Holocaust
Thirteen days ago, we toured the Holocaust Museum and then had the great opportunity to have afternoon tea with Gerda Weissman Klein, a holocaust survivor. It was a wonderful experience.
I was struck by her optimism and her love of life. Of all people, she had reason to feel otherwise.
World War II began when she was 15 years old. At 18, she was separated from her family. To the best of my knowledge, she never saw them again. From age 18 until 21, she went from forced labor to concentration camp to death march. 2000 women began the death march with her, and only 120 survived.
Her story is documented in an Oscar-winning short film One Survivor Remembers.
She told us so many stories over tea, and I remember what she said she was thinking when she was walking up to receive her Oscar. She said "I remembered the bowls that we used to eat out of, all rusted out. I remembered how you usually received a piece of bread in your bowl, and then I remembered how lucky you were if you received a potato in your bowl. And as I was walking up to the stage for the Oscar, I thought 'I don't want to live in a world where a potato is valued so much more highly than a piece of bread; but I also don't want to live in a world where an Oscar is more valuable than a potato.'"
She was so full of joy and life. She has the personality of one who makes you aspire to be a better person.
So as we near Thanksgiving 2010, I offer this remembrance as a thank you to her for what she gave to me and my family.
I was struck by her optimism and her love of life. Of all people, she had reason to feel otherwise.
World War II began when she was 15 years old. At 18, she was separated from her family. To the best of my knowledge, she never saw them again. From age 18 until 21, she went from forced labor to concentration camp to death march. 2000 women began the death march with her, and only 120 survived.
Her story is documented in an Oscar-winning short film One Survivor Remembers.
She told us so many stories over tea, and I remember what she said she was thinking when she was walking up to receive her Oscar. She said "I remembered the bowls that we used to eat out of, all rusted out. I remembered how you usually received a piece of bread in your bowl, and then I remembered how lucky you were if you received a potato in your bowl. And as I was walking up to the stage for the Oscar, I thought 'I don't want to live in a world where a potato is valued so much more highly than a piece of bread; but I also don't want to live in a world where an Oscar is more valuable than a potato.'"
She was so full of joy and life. She has the personality of one who makes you aspire to be a better person.
So as we near Thanksgiving 2010, I offer this remembrance as a thank you to her for what she gave to me and my family.