaults conducted with finding the right vvords Jewish. By standing together there, outside of the public to bear witness to these as a community, not of eye, would escalate into terrible times. In my own different religions, but one torture and tha t this torture search it's always these of people, and jointly would con tin ue over the simple words, bad, very bad, remembering what hap­ course of several days often and the worst, that I am pened, we can continue to ending with the death of constantly drawn back to. remind each other of the the victim. At this point in They encapsula te the consequences of remaining time there was another Holocaust experience better silent; that doing so in the Catholic priest, one who was then any other description face of evil invariably makes considered to be a close that I have seen or even one a bad situation very bad, family friend. He was so that I could write myself. or a very bad situation often a dinner guest at my We are all familiar Vvith the worst. grandfather's table where certain VISIons of the For my fa ther, the discussions on history, poli­ Shoah; the ca ttle cars, Holocaust began In 1938 tics, or nothing in particular

57 stretched long into the night to go, were questions that killed while in serVIce to that it was said that the each family group had to these battalions. priest spent more time in my struggle with. For Aunt Chaya, her wait fa ther's house then he did in In my own family, some would be in vain. In May of the church. My grandmother decided to make the journey 1944 she would take a bullet had even taken to calling him to Palestine, a journey that to the head on the train by the nickname of "your was technically illegal and pIa tform in Birkena u. Her highness" as a sign of her discouraged by most of the eighteen month old son affection for him. countries that these people would be gassed the same When my grandfather was had to transit through. day. In many ways it seized, my grandmother went Others decided to go was a spoken and unspoken to this priest along with her through more established message in the denial of youngest son, my father, to channels and secured entry transit rights for those who beg him to intercede. One of documentation for Canada or, held legal visas that sealed the leaders of the mob that unfortunately for some, Visas their fate. Besides preventing had seized my grandfather for the United States. My Chaya's emigration, these was the priest's brother and aunt Chaya Adler was one of actions implied that there it was thought that a few them. The reason that I say were limits to the United quick words from the that she was unfortunate was States, or any democracy's priest to him would secure that while she was waiting to willingness to step in and my grandfather's release. emigrate, intentional delays help these refugees and D nlike Vasilyev, this buil t in to the immigration further emboldened their priest's response to my process specifically to make it tormentors. When they grandmother's appeal was to impossible for the Eastern thought they could actually call her a whore and to throw European J ews who held get away with what they her out of the church. It was legitimate visas to start their were doing, a bad situation a t this instance, when a journey. While my Aunt suddenly became very bad. friend refused to utter a Chaya was forced to wait, the In the Spring of 1944, very cou pIe of words to intervene world's governments stood by bad became very very bad. that a not so good situation while twenty thousand other Angered by the fact that now became bad. Hungarian Jews, many of Hungary wasn't killing her Over the next several them her neighbours, but Jews fast enough to suit years, the bad situation for who were not able to prove his tastes, Hitler ordered his the Jews of Carpathia began that their grandfather's troops to occupy that country to deteriorate further. World father was born in and the wholesale deporta­ War 11 began in earnest. Hungary and therefore not tions of the Jewish communi­ Hungary annexed Carpathia Hungarian enough for the ties of Carpathia began. First and the theft of Jewish local authorities, were the Jews of Veretsky \vere property, now sanctioned by deported to the pre-Russian sent to the brickyards in the the new government's anti­ frontier and machine-gunned neighbouring town of Jewish laws escalated. Jews to death. While she was Muncaks. Five days on a were forbidden from almost waiting, every Jewish male packed cattle car with no food all occupations and most of between eighteen and forty and two brief stops to remove their assets seized. When the two was conscripted into the bodies of those who had Hungarian army confiscated what the Hungarian govern­ died on the journey ended all of the Spring harvests at ment politely called the only with a bewildering gunpoint, the Jews of "labour battalions" but in arrival at Birkenau. My Carpathia could only watch reality was the start of father, very thin and only as starvation began to claim the Hungarian slave labour weeks past his fifteenth the weakest among them; system. While she was birthday, would fail the the elderly, the infirm, the waiting, almost fifty thou­ ini tial selection and be children. A fact that is not sand of these labourers, placed, along with my grand­ commonly known is that at perhaps one out of every two father on a line for what they this point many of the Jews Hungarian Jewish men in would be told were showers wanted to emigrate. But this age range and including but we now know were in when to leave, how to do it, my father's uncles Simcha reality the gas chambers. and most importantly where Klien and Sruel Penner, were Across the platform his

58 mother, sister Rosa, and slowly being starved to death. Your strength is failing. You Rosa's two children were on a If it was a good day you haven't eaten enough and similar line. A twist of fate, would also get a piece of a you feel like you are dizzy. some pushing and shoving loaf of bread, but you had to You're incredibly thirsty, but on the line and the next be smart. No matter how you know you can't stop. If thing my father remembers is hungry you were you could you are in Dora, perhaps you he is on the other line, a only eat a portion of it. The pass one of the thousands of much smaller one, that is remaining few pieces were German civilians that also quickly marched off to the tucked under your shirt work there. They have to see neighbouring camp at before you headed off to work. what's going on. They know Auschwitz and into a year of You learned early on to save that you're starving. Why experiences that I will try to it for later in the day when won't any of them give you describe, but fear will never hunger would be its most some food? be able to do justice to. intense. Someone in the group First there were the Your reward for a hike of faints and the guards seem beatings. Beatings with fists, several miles to your work like blurs as they surge past bad but not so bad. Usually station was a twelve to you and pounce on him. If he you could walk away from fourteen hour workday. In can't get up from the beating these. Beatings with a whip. Ehrlich, my father dug they will shoot him. If you try Very bad because they left ditches. In Dora, he was part to help him up they will you with open wounds and of the transport commando, a shoot you too! If he dies the without access to medical work group that moved si tuation will be bad enough care these could take weeks materials in and under the for him but even worse for to heal. And beatings with an mountain where the V-2 you. His suffering will electrical cable wrapped in rockets were built. l\t some have ended. But yours will rubber that were yielded by point there is a quick break continue. On the walk back to the guards like truncheons. for lunch. Most likely ifs a the barracks you will have to These were the worst. If you watery soup. When you first carry his body so that the got hit with one of them it got to the camps at least numbers at the evening was unlikely that you would there used to be one or two roll call will add up and be ever get up again. vegetables in this soup. completed. Every day, seven days a Towards the end of your stay Hunger and thirst continue week, you were awake at first you were lucky to get a single their incessant assault but light. If you weren't, you root. No matter how bad it you have to wait until you the were beaten. Rain or shine, tastes, you know it is keeping final count is finished before you had to quickly get to the you alive, and you force you are released and can eat. appel, the line up, to be yourself to eat it. If you saved Dinner is a meal that in counted. If you got there some of your bread, now another lifetime you wouldn't late, another beating. If you would be the time to take a even serve to your dog. If the couldn't make it because piece of it out of your shirt. guards are in a particularly you were sick or too weak, The bread you saved would festive mood, maybe they you were sent to the infir­ be crawling with lice. Your will come down with a few mary. That was a death body is besieged with them, extra pieces of bread. The sentence. My father never and there is no way that only problem is tha t if saw one Haftlinger, what the anything stored under your they do, they will throw it inma tes were called, ever shirt couldn't be. But that onto the ground and if you return from there. For two doesn't bother you much want it then you have to hours you were forced to anymore. It was more impor­ wrestle another Raftling like stand absolutely still while tant to eat and by now you've an animal for this meagre the guards first counted, then gotten used to the crunching morsel. checked and rechecked their sound that the lice made Through it all, your desire numbers. If you moved, w hen you ate the piece of to live, to survive, to outlast another beating. bread anyway. these bastards, remains After the line up, some No sooner do you finish strong. But ifs not the imitation coffee for breakfast. then the work starts all over same for everyone in your Food was a rare commodity agaIn. But as the afternoon barracks. You can tell that and the prIsoners were wears on it seems harder. several of them are starting

59 to falter How many of them can't keep up. You are and eventually you go down won't get up for tomorrow's marching through the to the river and cry your eyes Appel, you can only guess. German countryside. There out. You have survived but Many will be physically are civilians everyw here any possibility of a life here, unable, illness, lack of food, a and with one look at you, where you were born, has beating, or perhaps all three weighing no more then not. You will leave Veretsky finally wearing the victim seventy pounds, it must be and never set foot in it again. down There are several clear to them that you and Sixty years have passed Musselman among you. the other Haftlingers are since the events that I just M usselman is the term your starving. But the situation is described took place. My fellow concentration camp the worst. None of them will father would eventually inmates have come up with help you. Not one of them make his way to England as for the walking dead. will even ask if they can give part of a group of almost 800 Prisoners whose condition you a sip of water, a piece of other orphans, serve as a has deteriorated to such an fruit a slice of bread. Nothing commando for the Seventh extent that most people don't is ever offered as the column Brigade in Israel's war of think will live more then a of walking skeletons slowly Independence, move to few days. You look at them sb uffles by. Canada, then to New York and again say to yourself. And then one morning it's before starting a family and "That will not be me". But over. The guards have run eventually settling in you also begin to wonder, at a way and American soldiers Lakehurst. But the events of what point does a man just are everywhere. Of the three the Shoa h are never far from give up? When does he reach thousand of you set out from his mind. I know that my the realization that death your last concentration camp, father would have wanted to must be better then the pain no more then three hundred be here, would have been he is currently experiencing? are left. happy to listen as the silence One day your older brother It takes a number of weeks was broken again and again Eliezer, who has been with but the Americans give you at this or other Holocaust you since the first deporta­ food and medical care and remembrances. But this time tion can't get up for the finally you are strong enough he had a more pressing Appel. He is suffering from to travel on your own. Did engagement. The silence is Pneumonia but that doesn't anyone else from your family also being broken in England matter. You beg him to get up. survive? The lists the Red and Israel. After the end of You might be able to help Cross ha ve crea ted are the war, the orphans that he through the day but he has to incomplete at best so you was sent to England with get through the Appel first. begin to search for them all formed a group called the '45 But Eliezer is too weak and over Europe. You learn that Aid Society and over the they won't let you carry him your brother Morris is also past two weeks they have to the line-up. In the end you dead. Shot in the back during been having their sixtieth have to leave him behind in an escape attempt from reunIon in these two the barracks. They will kill Auschwitz. countries. your brother today and there Bu t then you hear a So, on behalf of Jack is not a single thing you can rumour and decide to follow Himmel, my father, who is do about it it back to your hometown. here in spirit, and for And then one day you are Your brother Eliezer is in the eleven grandchildren of transferred to yet another fact alive, his imminent exe­ Jacob and Feiga Himmel, camp and sent on a march. cu tion halted by a timely our family's living second No explanation but three allied bombing raid and the generation, I just wanted to thousand prisoners set out appearance of an American thank you one more time for for w ha t turns out to be patrol. You reunite with him giving me the opportunity to almost a two week journey. and walk up to your old talk a little bit about our No food is provided and the house. But now there are six family, to break the silence guns hots coming from the families living in it and they once again and for continuing back of the line tell you what refuse to let you in. The local to have events such as this. is happening to those who authorities will not help you It really means a lot.

60 My thoughts about visiting Poland

ou>ve heard from the Daniel Shane. hundred and flity at random; rest of my family about the dark, worn stone making Your journey around Daniel is the grandson of the inscriptions sometimes Poland, visiting the towns Anita and Charles Shane. impossible to decipher. and villages from my grand- I Interspersed among the father's past. Rather than rows were trees, their roots repeating what others have providing obstacles to said about the deep emotions Our aim for the morning clamber over and somehow tha t come from walking was to find the headstones giving a very intimate and around Auschwitz or the awe that mark the body of close setting to what was that is invoked by the sheer my great-grandfather and my otherwise a field of stone scale of the distances my great-aunt, both of whom markers. This was very much grandfather had to cover on died during the ghetto. a time that you felt alone, his own, I want to talk about What initially seems like even with half a dozen family a much shorter and simpler a straightforward and members not more than 20 experience from the trip. methodical task became for­ metres a way, carrying out On our last day in the midable as clearly inscribed their own searches. There country, we walked away headstones in Polish give were whole sections where from a main road and way to weathered, overgrown English gave way to Hebrew through the tough, heavy and fallen mar kers in and as a result many of the doors tha t mar ked the barely legible Hebrew. We loving words from relatives en trance to the Jewish started by attacking the written on the headstones cemetery in Warsaw. Slightly gra ves randomly, trying to became a little lost on outside the borders of the find some order in how the me. Still I worked hard to ghetto; it was the resting plots were laid out but it soon uncover names and in my place of generations of became clear that while you head put a face to each Jews from well before the could easily spot areas of individual and couple that I war until the first few years newer graves from older passed. of occupation. Inside the ones, there was no way to I think that walking doors there is an original find a particular year, let around the site, we all felt piece of the ghetto wall, still alone a single person. The closed-in, caught up in our standing on its own to one only way seemed to be to try though ts and feelings as we side; to the right, a small to look at every last head­ wandered with purpose but memorial to the children that stone, to read it and learn a without direction in our lost their lives in the war, little about the person buried search. Trees formed a surrounded by candles. there, hoping that we didn't canopy overhead and waist­ The wall that marks the accidentally miss who we high granite headstones boundary of the cemetery is were looking for. closed in upon us so that even itself filled with plaques, Walking along the rows in pairs, it was a lonely place. memorials and fallen head­ was somewhat of an eerie And yet, despite the solitude stones whose graves have experience - we approached and isolation around me, long since been lost. The either alone or in twos, there was a warm feeling cemetery itself is a little how taking a row at a time, that surrounded everything. you might imagine such a stepping around marked Even with our searching, we place might be - overgrown plots and over fallen head­ were visiting the graves of in some areas; plots arranged stones. Each name had the people who had been lying roughly in rows tha t feeling of being an unknown there for decades and have somewhat lost their person and yet, at the same centuries; people who may definition and no real way time, oddly familiar - a have been left for years with­ to make any progress except sensation that came from out anyone giving them more by visiting the graves of seeing distant relatives of than a glance as they passed others. It is at once an people and families fyom and that idea had it's own atmospherically beautiful home. Dates leapt from a special feeling that "enthused and desperately sad place. mere flity years ago to over a me as I went round. Although

61 no cemetery can ever be in a clearing covered by an was how it should be - a little called a happy place, this was overhanging tree) it seemed a sheltered site that we could gradually filling up with fitting place for a few still lay claim to. people that I knew - maybe thoughts for our great-aunt In many ways, I think our not in person, but as someone and other family members trip to the cemetery was one who had remembered them. long lost. As we walked out of of the most moving of the We spent several hours the cemetery, back towards , entire trip it was not a house searching around the head­ the entrance, the feelings and that my family had lived in, a stones, looking for family the sights slowly started to path that my grandfather that we might not have found fade. Looking back up the had walked down, a furnace in a month of searching. In steps, along the wall made of or a fence, yet it was still a the end, we found a memorial headstones and memorials, very personal experience. It to some of the children lost in the loneliness of wandering was simply a memorial to the the Ghetto; a mass grave to from grave to grave melted Jews of Warsaw that had the young that had lost their away and it felt as if the ! lived there for hundreds of lives in a time where it whole place had been hidden years, and would always seemed like more people once again. Outside the continue to be a part of the w here behind the walls of the gates, there was a barely a city and that somehow cemetery than those of clue as to what lay behind the seemed to be a more fitting the Ghetto. A small circle high brick wall and in and permanent memorial of stones among the graves some ways it felt as if that than all the rest.

The following three speeches were delivered by Second Generation Members at the Reunion in Israel Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of our Liberation

We the second generation REMEMBER AND the shadow of another owes you, our parents, who NEVER FORGET catastrophe like you have survived the holocaust hor­ been through. rors, a debt that we will By Avi Brand, son of • We owe you for doing never be able to pay back. your utmost in order to • We owe you an apology Zvi Brand (14.5.2005) give us what you didn't for not understanding have: warm what you have been accommoda tion, through because you lunch, but for my father economical and existing didn't tell us and even the meaning starving was security. when you did tell us we totally different "you die could not understand the from starvation". Today, 60 years after your lib­ unbearable tragedy. · We owe you for being eration, you can be proud. • We owe you an apology always behind us giving During those 60 years you for not understanding the feeling that we are raised a new generation and your way of thinking and today we have the similar not alone. your interpretation of life number of children to the • We owe you a debt for which is totally different families you lost during the volunteering~ after all you from ours. holocaust. You established a • We owe you an apology ha ve been through, to new state, institutions, and for not understanding fight our independence industry known an over the your behaviour regarding war in 1948 and give us, world. different issues such as, the second generation, You did your best to for exam pIe: when I, as a the security of raise a contributing genera­ small boy came back living in an independent tion, an educated one that home from school saying state of Israel and giving contributes to the community "I am starving" I, as a us the opportunity to and the development of child just wanted to have raise our children without the state of Israel: military

62 officers, artists, doctors, and daughters, during history to our children and to industrialists, philosophers the holocaust because of generations to come. and journalists. genocide and now because By keeping this heritage During the last two weeks our enemies want the and understanding that we we had the holocaust destruction of the State you are the only ones who will Memorial Day and the have founded. protect ourselves, we Memorial Day for the soldiers We, the second generation, will make sure that the who died in combat and must keep the heritage, tragedy that you have been In terror attacks. The never forget and do our through will never happen Jewish na tion, through utmost in endowing the agaIn. the history, lost its best sons personal and collective Good Evening - Heroes of the Second World War ix years ago my hus­ Tali Asher On the Holoca ust band and I built a Remembrance Day I do not Shouse. Entering our Tali Asher-Shifron is the think of the history of the own home made us both daughter of Israel and Dvora Jewish people, forgive me my happy, proud and belonging. Shifron. nation. I think only of my But on that day, while my own parents. I remember husband was wandering that for years my mother told smiling around the house Why should a young me she doesn't want to tell and my young daughter was woman, at the peak of because anyway no-one will running laughing all around, her joyful life, enter this understand. Socrates said he I was trying to push aside one swirl of thoughts in a knows he doesn't know. I troublesome thought that happy and summery day? understand I cannot under­ Why? Beca use there is no bothered me at that moment; stand. I know that we are liberation. Because, although can it be that one day my beside comprehension, that sixty years ago the insane launderer, had I had one, will we almost know, that we are routine of extermination and knock on my door and say to around the horror of events. concentration camps was I want to promise I will me: "I choose to live in this finally terminated, and the house because it's the nicest war was ended, liberation did never think I understand and one in the neighbourhood. not occur. that I will never delude You and your family have to On the Holoca ust myself liberation did occur. leave". I will, then, swallow Remembrance Day I act like This promise does not my fear and my pride, I will a little child who is pulled to free me from ever trying to try that my voice will not see what his eyes cannot bear understand, and does not expose my trembling knees to, hides his eyes with his stop me from continuously and say quietly: "I'm not hands and peeks between his trying to be a liberated Jew. leaving here without blan­ fingers. So am I with the There are things one can kets for my daughters". I will movies and programmes that not liberate. tell myself that this way they confront me with the sights One can open the gate for will not be cold at night but, and the fear. Asking not to the prisoner, he can dress the between me and myself, I will see but watching. Knowing naked, feed the hungry or know that not because of the that each image is bound hug the orphan, but the cold I want the blankets. A to be engraved in my past which is engraved in soldier, scowl-faced, will look conscience, stab and burn each one who had experi­ at me and say: "Fine. You and will not let me rest. enced World War 11 not only have twenty-four hours". I Therefore, not because you cannot liberate - it is will remember forever the of the ceremonIes and even an inner code with a launderer's expreSSIon, perpetuation events, but in long life-span that passes a1 though I will try hard to everyday routine, I am not through generations. erase her from my mind. liberated. And so, non-liberated with-

63 in their experience and life generation", my daughters front of an audience I story, my parents told me are "third generation" - do document his words and try episode after episode and these definitions indicate to remember - hint the each time my life enters a liberation? Does the fact that beginning of liberation? cross-road that reminds me of each time I hear the word My young daughters a moment from their life - all "train", I also hear the sound already hear of their grand­ the stories that were told to of the train aboard which my parents past: they see the me over the years come to life mother and her sister were memorial candle lit on the with colours and sounds, and led to the extermination Holocaust Remembrance I see in front of me those camp - indicate liberation? Day, and in my library there events through my own life. Does the fact that each time is a shelf with Holocaust My parents are "Holocaust my father talks about how he literature. No liberation. survivors", I am a "second survived the Holocaust in Becoming aware of the hopelessness of defence Shlomo Raz Rosenberg ood evening to every­ the death marches? How did body. Shlomo Raz is the son of you overcome the ultimate G Stega and Moshe Rosenberg losses? Fa thers, mothers, For years we in Israel sisters) brothers, whole were taught that one of the families .... fundamental questions understand, since no~one who As many Israelis, during regarding the Shoah is: "Why has not been there can under­ my military service, I had to did they go as lambs to the stand what you all went go, more than once, to the slaughter?" Why didn't they through. battlefield. On a few occa­ organise themselves, take Mentally and intellec­ sions I took part in very hard weapons and fight against tually, we really can't under­ battles. But nothing could the Nazis? stand what happened during compare with your plight. Our teachers, most of those horrific long years. Then, as survivors, many whom were Sabras, taught About fifteen years ago I of you volunteered to come us, not without some arro­ went there with my father. here and to fight for the gance, that if the exiled Jews We went to visit his home independence of the State of were more like us, they would town, Proszowice; we saw the Israel. take their destiny in their home where he grew up, the You literally helped build hands. streets he walked with his this country, with no Every year, during family, we travelled to my complaints (even though Yom Hazikaron Lashoah mother's home town, Lodz, complaining is second nature Velagvura - the day commem- we went to see the building for many Israelis). 0rating the Holocaust and where she lived, then we Over the last decade or two the heroism, the focus was went to the ghetto - where the whole attitude has on the Warsaw ghetto upris­ she spent a few years during changed; now we're all finally ing, on the partisans, on the war with her mother... aware of your heroism, your individual acts of bravery. We then drove out to see bravery. Just surviving those The concentrations camps, the sites of the death camps: long years, emerging from the death camps, the ghettos, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the ashes and building new were mentioned, but Treblinka, Majdanek, there I lives are acts of courage and only after the uprising and was exposed to the industry heroism. Each and everyone the Partisans, and in an of death. of you marks the victory of apologetic tone. But I must admit that I the human spirit and the It took me, and my genera­ ha ven't gained any under­ Jewish fate. tion, (most of us are second standing. How did you We are honoured to generation to the Holocaust survive the humiliation? The celebrate with you this survivors) many years to freezing winters? How did 60th anniversary of your realise that we were wrong. I you survive the labour liberation and the victory say realise, rather than camps? Ho\v did you survive over Nazi Germany.

64 The presence of my Grandmother Bluma By Hillary Duchovnay

Hillary Duchovnay is 16 years old and lives outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She lives with her parents, Pamela Urbas and Andrew Duchovnay, her sisters, Sara and Marley, and her grandmother, Bluma Urbas, who is the sister of Berek Wurzel and with whom she came to VVindermere in 1945, and about whom she wrote this poem. Bluma Urbas, a Holocaust survivor, suffered a stroke in December 1999 and lost her ability to talk clearly, but this has not dulled Hillary's memory of the stories of the Holocaust and of lost family members her "Bubba" shared with her. Hillary, an avid reader of Holocaust literature, will never forget.

Distant memories dance into my mind Blurry and vague yet distinct and specific Your kiss on my cheek and your warm embrace I can feel its presence But the words cannot be spoken The words cannot be spoken Traditions are repeated but never the same Everything is there in your loving gaze I can feel its presence But the words cannot be spoken The words cannot be spoken Time is fragile, this I did not know Just leave me footsteps when you go I can feel your presence But the words cannot be spoken The words cannot be spoken Others use words carelessly and free What you say in silence will always remain with me I can feel your presence

SECTION V

The Annual L. G. Montefiore Lecture DAVID PRYCE-JONES nly a few years ago, beheading of Western mass-murder attacks David Pryce-Jones, the hostages by men crying out Oon the West in the British political analyst, is a Allahu Akhbar! over their name of Islam, like those of senior editor of National savage deeds. Pakistan now September 11, would have Review and the author has a nuclear bomb, thanks seemed like a thriller writer's of] among other books, largely to the efforts of Abdul fantasy. Nor would anyone The Closed Circle and The Qadir Khan, and this weapon have imagined that a Strange Death of the Soviet is widely described as a bombing by Islamists could Empire. An earlier version of Muslim bomb. To judge by swing a general election in a this tale was delivered at a their pronounce men ts, the European country, or that conference on culture and Islamist leaders of Iran can one might find oneself society at Boston University hardly wait to perfect and use watching, on television, the in October. their derivative of it.

65 At present, it is not Muslims and the West Western cultural and mili­ clear whether the religious/ remained stacked in favour of tary superiority could be ideological rage that is the the latter, both militarily and counted on to prevail, at least motive force behind these culturally. Which is not to say for the foreseeable future. developments has any limits, that Europeans of an earher (Belloc is better remembered whether it may yet succeed age were blind to the danger for his boast, "We have got in mobilizing truly huge posed to Western civilization the Maxim gun, and they numbers of Muslim masses, by a resurgent Islam. have not.") And prevail it did or whether it can be deflected One watchful observer was throughout a good part of the or crushed. What is clear is Winston Churchill, who 20th century. In the last that a phenomenon that at wrote about Islam-or decades, however, another first looked like a cloud no Mohammedanism as it was historical process has been at bigger than a man's hand has then called-in The River War work drastically revising the lashed up into a crisis with (1899): calcul us of power. global implications. Contemporary Islamism Does this crisis amount to a No stronger retrograde might be summed up as the "clash of civilizations"? lVlany force exists in the world. effort to redress and reverse people reject that notion as Far from being moribund, the long-ago defeat of too sweeping or downright Mohammedanism is a Muslim power by European misleading. Yet whether or militant and proselytizing (i.e., Christian) civilization. not it applies to, say, the faith. It has already Toward that end, it has situation in Iraq, or to the spread throughout followed two separate courses war on terror, the phrase has Central Africa, raising of action: adopting the forms much to recommend it as a fearless warriors at every of nationalism that have description of what is going step, and were it not that appeared to many Muslims to on inside Europe today. As Christianity is sheltered contain the secret of Western Yves Charles Zarka, a French in the strong arms of supremacy, or promoting philosopher and analyst, has science ... the civilization Islam itself as the one force written: "there is taking of modern Europe might capable of uniting Muslims place in France a central fall, as fell the civilization everywhere and hence phase of the more general of ancient Rome. ensuring their renewed and mutually conflicting power and dominance. In the encounter between the West Hilaire Belloc had similar hands of today's Islamists, and Islam, which only some­ premonitions 30 years later and with the complicity of one completely blind or of in The Great Heresies (1938): Europe itself, these two radical bad faith, or possibly approaches have proved of disconcerting naivete, Will not perhaps the mutually reinforcing. could fail to recognize." In the temporal power of In Europe, the world wars opinion of Bassam Tibi, an Islam return and with it of the last century finally academic of Syrian origins the menace of an undid and discredited who lives In Germany, armed Mohammadan the idea of the sovereign Europeans are facing a world which will nation-state, the engine of stark but straightforward shake the dominion the continent's pre-eminence alternative: "Either Islam of Europeans-still nomi­ and self-confidence. In gets Europeanized, or Europe nally Christian - and place of this tried and tested gets Islamized." Going still reappear again as the political arrangement, now farther is the eminent histo­ prIme enemy of our suddenly seen as outmoded rian Bernard Lewis, who has civilization? ... Since we and dysfunctional, institu­ specula ted that the clash have here a very tions like the European may well be over by the end great religion, physically Union and the United of this century, at which time paralyzed, but morally Nations were thought to offer Europe itself will be Muslim. intensely alive, we are a firmer foundation for a Today's situation has in the presence of an new world order, one that been a very long time­ unstable equilibrium. would be based on universal centuries-in the making. For legal norms and in which much of that time, of course, To these early observers, sovereign power would be the encounter between nevertheless, it did seem that rendered superfluous. It has

66 been the resulting decline of regime and no barrier to its Muhajiroun, the terrorists of the European nation-state aggrandizement. That left September 11 were "The that has helped provide a the United States, still a Magnificent Nineteen"-or, as unique opportunity for nation-state very nluch he explains, the advance Islamism, itself based on a committed to defending its guard of an army of "our world-wide, transnational sovereignty. Indeed, to the Muslim brothers from abroad community that has been aya tollahs and their allies, [who] will come one day and united by faith and custom the D.S. represented a final conquer here." since its inception and that embodiment of the Great Throughout the cold-war traditionally has drawn no Satan, fit to be confronted in era, the European democra­ distinction between the holy war. cies under threat from Soviet realm of faith and the realm This remains the case expansionism were them­ of temporal power. today. In the meantime, selves home to Communist A number of ideological though, a battle of a different parties, as well as to an array movements have spread and but no less decisive kind of front organizations osten­ fortified the modern projec­ has been taking place within sibly devoted to peace and tion of transnational Islam. Europe, where some 20 friendship and culture but in Perhaps the most successful million Muslims have settled. reality manipulated by and has been the Muslim Thanks on the one hand to for Soviet purposes. In addi­ Brotherhood, founded by their high birthrate, and on tion, many people from all Hasan al-Banna in Egypt in the other hand to the walks of life accommodated 1928, with branches today in sub-replacement birthrate themselves to Communism some 40 to 50 countries. Yasir that has become the norm with varying degrees of emo­ Arafat and Ayman al­ among other Europeans, the tional intensity and out of Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's demographic facts alone various motives, including deputy, are among those suggest a continent ripe for a the wish to be on what they formed by the Brotherhood. determined effort to advance perceived as the winning side Its more recent inspiration the Islamist agenda. and the converse fear of derives from the Egyptian­ In its global reach and in \vinding' up on the losing side. born Sayyid Qutb, whose its aggressive intentions, Each of these elements, in three-year stay in the United Islamist ideology bears some suitably transmuted form, is States in the late 1940's and resem blance to another presen t today. The pool of early 1950's convinced him transnational belief system: local recruits upon which that the West and everything namely, Communism. Like Islamists draw is itself very it stood for had to be rejected, today's Islamists, large. Of Europe's 20 million while Islam already provided Communists of an earlier age Muslims, it is estimated that every Muslim with state, saw themselves as engaged 5 or 6 million live in France nation, religion, and identity in an apocalyptic struggle in alone, at least 3 million in all in one. Saudi Arabia which every member of a Germany and 2 million has spent billions of its petro­ Communist party anywhere in Britain, 1 million apiece in dollars financing groups, was expected to comport him­ Holland and Italy, and a including terrorist groups, self as a fron tline soldier, and half-million apiece in Spain that promote this idea. in which terror was seen as a and Austria. The 1979 revolution led wholly permissible means It is true that most Muslim by Ayatollah Khomeini in toward victory in a war to the immigrants to Europe come Iran was an opening test finish. Compare Stalin's "If sim ply with hopes for a better of the new balance of the enemy does not surrender life, and that these hopes are forces between a rISIng he must be exterminated" more important to them transna tional Islam and the with the refusal of the leader than any apprehensions they declining Western nation­ of Hizballah in Lebanon to might entertain about state. European countries, negotiate with or ask conces­ living in a society ruled by which in the post-war period sions from the West because non-Muslims-something his­ seemed largely to have lost "We seek to exterminate torically prohibited in Islam. the will to respond to aggres­ you." To Sheik Omar Bakri Indeed, large numbers have sive challenges from w~thout, Muhammad, a Syrian with assimilated with greater or presented no opposition to British citizenship who until lesser strain, and, in the the totalitarian Khomeini recently led a group called al- manner of other minorities,

67 have become "hyphenated" Still another has been the in the town of Beslan, are as British-Muslim, French­ insistence, in France, on the described In the media Muslim, Italian-Muslim, and wearing of the hijab by girls as militants, activists, sepa­ the like. Religious life flour­ in public schools, a practice ratists, armed groups, ishes: if, a half-century ago, that clearly contradicts guerrillas-in short, as any­ there were but a handful of the ideals of French republi­ thing but terrorists. Dozens mosques throughout Europe, canism and is in any case not of apologists pretend that today every leading country an Islamic requirement. The there is no connection has over a thousand, and tactical thinking behind such between the religion of Islam France and Germany each incitements was well articu­ and those who practice terror have somewhere between lated by an al~Qaeda leader in its name, or suggest that five and SiX thousand. who, calling upon British Western leaders are no better Muslim pressure groups, Muslims to "bring the West or are indeed worse than lobbies, and charities operate to its knees," added that Islamist murderers. Thus effectively everywhere; in they, "the locals, and not Karen Armstrong, the well­ Britain alone there are 350 foreigners," have the advan­ known historian of religion: Muslim bodies of one kind or tage since they understand "It's very difficult sometimes another. "the language, culture, area, to distinguish between Mr. Among these various orga­ and common practices of the Bush and Mr. bin Laden." nizations, however, a number enemy whom they coexist One form of Islamist function as Islamist fronts. among. )' fellow-travelling masquer­ Inspired by Saudi Arabia or Still another phenomenon ades as a call for "tolerance," Khomeinist Iran, by the familiar from the Soviet era or "diversity," and has pene­ M uslim Brother hood or al has lately n1ade a repeat trated right through the Qaeda, they work to under­ appearance in the West, and world of European opinion mine democracy in whatever that is voluntary accommoda­ and European institutions. ways they can, just as Soviet tion, or fellow-travelling, The British Communist his­ front organizations once did. among non-Muslims. Leftist torian Christopher Hill once They push immigrants to fellow-travellers once helped concluded a book on Lenin repudiate both the process to create a climate of opinion with a reverent recital of the and the very idea of integra­ favourable to Communism. epithets the party had tion, challenging them as a Many knew exactly what devised to glorify him. Pious matter of religious belief and they were doing. Others Muslims follow the mention identity to take up an apposi­ merely meant well; they were of the Prophet Muhammad tional stance to the societies what Lenin called "useful with the invocation, "Peace in which they live. Issues of idiots." In like manner, be upon him." This practice Islamic concern have been Islamist fellow -travellers and has now crept into a biogra­ skillfully magnified into useful idiots are weaving a phy of the Prophet written by scandals in the attempt to climate of opinion today that a British writer not ostensi­ foment animosity on all sides advances the purposes of bly a Muslim. To encourage and thus further deter or pre­ radical Islam and is deeply such acts of deference, there vent the integration of damaging to the prospects of has been a complementary Muslims into mainstream reconciliation. effort to stifle contrary or less European life. As in the 30's and through­ than fully respectful opin­ The notorious 1989 fatwa out the cold war, intellectuals ions. When the outspoken condemning the novelist and journalists are in the French novelist Michel Salman Rushdie to death for lead. Books pour from the Houellebecq pronounced exercising his right to free presses to justify everything Islam to be hateful, stupid, speech as a British citizen and anything Muslims have and dangerous, Muslim orga~ was an early example of this done in the past and are nizations and the League for tactic of disruption and agita­ doing in the present. Just as the Rights of Man took him to tion. Another has been the every Soviet aggression was court, just as the Italian attempt in Britain to set up a once defined as an act of self­ writer Oriana Fallaci was Muslim "parliament" that defence against the warmon­ sued for her book tying the will recognize only Islalnic gering West, today terrorists 9/11 attacks to the teachings law (shari 'a) as binding, and of al Qaeda, or the Chechen of Islam. Although both not the law of the land. I terrorists who killed children writers won their cases,

68 the chilling effect was unmis­ the same reason, the munici­ seeking to live by "common takable. pality of Seville has removed values" but as though they The institutions that have King Ferdinand Ill, hitherto were already in a Muslim­ been affected by Islam-ophile the city's patron saint, from majority society and exempt correctness run the gamut. In fiesta celebrations because he on that account from having Britain, a judge has agreed to fought the Moors for 27 to make concessions to the prohibit Hindus and Jews years. In Italy, where faith of others. What from sitting on a jury in the Islamists have threatened to Ramadan advocates is a kind trial of a Muslim. The British destroy the cathedral of of reverse imperialism. In his Commission for Racial Bologna because of a fresco conception, Muslims in non­ Equality has ordained that illustrating the Prophet Muslim countries should feel businesses must provide Muhammad in the inferno themselves entitled to live on prayer rooms for Muslims (where Dante placed him), their own terms-while~ under and pay them for their thought has been given to the terms of Western liberal absences on religious holi­ deleting the art-work from tolerance, society as a whole days. In a town in the the walls. Even the Pope has should feel obliged to respect Midlands, a proposal to apologized for the Crusades. that choice. renovate a hundred-year-old In secular Denmark, the Ramadan happens to be a statue of a pig was rejected Qur'an (but not the Bible) is grandson of Hasan al-Banna, for fear of giving offence to now required reading for all founder of the Muslim Muslims. The British high-school students. And so Brotherhood, but he is also a Council, an international forth. guarded writer. In fact, his is organization for cultural rela­ The lengths to which apolo­ a relatively "moderate" and tions' fired a staff member gists for Islamism are qualified expression of w ha published articles in the prepared to go is nicely illus­ Islamic reverse imperialism. Sunday Telegraph arguing trated by the case of Tariq More overtly, and wi th an that the roots of terror and Ramadan, a professor of implicit threat of violence, jihad were nourished in the Islamic studies at the Dyab Abu J ahjah, a Lebanese soil of Islam, while the BBC University of Fribourg in who has settled in Ant\verp, cancelled the contract of a Swi tzerland and a popular has denounced the Western popular television journalist writer and speaker. As is well ideal of assimilation as "cul­ for allegedly using negative known, the American univer­ tural rape," and aims to bring language to describe the sity Notre Dame recently all the Muslims of Europe Muslim Arab contribution to offered Ramadan a professor­ into a single independent mankind. ship, but D.S. immigration community_ He, too) needless Commercial society has authorities have so far to say, has his defenders and likewise rushed to accommo­ rejected his application for a apologists among European da te real or imagined Muslim visa. This has elicited some liberals. sensibilities: a British bank classic examples of fellow­ Or consider the European boasts that it will comply travelling obfuscation from reception of Yusuf al­ with shari 'a prohibitions on both Americans and Qaradawi, heir to Sayyid the uses of money, and the Europeans outraged on his Qutb as the religious author­ German state of Saxony­ behalf. A letter to the ity of the Muslim Anhalt has become the first Washington Post protesting Brotherhood. Wanted on European body to issue a Ramadan's treatment under­ charges of terrorism in his sukuk, or Islamic bond. took to explicate his supposed native Egypt~ al~Qaradawi Religious society is not far message to Western Muslims: now lives in Qatar. Like Tariq behind: even as bin Laden they "must find common Ramadan in Switzerland, he speaks of wresting Spain ("al­ values and build with fellow emphasizes that Muslims Andalus") from the infidels citizens a society based on must keep a part from liberal by violence, the cathedral of diversity and equality." democracy as it is practiced Santiago has considered Not quite. What Tariq in the West while also avail­ removing a statue of St. Ramadan has really proposed ing themselves of its benefits James Matamoros, hero of in his writings and teachings and advantages. But he goes the 15th-century Christian is that Muslims in the West much further. Unlike reconquest, lest it gIve should conduct themselves Ramadan, he approves of offence to Muslim. For not as hyphenated citizens wife~beating in the forms

69 sanctioned by the Qur'an; as fellow -tra veIling Bea trice militancy. Thus, at a rally for homosexuals, he is agnos­ Webb used to advance the organized in London last year tic on whether they should be transcendent virtues of the by a radical offshoot of the thrown off a high cliff or Soviet social model. Gullible, Muslim Brotherhood, a high flogged to death. Yet this false, and dangerous state­ proportion of demonstrators year, in an official ceremony ments of this kind are now as were clearly not of Middle at London's City Hall, al­ common as raIn. Eastern origin. At a recent Qaradawi was welcomed as In the realm of classical trial in Cairo in which "an Islamic scholar held in Islam, Christians and Jews three Bri tish citizens were great res pect" by the mayor once lived as dhimmis-that condemned to prison for of London, Ken Livingstone. is to say, minorities with subversion and intended "You are truly, truly wel­ second-class rights, tolerated terrorism, two were English­ come," gushed Livingstone, but discriminated against born, with English names. an othervvise enthusiastic by 1a wand custom. They were led away shouting supporter of gay pride. Also Many contemporary Muslims defiance of the West. appearing last year in appear to idealize this long­ There are certainly London was Sheik Abdul lost supremacy over others, Muslims in Europe who look Rahman al-Sudayyis, a and aspire to reconstruct it. with horror upon what is senior imam of the Grand One way to work for this end being done in their name, and Mosque in Mecca; among his is through violence and ter­ who wish to have nothing to many distinctions, al­ ror. Another way, the way of do with the notion that they Sudayyis has vituperated Tariq Ramadan and Yusuf are entitled to live in the Jews as "the scum of the al-Qaradawi, is through West as, in effect, conquerors. human race, the rats of the words. One way and another, For wholly understandable world, the violators of pacts the project is advancing. reasons~ few of them have the and agreements, the murder­ Summing up the collective courage to speak out. One of ers of the prophets, and the achievement so far, Bat Ye'or, the exceptional few recently offspring of apes and pigs." the historian of "dhimmi­ wrote a letter to the London Standing beside this apostle tude/' has written that Times, giving his name and of "diversity and equality" "Europe has evolved from a address, and saying that he was a junior minister in the J udeo-Christian civiliza bon defines his community as the Blair government. with important post­ people with whom he chooses The Islamic Foundation, Enlightenment/secular ele~ to interact. He went on: "We one of Britain's numerous ments to ... a secular Muslim do not all subscribe to the Muslim bodies, has an off­ transitional society with its same way of being a Muslim, shoot called the Markfield traditional Judeo~Christian neither do we push our Institute. In July, the London mores rapidly disappearing." beliefs into the civic and Times linked both the foun­ She calls this evolving entity political sphere." But, he dation and the institute to "Eurabia." continued, "Sadly the public terrorism. An offended reader If that is the case, or is does not always get our point with an English name wrote becoming the case, is it any of view, because the only to protest: "I hope that wonder that some Europeans Muslims who are consulted Markfield ... will be allowed are switching sides, so as to are those w ha choose to drag to help individual Muslims to be on the winning one? The Islam into the political practice their faith with sheer elan and cultural confi ~ sphere." peace and respect, in a multi­ dence displayed by Islamist One could not ask for a cultural Britain." Another spokesmen may have some­ clearer repudiation not only reader, an Anglican canon in thing to do with the fact tha t of all Muslim Brotherhood­ the Diocese of Leicester (a every year, thousands of style proselytizers but, city with a Muslim majority people all over Europe con­ even more bi tingly, of the today), asserted that the vert to Islam. Some of these patronizing and indulgent institute was simply trying to converts, from Britain, attitude adopted toward teach imams and Muslim France, and Germany, taking them by the European estab­ youngsters alike to work the direct route from words lishmen t. Those in Europe within British institutions. to action, have gone on to who have striven in ways In just that spirit, and play a disproportionate role great and small to extend even in that vocabulary, the In terrorism and Islamist special privileges to Muslims

70 while subtly deprecating The Times Social Register Palestinian conflict in partic­ their own national identity called "the Holy Qur'an and ular. Which is why in the and culture have indeed from the sayings of the Holy run -up to a general election, helped open the way to Prophet Muhammad." The the Labour Party could put Islamic separatism and news that :Y.1uhammad is out posters of Conservative Islamist agitation. They now among the twenty most leaders Michael Howard and have thereby hastened the popular names in Britain is Oliver Letwin (who happen to very clash of civilizations presented in the press he Jewish) likening them to that they (or some of them) as a social fact like any pigs, or to Fagin and Shylock. foolishly claim they are other. Hibz ut-Tahrir is an Which is also why a junior avoiding. If Bassam Tibi is extremist party banned in minister by the name of Mike correct that, by the end of the Muslim world but O'Brien publishes an article this century, "either Islam allowed to operate freely and in the periodical Muslim gets Europeanized or Europe openly in Britain. The party Weekly under the title: gets Islamized," powerful pu t a sixteen year old girl "Labour and British forces are at work to foreclose up to attending school in a Muslims: Can We Dream the that question long before its jilbab, a garment enveloping same Dream?" and goes on to final due date. the entire body except the ask whether Michael Roward face and hands. Her school in can be trusted to be sympa­ Luton was already four fifths thetic to issues purported to TWO Muslim, and the Muslim be Islamic, for example head mistress permitted Palestine. Another junior Evidence piles up continu­ other less extreme forms of minister by the name of ously of a Europe that has Islamic dress, but not the Kevin Macnamara responds lost confidence in its culture, jilbab. Under the Human to suggestions from Michael perhaps no longer even Rights Act, the girl took the Roward about illegal devel­ knows what its culture was. case to court, and won - her opments of green belt sites by Listen to Robin Cook, at the la wyer was Cherie Blair, inci­ travellers with the smear time Foreign Secretary, dentally on record excusing that there is "a whiff of the speaking in 1998 to an Palestinian suicide bombers gas chambers" about them. Islamic audience: "Islam laid on the grounds that depriva­ This is the Thirties or the intellectual foundations tion left them no other choice. Mosleyite style of anti­ for large portions of Western The writer-doctor Theodore Semitism. civilisation." In simple fact, Dalrymple thought the jilbab Between 1945 and 1973, Muslim scholars were part of judgement read like the more or less, Europeans were a chain transmitting knowl­ suicide note "not of a sensitive to Jews, and their edge from classical Greece country alone, but of an new nation - state of Israel. and Rome, from Persia and entire civilisation." This may have been out of the Judeo-Christian tradi­ True, electoral considera - guil t and remorse for the tion. To claim otherwise, as tions are in play. The Muslim Holocaust, as some maintain, Cook did, and innumerable vote might be decisive in as but there was also admira­ others do, is to curry favour many as a score of British tion for the living energy with Muslims for whatever parliamentary constituencies with which Jews had built reason. Every day brings presently held by Labour. In their state, and a Hebrew examples of a national Dewsbury, in West Yorkshire, culture as well. As the culture giving way to some­ for instance, where Muslims Cold War became more and thing Islamic. Here is Lloyds are about a quarter of the more extensive, the Soviet TSB proud to be offering population, both main Union and the majority it mortgage services compatible parties are fielding IVluslim commanded in the U ni ted with sharia law. At a candidates. And here's the Nations took the side of memorial service for Sir rub, not just in Britain but the Arabs. France had tradi­ David Gore-Booth - a former throughout Europe, that the tionally seen itself as a British ambassador to Saudi presence of Muslims in Muslim power - "une puis­ Arabia - in St Margarefs significant numbers has sance mussulmanen a Westminster, a most select imported and transplanted euphemism for the abiding London church - the Saudi the issue of Islamism in intention to develop a grand ambassador read from what general, and the Israeli- im perial design in conj unc-

71 tion with the Arab world. the ancient blood libel DST in charge of security, Exploiting the Palestinian against Jews. The accusation recently said, "Behind every cause in the two main inter­ was repeated elsewhere on at Muslim terrorist is a radical national forums of the UN least a dozen occasions. The imam." One such is Imam and the EU, Yasser Arafat example of Hi tler and Chelali Benchellali, who has more than anyone refur­ Nazism found enthusiastic I been preaching jihad in a bished hatred of Jews. That Muslim imitators and disci­ suburb of Lyons. Arresting is his legacy. Not just the ples. Mein Kampf and The him, the DST found that BBC and the Church of Protocols of the Elders of Zion he had rigged up a laboratory England, but the media and are current best-sellers in his apartment to manufac­ the Catholic church in all reprinted in Muslim coun­ ture bombs with the poison European countries, the Left tries. Sponsors of terror like ricin, as Le Parisien reports. throughout the continent, the Muslim Brotherhood France has some 1,500 ceaselessly propagate the keep up a barrage of repeti­ imams and in 2004 five were view popularised by Arafat tive statements such as expelled. and his Fatah, that Israel is a "the Jews are enemies of the But there is also derange­ brutal oppressor with no faithful God, and the Angels; ment, appeasement and right to nationalism of its the Jews are humanity's surrender. A book by a own, not even self-defence enemies ... Every tragedy that Frenchman claiming that against terror. One and all, inflicts the Muslims is caused Americans themselves they further fold their con­ by the Jews." Whether or carried out the September 11 tempt into the wider post­ not they know it, Arabs attacks is a best-seller, and so Cold War anti-Americanism are repea ting w ha t they is a book by a German with of the UN and the EU, once heard from European the title Schwarzbuch USA, with fantasies that Jews, teachers, and whether or not evoking pre-war anti -Nazi otherwise known as they know it, Europeans are tracts. It is now a common­ neo-conservatives, control now in turn repeating the place to draw comparisons President Bush. These variety of anti-Semitism they between Israel and Nazism, confluent developments in themselves instilled in the and to describe Israel's mea­ the history of our times Arabs. sures of self-defence as war have reversed public opinion In Britain) the Human crimes. Academic boycotts of and given new forms to Rights Act has enforced the Jews are again in order, and ancient anti-Semitism. Two­ release from prison of men when an Oxford lecturer and th irds of Europeans in a with a record of terrorism BBC pundit calls for recent poll expressed the and Jew-hatred. Absence of American Jews on the West opinion that Israel was the will and the capacity for self­ Bank to be shot, neither the greatest danger to world defence can only encourage university nor the BBC sees peace, more than North others with this mind -set to fit to take action. The number Korea or Iran. operate in Britain. After the of attacks on Jews in What has happened illus­ murder in Amsterdam of the France doubled last year; the trates the way one culture film-maker Theo van Gogh, Grand Rabbi advised Jews borrows and adapts from the Dutch in contrast decided not to be recognisable in another. Jews once lived that they had taken tolerance public. Perhaps these are among Arabs in conditions too far, and in future would reflections only of today's restricting their rights. deport Muslim extremists. fanaticised geo-politics, but Murderous anti-Semitism as Germany is beginning to on the face of it this practised in Europe began supervise the preachings of all amounts to a crisis of only in 1840 when the French imams. In France, Louis confidence in the culture of consul in Damascus levelled Caprioli, former head of the Europe - again.

72 SECTION VI BOOK REVIEWS Outwitting History

aron Lansky's I By Aaron Lansky Bashevis Singer stated, Outwitting History when receiving the Nobel Aj. s a compelling read. I Reviewed by Aubrey Prize for Literature, "the picked it up, and was more Rose C.B.E. language possesses no words than half-way through its for weapons, ammunition, 300 or so pages in a day. I especially the supremacy of military exercises, and war could not put it down. It is the English language. tactics. " It is a langu age the work of a man with a Aaron Lansky is a hero whose soul derives from the mISSIon. who achieved a miracle, 4,000 years-old Jewish tradi­ Aged a mere 23, the author made even more inspiring tion, especially the sublime embarked, with unIque by his humility and total Hebrew prophets who looked enthusiasm, refreshing lack of self-importance or to the day "when nation shall humour and rare organisa­ personal gain. He is a not lift up sword against tional abiE ty, on a self­ practical idealist who nation and man will learn imposed and dedicated overcame every material war no more." It is the lan­ campaign to preserve Yiddish obstacle. In a way, he moved guage of peace and social culture and Yiddish writings mountains. justice. Yiddish is written in and overcome the devasta­ A word about Yiddish. It Hebrew characters using tion caused by race-crazed developed among Jews living the letters of the Hebrew Nazi maniacs who had wiped in Germany about eight cen­ alphabet. As a boy growing out the heart of the Yiddish­ turies ago, at the same time up in London's East End speaking world in Europe. as the early dawn of English. among scores of thousands Through 25 years of con­ Yiddish is 70 percent High of Jewish immigrants, I stant effort, Aaron Lansky German of that era with remember my father sending saved and preserved over one about 20 percent of Hebrew, me out to buy a newspaper. and a half million books, the remaInIng words It was a Yiddish paper I the same number as the acquired from the peoples returned with and which I Jewish children m urdered in among whom European read. I had to understand the that Great Blasphemy called Jews dwelt, including language; my grandmother the Holocaust in which Russians, Poles and Slavs. and her generation spoke over 6,000,000 Jews were Many of their words and nothing else. annihilated in under 4 years expressions, even of Latin Aaron Lansky interviewed by sophisticated barbarians, and French expressions, were those of my father's and sophisticated in method, assimilated into Yiddish. grandmother's generation totally barbaric in morality. Yiddish is vastly different still alive, some in their 90s But for the good fortune of from severe, humourless and recorded their memories coming to this country from German, Yiddish is imbued of Yiddish. He acquired from Eastern Europe early in the with humanity, joy, laughter all over America, from all 20th century, my parents, and tears, warmth and over the world, thousands hence myself, would have eloquence, poetry and hope, upon thousands of Yiddish been part of that mass reflecting so much of the books that would otherwise destruction. travails of ordinary people. It have been consigned to the Lansky's story will appeal had no time for pomposity or rubbish heap. This young to everyone of the 50 or class arrogance. man, still in his 40s today, more immigrant minorities It is a people's language, proved that Jews remained in Britain where a second reflecting an endless daily "the people of the book". Old or third generation see battle against poverty and civilisations revolved around their original language and persecution, yet never glori­ the wri tten word, the culture overwhelmed by the fying violence. In fact, as the Chinese of Lao-Tze and dominance of the British and Yiddish author, Isaac Confucius, the Sanskrit of

73 the Indian tradition, the Matthau began as Yiddish tireless efforts was the Arabic of the Koran. But actors). It was a language setting up of the National these people were numbered that flourished. From 1864 Yiddish Book Centre, the in hundreds of millions. Jews to 1939, it s golden period of fastest growing Jewish cul­ have always been a tiny creativity, over 20,000 books tural organisation in the people. Even today the in Yiddish were published. USA graining support from inhabitants of one major city, Shakespeare was translated Jews like Stephen Spielberg Tokyo, Cairo, Sao PauIo, into Yiddish, as were the as well as many non -J ews, number more than Jews in works of Tolstoy, Dickens, national trusts and institu­ the whole wide world, United Zola, Balzac, and Tagore. tions. What an outstanding States and Israel included. even the Bhagvad Gita had a achievemen t for just one man One day the media will Yiddish version! imbued with a mission. acknowledge this fact. Aaron Lansky describes This book is a wonderfully Yiddish is rich in expressions, the emergence of Yiddish evocative yet so-easy-to-read similes, metaphors, wise after 70 years of Soviet sayings, shining a sympa­ efforts to destroy the lan­ story. The writer has a nar­ thetic light on the foibles and guage and the culture. rative gift. It is impossible to fables of our human species. Yiddish and Hebrew are both do justice to it in a review. It it is the world from which so springing to life again in could become required read­ many of the great modern Eastern Europe after intense ing for all minorities who feel comedies and musicals official state ideological intol­ their culture, their language, emerged. I used to attend the erance and suppression. And is under threat. I learned vibrant pre-1939 Yiddish the author has played a most from it. I enjoyed it. You theatre every week. (Edward notable role in that revival. could do the same. It will be G Robinson and WaIter The high point of Lansky's time very well spent.

Say The Name

"Apell. Roll call. The By Judith H Sherman in Kurima, Czechoslovakia, wake up siren sounds at several deportations, hiding four a.m. - the sound of Introduction by David in homes and in the forest, dread and ugliness. To help her struggles in several me get up I have developed a Carrasco prisons including a converted system that works for me - Professor of Theology & castle, undergoing torture 'resistance' I call it and get Anthropology at and witnessing murder up. Family injunction in Harvard University in Ravensbruck, and her operation. The other option liberation. Along the way, we to getting up is being beaten meet and grow to care to death, thrown into a about, and mourn for punishment bunker, bullets - Ravensbruck death camp and many individuals, especially but 'resistance' works for her "liberation". She tells us women, whom she encoun­ me - a gift to the family, a gift she was armed by the 'family ters, remembers and now from the family." inj unction', a promise the gives us their names. The family members made to book ends in the present day Judith Sherman, each other "to survive/to live" with her reflections on the Say the Name as they were being sucked destruction of families in the into what she calls the 9/11 attacks and on her own Judith Sherman got up from 'primal night' of the legacy for her children. As her years of memorIes, Holocaustl She survived and readers will experience, this nightmares, private resis­ now, thanks to her skilled book is an expression of tance and public silence poetry and prose, her story J udith's ongoing resistance to to write Say the Name, survIves. The chronological Hitler and the Holocaust, and this book about her child­ backbone of this book tells it is a gift to her family and to hood, her imprisonment in of her childhood home all our families.

74 The narra ti ve, in prose Tragically, the Messiah needed. She writes when and poems, speaks with two was not on cue and Sherman remembering the women shot voices - the 13-14 year old girl writes her life story with dead for trying to aid others) who experienced the dismem­ lamentation from what she berment of family, European calls "survivorship territory" "Are You not tempted, Jewry and perhaps even God where she 'lives on two tracks Lord, and in the voice of the adult always', -- the Holocaust To intervene survivor remembering family track and the track of Lend a hand and friends, raging against life today. Selecting fruit at Preven t a scream?" rape and murder, writing the grocery store, taking a poems, and searching for a shower and seeing railroad As no response was forth­ dialogue with a God who tracks 'trigger' her memories coming, Sherman is driven to wasn't there. Here are a of 'the selection', 'gas speak up for the others. As few examples of both of chambers' and 'transports' though in a courtroom she those voices, sometimes to death camps, and she writes in "Reluctant Witness" intermingling as she writes realizes she will always be that she is here to 'testify about the simple things both old and young at the to their murder of Anna" that both children and God's same time. who starved, Evka who was followers might care about beaten to death, Daniel when facing disaster, "I am old in this la te who was gassed, J ohanna year who was shot down ... leading

"1 am not yet 14. I Bu t my soul - my soul I her to ask three sim pIe yet think of home. I would Is peopled with parents profound questions, like to be with my Who are younger than mother. I never am any my children Where is the judge? more. So much to tell My brother will forever Where are you, judge? her... All bundles are to be nine." Is there a judge? be left on the side ... The contents, flashlight, While this Holoca ust Judith Sherman is symbol­ sweater, story might be read as a ically standing up for the photographs, sewing gripping example of women's many who cannot stand up kit, instant coffee, a testimonial literature, it is for themselves, and her inter­ mug, perhaps a prayer important to emphasize roga tion of God wakes us book, a book, brush, that Sherman has written up and raises the absurd pos­ house keys, socks - will this book to testify, and some­ sibility that there was no be integrated into the times we have the impression judge. No justice or mercy camp economy, or more she is both a witness for the Giver! It's not that the judge Likely the German victims and the inquisitor didn't show up on time, it's Reich. But not the of God in the courtroom of that the judge abdicated his connections. They are Shoah. She stands up and role, failed to pay attention, severed ... gives evidence before us and intervene and produce awe her God of the relentless with his justice, his love. and sufferings caused by the She and we are left to "I shall never not value 'experts in humiliation', at wonder if Anyone is out shoes, camps where the "whip there, listening, attending. life is from the reclaims the essence of the Sherman's work may be a ground up, life with place - power, superiority, most compelling narrative in shoes, perhaps, with­ violence." She testifies and that it treats both God and out-death ... " shrewdly tries to draw God humans with 'life bestowing into her ongoing ordeal and awareness.' At one point she and later, trial as a partner in dialogue. gives us her definition of When she doesn't elicit a God or what he would have to "Come Messiah response she skillfully be to live up to his Biblical Is not the apocalypse rebukes God through a series reputation. It's a simple Your cue of poems and pointed ques­ definition, "Accountability is To do tions about his absence when Divinity," and she's insisting The Messiah thing?" he was most desperately on this accountability - for

75 the humans we meet in this beyond Belief, and I want to thank you. book and more. 'Overwhelming' - and r am a survivor of the I remember the morning the second each of Ravensbruck death camp and lecture on the Terror of these exclama tions I've written this poem which History when I first met came out of our I would like you to read." J udith Sherman. I arrived at mouths they dropped We talked briefly and I the Princeton University like empty balloons learned that she had, for the lecture hall with a feeling and fell into the depth most part, remained silent of paralysis in the face of of the canyon. Well, about her experiences. lecturing on the religious the Holocaust is the She quickly passed by and meaning of the unspeakable Grand Canyon of I sensed an opening between cruelties of the Lager. I chas­ Terror and if you've us. Later that day I read tised myself, "What led me to ever seen the Grand her poem, give a single week in Canyon in person the semester's course on the or confronted the God. that particular religious dimensions in Holocaust you'll know pain is too much for me human experience to the why words fail. Why You have it and Be overwhelming story of silence is an option. branded the Holocaust? Who was I Any furious exclama­ to interpret Elie Wiesel's tions, roaring condem­ The terseness of the poem stunning account: Night? I nations, big words, or and its challenge to God don't have the imagination, strained comparisons seized my attention. I called \vords or know ledge to help that I could utter and invited her to speak in students to be attentive would just droop like the class the following week to this 'human experience.'" little bits of banal to tell of her experiences in I admitted my crisis of absurdity and sink Ravensbruck, read some of language to the students, into the darkness of her poetry and speak of her that talking about such a the Shoah. Think survival. Reluctantly, but monumental horror was too about it! What do with signs of a deep interest, much to handle. Words fail, these names mean, she agreed. She came and we utterly, in the face of what synonyms could sat together at a table in the Holocaust. I said that you rightfully use - front of 200 students. She this failure of language to Auschwitz, Treblinka, spoke haltingly at first, we illuminate reminded me, in a Dachau? six million held hands during some of reverse way, of my first white gassed and burned! her talk, she read some of her water trip through the Grand We are driven in to poems and used them as Canyon. silence, into depres­ openings to describe and sion, into non-verbal in terpret her experiences. "In the midst of the attention. But to be She told about the first time mysterious time silent in the face of German soldiers entered her depth of the Grand this Grand Canyon of home, Canyon, the stunning Horror makes even sunshine, the breath­ less sense to me." "A gun with a bayonet taking beaut~ the is pointing at my sleep­ heights of rock walls, And so, I \vent on. At the ing head oases of the side end of the lecture a line of A nightmare this - but canyons with flowing students met me to quickly it is real sprIngs, we passen­ talk about their individual Happening when gers would utter our in terests. At the end of the I'm not quite ten", and exclamations like we line was Judith Sherman the resulting feelings of were describing God who I had not yet met but "TERROR and FEAR." or Paradise on Earth - who had been sitting in on 'Amazing', 'Awesome' my course with other senior and of hearing her mother 'Astonishing' , citizens. She said something say "shoot us or leave us 'N othing like it in the like "I've never heard a non­ alone." She wept when she World', 'Unbelievable' Jew speak the way you did read the poem about her 'Incredible', (Beautiful today about the Holocaust younger brother Karpu being

76 gassed hoping that someone parents, unprotected chil­ but to say the names and was there with him at the dren, where "fear is normal". account for as many of those horrible end. She spoke of We heard her ask, referring who 'know the final of the the 'miracles' that saved her to the Nazi's hunting children Final Solution.' and her pain about those not down in the forests, "God, Her directness and saved. She opened up and how are we so visible to them strength, the compactness opened us up to her story and and so invisible to You? You and playfulness of the cry to her thoughts about God. owe us visibility." in her language and her N ever in my many years of When I moved to Harvard creative and critical inquisi­ teaching have I heard a she came to speak in my tiveness constitute a very quietness of attention, class here and now there distinctive voice in literature respect, and awe fill an audi­ were chapters! We heard about the Holocaust and its torium of students as it did more about her "forms of family legacies. In the face of that day and I've heard some resista nee" in the face the memories of the dead and of the best lecturers in the of the gruelling, freezing, all that death, Judith affirms world. But it wasn't just the dangerous hours standing in life. It is she, not me, who story. It was the woman and line where she survived by 'lets the terror of history her way of telling the story - thinking "of every thought I terrify'. She remembers the the story that is in this book. ever had, every place I have branding, requires us to be A year later she spoke ever been to, every person I attentive and never wavers again in my class only this ever knew." And then in true from the knowledge that time there were many more Judith Sherman style, she Auschwitz and Ravensbruck pages of prose and poetry. though t 'up new categories to are part of her life and legacy. This time we learned of the move time along.' And then Toward the end of her book forced and brutal instability she invited us to her funeral she addresses death in the of her flight in the woods, her " .to my un-Auschwitz same gritty way she speaks probing of Nazi rationaliza­ funeral" telling us that the about people and to God. She bons of h umilia tion and attire was optional but "no wri tes "Death stand aside/do death, of her withstanding stri pes please". Again God not hoverlby my side" as she human experiments in the comes in for her critique, leaps "to touch the sun, push camp hospital, of the miracle children's swings ... " and in that saved her there, and her You come too Lord the fortitude of that spirited horror and shame of the (were you too 14 year old she outruns the "selection" of others. embarrassed to attend Nazi reaper and tells him We heard more of her in Auschwitz?) "Don't mess with me/you questions for God, the embar­ You come too. Lord And bloated creep/you cannot/run rassing questions she posed smile-Your will be done. as fast/as me." to him. We heard her invite No! Not smile. Just be" With this book she passes God to come down J acob's on to her children and the ladder because "I will not As readers will discover, generations to come "a gift to deal with angels, I'll wait till there are many such chal­ the family, a gift from the you arrive" so she could take lenges to the Lord in this family". She gives sound and God's hand and show his book. The birth of the words to and makes indelible Godly eyes horrors that Messiah, the red apples of the memories of her (and our) result in divine grief. Eden, the sacrifice of Isaac, lost ones and she knows She spoke again the and even the possible death "Connections-Friendships ," following year and now there of God are all scenes she and "a touch of genesis" and were 30 pages and we heard re-imagines. But her purpose works in her own garden of her shrinking teenage is not just an individual nearby to where she wrote world made up of powerless search for God in this abyss Say the Name.

77 SECTION VII CORRESPONDENCE Rockville, Md. May 29, 2005

Dear Ben, essay of my favoured author, captured with this volume historian and scholar, the our survivors strong will to go We immensely enjoyed your Hon. Martin Gilbert. Reading on with our lives, even after 60th anniversary special the reminiscences of the terrible things that happened issue of your well edited contributors to this issue, to us. And even after our Journal. The editorials, comparing it to other publica· liberation, still facing horri· photographs of Holocaust tions in our own country, bIe conditions, we never gave Survivors and 'historical I consider your magazine up ... The mix of thoughtful journeys' by so many contrib· a great achievement in essays, interesting memoirs utors, makes this issue a the domain of Holocaust and articles by your son, historical document of great Anniversary Journals. All of Maurice, and others of the value to future historians, your editorial committee 'Second generation', hit a writers and archivists who deserve thanks for their chord in my heart, almost a will study the record of dedication to keep memory prayer: Blessed be the hour our past; Martyrdom and alive, documen ting sixty when all of you were saved. survival, resistance, bravery years of evolution with and our achievements. As stories that touches our always, I was inspired by the hearts and spirit. You Herman Taube The Caring Society Shirley Huberman Meanwhile, the other two 've been told it is every· obviously know what they are one's \vorst nightmare, were organising for medical doing". The speed and the having a husband taken notes to be faxed and alerting I efficiency of the treatment ill whilst staying in an hotel the Cardiologist as to what was probably as good as any· in a foreign country and yet was gOIng on. where in the world. It felt AJfred and I had spent a On their arrival Juliette truly memorable week good to hear Alfred and a and Bryan were touched by remembering and celebrating nurse conversing in Yiddish. the warmth and love of "The the 60th anniversary of his The Boys' prayed for him, vis­ Boy". They described the liberation in 1945. The suit­ ited and 'phoned. I was taken relationship as a brotherhood case was packed and taxis aside to be asked ''1 know this (a bit like the Mafia!). were arriving to take some of is very personal but are you I have never had a brother 'The Boys' to Ben Gurion air­ alrigh t for money". or sister and I just want to port for the journey home. It The interest and tender, say thank you to all my was obvious that my precious loving care from "The Boys" "brothers and sisters in law" man would not make the lift, was immense. Whilst Alfred for all their love and support let alone an aircraft. So what was being well treated and to us, both. You were certain· does a frantic wife do - she cared for, I was enveloped in ly there when we needed you calls Ben (the organiser). what can only be described as and our nightmare will be "Call the hotel doctor, we are love. remembered as really quite a leaving now but I will let All this time, back in wonderful experience. Mick and Michael know and England, our three children they will keep in touch". were discussing their strate· That's when you know you gy and it was decided that are not alone· "The Boys" are the "most travelled" Bryan with you! and his wife were the people Dear Ben Alfred was admitted to a for the job - the text read "we superb Cardiac Unit, corn· are leaving in half an hour, do As you know, Shirley and I menting "now I feel safe, they we bring anything?" joined a group of "The Boys"

78 on a visit to Israel after an patients and staff. A ate, asking if she could exceptional 60th reunion in Yemenite, a Russian, a manage financially, since we London. Our week in Israel Frenchman and an Israeli had to extend our stay. was enjoyable) emotional and or two, in turn, filled the I am still receiving tele­ rewarding) ranging from neighbouring beds. One of phone calls from 'Boys' in dedica ting the ambulance, my carers was a Yiddish London, Israel and America the reunion with the Israeli speaking nurse from the enquiring as to my progress. Boys in a beautiful venue and Argentine, a doctor who orig­ It gives one a warm feeling visiting the extended Yad inated from Brighton, a to belong to such a caring Vashem. nurse from St Petersburg, brotherhood. Our stay was at an end, we who missed the museums, I am delighted to say I am had packed and said our many Russian and Israeli, all goodbyes, when a potential well qualified and efficient. much improved and wish all disaster struck. That The main purpose of my "The Boys" good health and evening, instead of being writing is to show my appre­ much happiness they home in Brighton I was in the ciation to those boys who deserve it. Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical were so caring and under­ Centre, where the treatment standing in our 'hour of need', Warmest regards. was excellent. I felt at home offering us all sorts of help, and once I was feeling better visiting me in hospital and Alfred Huberman was fascinated by the mix of making sure that my wife There was still Hope By Chris Archbold "Be careful what you say to Schindler's List. I left main­ many times was Abi Brysh him; it may end up in stream education two years of Bournemouth. He was a story'. With these words ago and since then have reluctant to talk of his a colleague introduced me been working as an outreach experiences but would to a new teacher. Let me educator for the Holocaust sometimes in the middle of a introduce myself to you with Educational Trust and last conversation drop in some a story. July I became a Fellow of the tale that had come into his I was at a seminar to Holocaust Exhibition at the mind. For example, one day commemorate the Warsaw Imperial War Museum. As a we were talking about I don't Ghetto uprising. We were teacher I often invited know what and he told me ..... given name tags and I went Survivors into my school to We were working outside into the lecture theatre talk to pupils. Josef Perl of the wire, on a road and wearing mine. No sooner had and Barbara Stimler were the SS told us to stop so I sat down than a man sitting regulars and added much they could have their in front turned round, saw over the years. Others such lunch. We of course had my name and spat out lWhat as Harry Fox, Trude Levi nothing so I lay back and are you doing here? VVith a and Henry Wermuth gave tried to rest. I was lying name like that, you're not valuable contributions on a with my eyes closed when I even Jewish." The name was one-off basis. Over the last felt a foot nudge me so "Chris Archbold, in fact it two years I have met many I opened them. An SS still is. Hopefully, most of you others and can now often put was handing me half will still read what follows. faces to what were formerly of a cheese sandwich. He This is written as a names in books. In fact when didn't say anything, he response to a gift from Zigi I speak in schools the title of just gave it to me and Shipper, a copy of the 60th my work is "Some people I walked away. He could anniversary "Journal". For know" and it is this that I am have got into a lot of 35 years I was an RE/History making an appeal about. trouble for that. They teacher and as such taught Another story... One weren't all completely bad, the Holocaust long before it Survivor, who never came to Chris. There was still hope became fashionable post my school but who I talked to for some."

79 A couple of years, and a few to Meyer, gave me the in their ordeal. Abi once told more tales later Doreen and I information that he didn't me how he survived the were visiting Isa and him and know who his brother had Death March .. . he made sure on the way out he stopped me escaped with but .... had died that he was in the middle of and said, "You will come in Israel; at about the same the column where the SS back, won't you? I want to tell time as Abi died ln couldn't reach him. Another you my story." Although I Bournemouth. time I asked him if he had assured him that I would it Earlier this year I was at doubted G*d while he was in never happened as my Yad Vashem with the other the camps. His reply; "He Mother died and Doreen Fellows from Imperial War was there with me." went into hospital. In April Museum. One lecturer was I know that a lot of 2003 SyIvia Perl telephoned Yehuda Bauer. In his book Survivors have written what to tell us Abi had died and "Rethinking the Holocaust" they remember without they would call and pick us he states "There are still thought of publication. If up on the way to "documents" walking among anyone is prepared to entrust Bournemouth. us .... namely the testimonies me with a copy of these Earlier this year, while that we have not taken down documents or to talk to me of reading the story of Meyer yet. But we should of course." their experiences I would be Hersh, I noticed a similarity This is my emphasis at the honoured to meet them. It is between the story of how Imperial War ~useum. To so important that these Meyer's brother had escaped write down some of those stories are taken down as from a Death March and one unheard stories in a way that soon as possible. Should you Abi had told me. Telephoning teachers can use them. The have any doubts about what I Isa, I asked her to repeat this title is "There was still hope". am doing please have a word story and realised I had got it What I a m not looking for with those friends that I have righ t although she has no is "the good SS" , but rather mentioned. You could also idea who Abi had escaped stories that show how contact me at home. with. Another call, this time "goodness" helped Survivors Protest against Schoolboy's Poem Witold Gutt Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly, lVIP Gideon Carter published in "GREAT MINDS", Secretary of State for Education a book distributed to schools in Britain by the House of Commons Forward Press Group. I think that the poem, London SWl apart from being deeply offensive, could poison the minds of young people in the 9th November 2005 schools. The poem contains lines of virulent anti -Semitism indistinguishable from NAZI Dear Secretary of State, PROPAGANDA and could be taken to endorse Hitler's views. I would ask you to intervene Row over schoolboy's Hitler Poem - The and have the book withdrawn Times 9.11.05, p.22 Yours faithfully, Witold Gutt I t was painful for me to read in the Ex-prisoner DACHAU Concentration Camp above-mentioned article of the poem by No. 147597

Department for Education and Skills addressed to Ruth Kelly about the publication 'Great Minds'. I have been asked to reply. 21 November 2005 Firstly, I must state quite clearly that this Department is appalled by any promotion of Dear Dr Qutt, antj-Semitism or any downplaying of the Holocaust. As a Department we have over the Thank you for your letter of 9 November last five years supported the Home Office in

80 its establishment and delivery of the The pUblication that contains the Holocaust Memorial Day and have produced controversial poem is an independent free educational materials to support that. In publication. I t has no connection to the addition all pupils must learn about the Department for Education and Skills and is in Holocaust as part of the National History no way endorsed or promoted by the Curriculum at Key Stage 3 (11 to 14 year Department. olds). Pupils are required to understand how The Department advises parents who are events in the past came about. They are concerned about any materials being used in also required to be able to think critically and their child's school to contact the Headteacher eval ua te history. and, if necessary, pursue the school's own Schools are subject to the Race Relations complaints procedure. (amendment) Act 2000; and we would impress on all schools within England that they Yours sincerely, should provide a safe environment where all Craig J enkins elements of racism, anti-Semitism and On behalf of the Head of the Public xenophobia should never be promoted or Communications Unit tolerated.

SECTION VIII OBITUARIES A time to remember Harry Wajchendler By Ray Winogrodzki came to England with my I was in contact once again · when one of us passes friend Harry Wajchendler with Harry. but then, once away, especially after all we I in 1945. We landed in again, we lost contact with have been through during Carlisle. From there we were each other. the war. taken to Windermere where Harry became a diamond I also miss him because we we spent many happy polisher. were schul partners. On months recovering and trying Doreen and Harry were shabbas and yom-tovs we to learn English. married on June 11th 1950. always sat together. We also Harry has a brother called They have three wonderful supported different schul Roward who also came to children. The firstborn is functions. England with him and he has Leslie, then Judith and Harry was very, very proud been living in Canada for Gillian. of his son Leslie, who is the many years (from 1947). Between the children, warden of Coventry Road They had two aunts living they are blessed with eig'ht Synagogue. in London - in Stamford Hill grandchildren and one great­ and Tottenham. Harry grandson. He was proud of We all miss Harry greatly, stayed in Stamford Hill and each and everyone. and I am sure he is looking Howard stayed with the I lost contact with Harry down on us with his little other aunt in Tottenham. for a good few years, except cheeky smile on his face, That is when we lost contact when we met up at our feeling very proud of all he wi th each other. reunions. had achieved over the Doreen flrst met Harry in Then Doreen and Harry years and the many years October 1945 at the Menorah moved to Gants Hill in July which were spent with Club in South Tottenham. 1972, when we became very his loving wonderful wife, Then Doreen and Harry met close friends. Doreen. up again at the Primrose I was very sad when Harry Club. passed away, as we all are MAY HE REST IN PEACE

81 Chaim Lewkowicz olocaust Survivor, Known affectionately as A quiet man. After going beloved husband of 'Charlie'. back to Poland for the first H the late Betty time some fifteen years ago - Lew kowicz, adored father of By Eve Pearl he found his roots. Instead of Eve and Jack, honoured being a lost soul, he felt ready grandfa ther, Zaida, of Eve is the daughter of Betty to talk and wanted to become Jonathan, Robert and Ilana, and 'Charlie'. involved in telling his story to Sharon, Steven and others and ensuring that Samantha. the world should not forget Born in Piotrkow, Poland on friends of how when they the Holocaust. He gave a the 21st February 1926, the were ill or too exhausted to testimony to the Steven youngest son of 11 children. make the two mile trek to Spielberg Trust and became His father was the town an ammunitions factory at involved in the creation of the confectioner and like all dawn, Charlie literally car~ Holocaust Survivors' Centre those in the Jewish section, a ried them to work, knowing in Hendon. Both Charlie and religions and revered man. that if they remained behind Betty spent many hours The Holoca ust saw the they would be shot. After a I there, regularly, each week destruction of this fa'mily, tortuous 13-14 hour day's organising things in the early with Charlie's parents and work he carried them uphill days. Charlie was on the most of his brothers and sis­ and back to the barrack ... organising committee and ters perishing. His greatest This was Charlie - a man was then elected to represent delight was meeting up with who always put others before the Centre on the Advisory a brother and sister in Israel himself. A man who didn't Committee to Jewish Care. in the 1950s. like the limelight, liked to Dedicated and committed; How Charlie managed to stay in the background, a Charlie worked timelessly to survive the horrors of the man of few words but with an help put the Centre on the Holocaust was something he enormous heart. Charlie map. frequently asked himself. loved everyone - he would His pride in his family was From the slave industry of never be involved in a obvious. He was devoted the glass factory in Piotrkow 'broigus' a man of peace and to his wife Betty. Married to the slave labour of goodwill - 'life is too short' he happily to her for flfty-two Buchenwald concentration would always say. He loved to years, he nursed her through camp to the horrors of be with friends, the members the last two years of her ill­ Czestochowa and Reimsdorf of the '45 Aid Society - his ness and was bereft when she to the three week Death family he called them - all passed away two years ago. March and ending up in those who, like himself, were Both Eve and Jack, named Theresienstad t in liberated in Theresienstadt after Charlie's parents, were Czechoslovakia, he managed in 1945 and came to England a source of great pride to him to live when so many others to make a new life - they and he glowingly talked to died. He escaped death time were each other's family! He everyone about his children and time again. An escape, loved to dance and could be and, of course, his grandchil­ when he was shot in the leg seen taking the centre stage dren. Even as his health and hid while he heard every­ doing the Russian 'cozutska' failed, two heart attacks, a one else being murdered and living life to the full. Other stroke, diabetes, thrombosis, thrown into a pit they had loves of his life were having a deafness, poor eye sight - the dug for themselves, \vas but tipple - or three - of whiskey list continues ~ his family one episode. An outbreak of and of course playing cards. kept him going. Despite typhoid in his barracks killed Right up to the weekend repeated stays in hospital most inmates around him but before he was taken in to the 'survivor' in him made miraculously he survived. hospital for the final time, he him have the strength to Starvation, exhaustion and played Kalooki, and won, to carry on and bounce back. disease, let alone the his great amusement. U nfortuna tely, the survivor murderous intentions of the Humour was another of his could not beat this last Nazis could at any time have traits - he loved telling jokes hurdle and we say goodbye to ended it all. A quiet hero, and could see the funny side the quiet hero ii never to be stories have been told by his of any situation. forgotten.

82 My friend Nuszi Rosenberg By David Herman I am very sad that my friend war and this saved them to work as a dental mechanic Nuszi passed away in April. from being sent to the con­ during the day and attended Nuszi Rosenberg was born centration camps. night school to catch up on in Czechoslovakia. We were After the war, in the sum­ his education. He went on to childhood friends in our mer of 1946, Nuszi arrived in study dentistry in the hometown of Munkachevo England with a group of 120 evenings and eventually and lived very near to each boys and girls. Not having qualified as a dentist. He was other when we were small met for four years, we quickly very talented and good at his boys, he came from a family re-established our friendship job and soon set up his own of five children, and he was while he was living in the successful dental surgery. He the youngest and the only Jewish Temporary Shelter in established an excellent rep­ boy. London's East End where we utation in New York's Queens His Father died when he frequently met. district, where he became was very young, He matured When the Primrose Club very well known. at a very early age and opened in Belsize Park, Nuszi and Ibi frequently learned to look after his Nuszi joined and became an attended our annual mother and sisters and keep active member. We often met reunions in England and the family together. up at the club and he partici­ whenever any of the boys vis­ Nuszi was a naturally tal­ pated in many sports includ­ ited New York, we were ented footballer. He was very ing football, basketball and always made very welcome. good at all sports and fre­ SWImmIng. They could never do enough quently came to our garden to In 1948 N uszi and his for us. play with us. friend Meier Stern - also from Nuszi was always kind, In late 1942, Nuszi and two Munkachevo - set up a busi­ gentle, and considerate and a of his elder sisters moved ness partnership working as very, generous man, he was a from Munkachevo to dental mechanics in London. loving husband and father. Budapest where he worked in In April 1950 Nuszi mar­ He leaves behind his heart­ the Jewish Hospital. The ried Ibi in London and very broken wife Ibi, three chil­ three of them managed to soon afterwards emigrated to dren and grandchildren. hide in Budapest during the New York; there he continued

Ray Jackson (Jakubowicz) By Shy J ackson

tzhak, Jack. Itzik. Ray, of will, in surviving the war J ackson: my father, who and fighting cancer for as I passed away in July, was long as he did. I can under­ known by several names. stand why these are what You can learn much from people have focussed on. names and the names repre­ However, for me, it was just sent different stages of his as important to hear the life and different circles of number of people who told us friends. But these stages what they thought of my and circles intersected each Ray Jackson. fa ther and their experience of other and, regardless of the encountering him in their name, there are a few main lives. themes which were present In that respect, some of the For me, what I take of my throughout my father's life things said about my father father is how his friends saw and are what my father was at his funeral highlighted his him every day. While it is to me. determination and strength impossible not to be humbled

83 by the way he survived the friends with whom he directly from my experience, horrors of his early years and remained close until his final I appreciated this even more the final years, my strongest days without any heed to geo­ when David Nimm, one of his im pressions of him are of graphic distances. To this business colleagues, spoke at whom he was, what he made day, I hear tales of his epic his funeral and told us how of his life and how he dealt fights with his good friend he learnt from my father with people. This is difficult Harry Elias, all-night card­ that it is possible to succeed for me to judge, seeing my playing sessions driving without what he described father from the narrow through the jungles of as "shouting, intrigue and perspective of a son. I, Malaysia when terrorists dishonesty" . therefore, have to rely on were all around. I have kept for last what I other people's accounts when And finally, any description treasure the most; my trying to form a picture of my of my father's life could not father's sense of humour father. be complete without his long and mischief. I see this as Like all of us, he was not relationship with the other one of the main keys to his perfect. But what emerges Boys and Girls, who were personality, his way of in people's mind is his always there and with whom dealing with life and the posi tive approach to life as he shared many happy times. reason he became what he well as to individual people. Friends he would see in was. As many will know, he Specifically, this charac­ Israel and whenever he came liked and enjoyed speaking terised itself in a great sense to England, being the family his mind and saying what he of adventure, a mischievous they did not ha ve and thought, especially if it would sense of humour and the the cause of many lasting get a strong reaction. He was talent and ability to succeed memories. Similarly, Israel not one to accept things in what he chose to do. was another place where he simply because everyone else It was this positive, and created yet another circle did; challenging things was practical, approach to life of good friends, an from part of life and this was how which not only helped him different backgrounds but his friends recognised him. survive the camps, but made enjoying life together. At the same time, loyalty was him decide in the 1950s that Given his upbringing in one of his strengths. Yosef it would be a good idea to pre-war Poland, my father Yarom spoke about my father spend a few years in India. could not be expected to at the funeral, describing This was quite a transition easily find a common ground how he would always be for a Polish-born young with, for example, the there to help, but without man at the time, but he English people based in making too much of it. enjoyed this adventure India, the Malaysians or even There are other facets to immensely; he made the most the native Israelis. The my father, not least as a of it and went on to spend a secrets of his success, I family man. But these things significant part of his life in believe, were his sense of are some of what my father the Far East, movIng humour and the decent way was and remains to me; a between Burma, Malaysia he dealt with people. challenging and mischievous and Singapore. Throughout his career and sense of humour, loyalty to Putting to one side the life, he was resolute in doing friends and decency in successful business he set up, what was right, in treating dealing with people. Most of what is striking about that people fairly and refusing to all, he had a very positive period is the good and lifelong take unfair advantages. Not approach to life regardless of friendships he made, with being able to describe this the circumstances.

84 Haskiel Rosenblum By Michael Etkind

askiel Rosenblum came with us to H Windermere in August 1945. He was then, as most of us were, a lively energetic teenager, full of optimism. He had a suitcase full of memorabilia from Terezin and Prague which contained, amongst other things, thousands of Kronen, which it soon became obvious was of no value outside Czechoslovakia. He later went to Cardross in Scotland and four of us, namely, Felix Berger, Danek Szurek, Haskiel and myself shared one large room in that spacious hostel. We had teachers and students from Glasgow University coming to teach liS English, Mathematics, GeographY1 etc., and Haskiel was in the top group with us. Two or three times a week we would go on bicycles or by bus to Cardross or Helensborough to see a film and to meet other young people. Meanwhile, Haskiel was corresponding with his uncle Haskiel Rosenblum. in Bolivia, and was waiting for his visa in order to leave Britain, and eventually left was a devoted husband, love to 'the boys of the' 45 Aid in the summer of 1946. father and grandfather. He Society' who are the rest of He returned to Britain on a was a successful business­ my family. I have always number of occasions and so man, witty, with a good sense felt that I owed them the we knew that he left Bolivia of humour and an abundance story of my life after I left for Argentina, where he was of jokes. England. I have always in the property business. He He lost all his family in felt that my silence and married Rene and had two Poland and considered the geographical distance were children. "Boys" as his family. He unfair towards them and to Haskiel and Rene never wrote a short memoir in myself. I have always felt, recovered from the loss of 1995 in which he concluded and will always feel, one of their son Pepe who had as follows:- 'The Boys"'. 'disappeared' during the "The unique and only Yes, he was, indeed, very terrible period of the military reason which moved me to close to many of us and 'Junta'. To Haskiel this was a break my silence and write we will always cherish his second Holocaust. Haskiel this testimony is my deep memory.

85 MEMBERS NEWS 2004/2005"

Compiled by Ruby Friedman

BIRTHS: the birth of their grandson Harvey Daniel, born to Debs & David. • Valerie Kahn and the late Chaim Kohn mazeltov on the birth of their grandson ENGAGEMENTS: Chaim. Yona tan N aftali, born to Frimette and Gabi. • Beatrice & Leon Manders mazeltov on • Thea and Isroel Rudzinski mazeltov on the engagement of their granddaughter Jenny to Josh, daughter of Roward and the birth of their great~grandson. the late Gillian Hamilton, and their • Arza & Ben Helfgott mazeltov on the grandson SimoD to Joanna son of birth of their grandson Reuben, born to Roward and the late Gillian Hamilton. Laura & Nathan. • Charlie Lewkowiez mazeltov on the • Estelle & Jack Schwimmer mazeltov on engagement of your grandson Jonathan the birth of their grandson Mathew son of Eve & Howard Pear 1, grandson of Lewis. born to Ginette & Keith. the late Betty Lewkowicz. • Harry Fox mazeltov on the birth of your • Marie and Bob Obuchowski mazeltov on granddaughter Molly Miriam, born to the engagement of their granddaughter Rochelle & Michael. Louise daughter of Sue and • Moishe Nurtman mazeltov on the birth David Bermange. of your grandson. • Miriam & Jack Meleer mazeltov on the engagement of their son Leonard to • Barbara and Jack Kagan mazeltov on Denise. the birth of their great-grandson in Israel. • Pa uline Balsam mazel tOY on the engagement of your granddaughter • Doreen Wajchendler and the late Natalie to Marc daughter of Rochelle Harry Wajchendler mazeltov on the and Stephen and granddaughter of the birth of their great~grandson, born to late Harry Balsam. Melanie and Grant • Anna Jackson and the late Izak Jackson MARRIAGES: mazeltov on the birth of their • Barbara & Jack Kagan mazeltov on the granddaughter Ella Naomi, born to marriage of their grandson. Ginny & Shai. • Beatrice & Leon lV1anders mazeltov on • Gena & David Schwarzman mazeltov on the marriage of their granddaughter the birth of their grandson Shraga Jenny to Josh and their grandson Raphael Simon. Beatrice & Leon Simon to Joanna, daughter and son of Manders mazeltov on the birth of their Howard and the late Gillian Hamilton. great~granddaughter Gil1ian. • Barbara & Leo Frischman mazeltov on • Wendy & Lipa Tepper mazoltov on the the marriage of their daughter birth of their grandson Coby, born to Elizabeth Rebecca to Daniel. Sara & Alan. • Miriam & Jack Melser mazeltov on the • Shirley & Joe Kiersz mazeltov on the marriage of their son Leonard to Denise birth of their granddaughter Sophie Fay, in Australia. born to Allison & Steven. • Ruby & Moric Friedman mazeltov on BARMITZVAHS: the birth of their grandson George, born • Pauline & Harry Spiro mazeltov on the " to Estelle & Mark. barmitzvah of their grandson Stephen, • Tina & Victor Greenberg mazeltov on son of Tracy & Michael Moses.

86 • Sylvia & Joe Perl mazeltov on the • Adek Beil barmitzvah of their grandson Benjamin • Charlie Lew kowicz son of Frances and Albert Kahan. Mendel Beale • Barbara & Jack Kagan mazeltov on the • barmitzvah of their grandson Daniel son • Johny Goldman of Lisa & Jeffrey. • Hela Singer • Margaret and Harry Olmer mazeltov on the barmitzvah of their grandson Danny son of Phillip & Ellie. Our sincere condolences to those of our members who have lost loved ones. BATMITZVAHS: • Ani ta Wiernik on the loss of her son • Marion and Mayer Stern mazeltov on Steven. the batmitzvah of their granddaughter • Felix Berger on the loss of his son Lyora daughter of Lelia and David. Simon. • Pauline & Harry Spiro mazeltov on the • To our Vice-President Israel Finestein batmitzvah of their granddaughter on the loss of his wife Marion. Rachel daughter of Roz & Leslie. • Wendy Tepper on the loss of her mother. • Carol Farkas and the late Frank Farkas • Harry Olmer on the loss of his brother. mazeltov on the batmitzvah of their granddaughter Violet daughter of • Henry Kahn on the loss of his wife Lily. Emma & Alan. • Rachel Levy on the loss of her husband Phin. GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: • Freda Wineman on the loss of her brother. • Sylvia & Joe Perl • Shirley &Alfred Huberman 3RD GENERATION NEWS: • Vivienne & Kopel Kendal • Congratulations to Samantha Wolreich May you have many more Happy and on her graduation from Nottingham Healthy years together. University. Samantha attained a 1st in Languages. Her grandparents Gertie DEATHS: and Al£ Wolreich are enormously proud We have unfortunately lost several members of her achievements. during the past year. We offer our • Mazeltov to Paul Gilbert on gaining condolences to their families. They will be 3 lis in his A. Level exams, and will be sadly missed. taking up a place at Birmingham University following gap year in a • Chaskel Rosenblum Yeshiva in Israel. Paul is the grandson of Tauba & Mayer Cornell. • Harry Wajchendler • Mazeltov also to Victoria Gilbert on • David Jonisz achieving 6A * and A grades in her • Adolf Fixler GCSE exams. She scored among the top five marks in English Literature • Mark Fruhman from a field of 365,000 students. • Willie Rosen berg Victoria is the granddaughter of Tauba & Mayer Cornel!. • Sam Gross • Many congratulations to Lauren Harris • Sarn Weinberger on gaining lOA * in her GCSE • Shoshana Lebovic examinations, Lauren is the granddaughter of Jasmine & Michael Motel Tabacznik • Bandel and the daughter of Gaynor & • Raymond J ackson (Izak J akubowicz) Daniel H arris.

87 MANCHESTER NEWS 2004/2005

Compiled by Louise Elliot

BIRTHS: WEDDINGS: • Mazeltov to Marita Golding and the late • Alice & the late Joe Rubinstein Ma urice Golding on the birth of a mazeltov on the marriage of your grandson born to Sara & Phillip. granddaughter Suzanne to Rob, and • Karl & Estelle Kleiman mazeltov on the also on the marriage of your birth of their granddaughter born to granddaughter Emily, daughter of Scarlet & Lee. J oan Issacs and Harold Rubinstein. • Rezinka & the late Mark Fruhman • Rezinka Fruhman and the late mazeltov on the marriage of your Mark Fruhrnan mazel tOY on the birth of grandson Benji, the son of Stephen & a great-granddaughter born to Talia the Jaqueline. daughter of Stephen & J acqueline Fruhman. SILVER WEDDING: BARMITZVAHS:. • Tania & Simon Nelson mazeltov on • Sus an & Pincus Kurnedz mazeltov on your silver wedding anniversary, Tania is the daughter of Mendel and the barmitzvah of their grandson, son the late Marie Beale. of Jeremy, in July 2004, in September the barmitzvah of another grandson, and in January 2005 the barmitzvah of DEATHS: another grandson. • We are very saddened to report that in • Rezinka Fruhman mazeltov on the November 2004 David Jonisz died, then barmitzvah of your grandson, son of in December 2004 Mark Fruhman died. Lawrence, grandson of the late We send again our very sincere Mark Fruhman. condolences to their respective families and hope that their widows will • Lily & Mayer Bornsztyk Mazeltov on the continue to support our Society. In barmitzvah of their grandsons Sammy, August 2005 our friend Edna, the wife son of Warren & Sharon, and J amie, of Charlie Igielman, died. son of Brian & his wife. • Sarn Laskier and the late Blanche Laskier mazeltov on the barmitzvah of 3RD GENERATION NEWS: their grandson Jamie, son of Sue & • In July 2004 Brandon the grandson Johnny. of Charlie & Edna Igielman obtained his degree. ENGAGEMENTS: • Jack & Marion Cygleman's • Estelle & Karl Kleiman mazeltov on the granddaughter won a place at engagement of their son Andrew to Leeds University. Lauren. • Pinkus and Susan Kurnedz are going on • Rezinka Fruhman mazeltov on the Aliya early in 2005 and we hope they engagement of your grandson Benjamin, will be very happy surrounded by all son of Steven & Jacqueline. their children and grandchildren and • Berek Wurzel mazeltov on the will continue to support the Society engagement of your granddaughter through the Israeli branch. Emma daughter of Michelle & Warren, • April 2005. I am sure that most of our and granddaughter of the late members read in the Jewish Chronicle Carol Wurzel. that JNF is holding a tribute dinner in honour of Arek Hersh and on May 10th

88 Arek will be addressing a security group and a hearty mazeltov to you and Jean. at the Pentagon in Washington. The Yam HaShoah Holocaust Congratulations from us all. Whilst Remembrance service took place on 5th mentioning this I would again like to May 2005 and this year it took place at say how much wonderful work the King David High School in Mayer Hersh is doing in Manchester, Manchester. It was well attended and a visiting schools and other institutions survivor's story was presented and talking about the Holocaust and interpreted by students of the school. answering questions especially from Six candles were lit by Mark Ferster, children. He should be commended for J essica Bomsztyk, Shopia Greenstein, all the good work he has done) and also Sammy Bomsztyk, Hannah Wertheim from time to time Jack Aizenberg has and Jamie Bomsztyk. The survivors' assisted. Carry on with the good work friends. legacy was read by Jack Aizenberg and the response by his daughter Debbie. The programme was based on Mayer Mayer Hersh has been further in the Hersh's story and was divided into five news and on the 14th January 2005 the chapters. The first "The Joy of Guardian published a letter from him Shabbos", then "Occupation", "On concerning Prince Harry's fancy dress of becoming a Slave", "Deliverance and a German. In case you did not read it - Rebirth and Renewal", which was it went as follows: carried out by students from the school "To us survivors, the swastika is a symbol and finally Chazan M. Isdale gave a of hate. Whenever I see the swastika, it wonderful rendering of Psalms 131 feels like a knife being pushed into me. It reminds me of those dark days. It means and 121. danger and fear and cruelty, because I know what the swastika produced. But I • In July 2005 Pinkus and Susan try to look at it from his point of view too. Kurnedz invited all the Manchester I don't think Harry knew the seriousness members to their home for a UChaim on with which wearing a swastika would be their departure to their new home in interpreted by survivors and others who Israel. Everyone wishes them success experienced the war. I'm willing to give for a happy and healthy future. him the benefit of the doubt. His timing, though, is disastrous. We are commemo­ rating the Holocaust and the liberation of Auschwitz. This is a solemn moment, a OBITUARIES: moment for reflection" In a supplement of • Mark Fruhman: It was a very sad loss the Guardian his experiences are set out. to our members when Mark died. He Let's hope it is read, and understood by had been ill for quite some time and had the people who have been disbelievers. difficulty in talking, but he managed to put on a brave face and was glad to see January 26th/27th 2005. A very his friends who frequently visited him. momentous time for our members - meeting the Queen and then later the reception. • David J onisz: David was a committee All eyes will be glued to the T.V., as they member and his contribution will be have been all the week watching the sadly missed. His sudden death was a wonderful but sad programmes. Again great shock to us all. we hope the non -believers will now be convinced. • Edna Igielman: Edna had suffered bad • In May 2005 Arek Hersh was invited to health for many years but always made the Pentagon where he described the light of her problems. She lived for her work he is involved with and was very husband Charlie and her daughters and well received by all and on his return to their families and put on a smile on England the JNF hosted a tribute every occaSIon. dinner in his honour - well done Arek

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