With this awakening, again, of antisemitism, I called a survivor of Auschwitz and two death marches at the ripe age of 14. I felt a need to speak with him.
If you are reading this, click the button on the top and subscribe. Joshua is bringing some of the best writing about Israel and deserves support. I am honored to appear here now and then. After subscribing to Future of Jewish, consider subscribing to my Substack at www.pisgahsite.com. Greatly appreciated.
Thanks for posting this again. I think it's one of the top two posts on Substack. I don't know what the other one is, 'cuz it hasn't been published yet. I did eat falafel and a lamb shawarma on Dugo Day. His day is on my calendar with a reminder.
"Whenever a Holocaust survivor gives testimony — and, if you think about it, everything they say is testimony — there is, beyond the words, a silence that is present." That is a Solemn truth.
To expand that a bit, it's really a similar/same testimony when in the presence of any Jew. The Jew is a direct physical testimony to Hashem and His unfolding Plan. Good idea to pay attention.
All of this happened only 80 years ago; In modern times in fact. Please also remember the other victims of Nazism; 27 Million Russian souls, 3 Million Polish people, the 2 Million Serb folk, the 60 thousand British people who died in The Blitz, and the brave Allied soldiers who died liberating Europe and The Far East from Nazi Germany. I eat Falafel for them too.
My wife and I went to visit Auschwich-Birkenhau some years ago and we knew that it wasn't going to be easy but we felt that we had to. Just like reading this heartbreaking story and other similar ones that I have read, this again brought tears to my eyes and made my body tremble at times. But sadly, the people who really need to read this won't ever.
So glad Joshua reprinted your post and glad to discover your writing! But January 18! You mean I have to wait nearly a year to start this tradition? Well okay, I have it marked in "my calendar" (yes, my memory).
Some stories drawing on my parents' Holocaust experiences, and each with its own morality tale, which may interest you, are here:
I never heard his heart-wrenching story of nakedness, and being visited by his father in a dream. God works in mysterious. ways. it also fills in another missing hole of the horrors my mother and her father went through. She survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, he was murdered in a Death March 2 days before liberation.
As bewildering and sadistic as Hamas is, it is important to remember their ideological mentors were Nazis. In some ways, their brutality has exceeded their vicious teachers.
Many Nazis would get drunk to deal with their jobs. Many would be anguished. They profess devotion to Islam. No religion would sanction the hand-strangling of babies, the decapitation of children. None.
At this time and place, in our collective history there are those whose only link to Judaism is by deoxyribonucleic acid. Are they one of the four groups you mentioned regarding unification? The “willows”? I differentiate this group from the non-observant Jew who still has a faith in our creator.
I don’t know how we are all gona be united.
Thanks for a deep and thoughtful essay.
To walk the razors edge between life and death. Silence ……
If you are reading this, click the button on the top and subscribe. Joshua is bringing some of the best writing about Israel and deserves support. I am honored to appear here now and then. After subscribing to Future of Jewish, consider subscribing to my Substack at www.pisgahsite.com. Greatly appreciated.
I remember eating falafel in Israel. A different era compared to now. I'll always honor Israel and what it stands for. A light to the world.
you made me cry, I love what you wrote I felt every word.
I will be eating falafel on January 18th forever
Thank you Rosie.
this is such a profound and endearing narrative. I have a lump in my throat. many thanks for sharing.
Thank you Jenny.
Not Jewish, but I've been to Israel. Falafel was darned good there.
And the dates: OMG! Better than anything I can get in the US.
Agreed!
This is so beautiful. I’m crying too. January 18 I will eat falafel too.
Thank you April.
Marvelous sensitive beautiful writing. True Kvod to the ineffable survivors ama martyrs
Thank you Miriam.
Thanks for posting this again. I think it's one of the top two posts on Substack. I don't know what the other one is, 'cuz it hasn't been published yet. I did eat falafel and a lamb shawarma on Dugo Day. His day is on my calendar with a reminder.
"Whenever a Holocaust survivor gives testimony — and, if you think about it, everything they say is testimony — there is, beyond the words, a silence that is present." That is a Solemn truth.
To expand that a bit, it's really a similar/same testimony when in the presence of any Jew. The Jew is a direct physical testimony to Hashem and His unfolding Plan. Good idea to pay attention.
Thank you Rebekah. That is some high praise. I'll try to live up to it.
Hey Ehud, nothing to live up to. Just keep on being who you are! 🇮🇱
I did not post it again. This was graciously reposted by Future of Jewish (thank you Joshua).
All of this happened only 80 years ago; In modern times in fact. Please also remember the other victims of Nazism; 27 Million Russian souls, 3 Million Polish people, the 2 Million Serb folk, the 60 thousand British people who died in The Blitz, and the brave Allied soldiers who died liberating Europe and The Far East from Nazi Germany. I eat Falafel for them too.
And it’s some damn good falafel, and hummus, tehina, and schug!
Oh yes, Yemenites do love their schug.
My wife and I went to visit Auschwich-Birkenhau some years ago and we knew that it wasn't going to be easy but we felt that we had to. Just like reading this heartbreaking story and other similar ones that I have read, this again brought tears to my eyes and made my body tremble at times. But sadly, the people who really need to read this won't ever.
Hans do not despair. I am working on a post showing how Antisemitism is now irrelevant. Stay tuned by subscribing at www.pisgahsite.com
:)
Dugo's optimism is timeless ❣️
This was so moving! I will always remember your story!
Thank you Susan.
So glad Joshua reprinted your post and glad to discover your writing! But January 18! You mean I have to wait nearly a year to start this tradition? Well okay, I have it marked in "my calendar" (yes, my memory).
Some stories drawing on my parents' Holocaust experiences, and each with its own morality tale, which may interest you, are here:
https://tackle18.substack.com/s/values
Thanks for the link, David. I'll take a look.
Please do !
I recognized his name immediately. I have written about Dugo. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/holocaust-remembrance-dugo-does-it-with-falafel/
I never heard his heart-wrenching story of nakedness, and being visited by his father in a dream. God works in mysterious. ways. it also fills in another missing hole of the horrors my mother and her father went through. She survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, he was murdered in a Death March 2 days before liberation.
As bewildering and sadistic as Hamas is, it is important to remember their ideological mentors were Nazis. In some ways, their brutality has exceeded their vicious teachers.
Many Nazis would get drunk to deal with their jobs. Many would be anguished. They profess devotion to Islam. No religion would sanction the hand-strangling of babies, the decapitation of children. None.
Unbelievable that you wrote this nine years ago! That is a touching drawing.
Was his home town in Bulgaria as I thought, or Hungary as you mentioned?
Hungary
I was mesmerized while reading this, as if everything else in the world had fallen away.
Thank you Robin.
At this time and place, in our collective history there are those whose only link to Judaism is by deoxyribonucleic acid. Are they one of the four groups you mentioned regarding unification? The “willows”? I differentiate this group from the non-observant Jew who still has a faith in our creator.
I don’t know how we are all gona be united.
Thanks for a deep and thoughtful essay.
To walk the razors edge between life and death. Silence ……
I hear you Candice. I do not have an answer but that we must strive for unification, however difficult it may seem.
Moving read, Ehud. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!