Saturday, April 22, 2006

Anything Can Happen

A Story of Survival from the Elmira Star Gazette; Dina Jacobson is a Holocaust Survivor. She has recently come into her own, speaking about the horrors endured in Hitler's death camps.
“No one thought about living,” Jacobson said. “Everyone gave up. That's it. There was thirst. There was hunger. There was cold. That was my life for three years.

She also tells the story of waiting for the Nazis to come. I've personally known others who simply could not speak about it at all. "Sophie's Choice" was not unique. Mrs. Jacobson's husband was also a Holocaust Survivor.
Kalmon “Jake the Glass Man” Jacobson became well-known in
the region. He died about three years ago.

Jake used to say he never had a peaceful night's sleep ever again. The terrors of the death camp woke him every single night for the rest of his life. Jake was a good guy, friendly and open; may he rest in peace.

Hamas, Al Quaida, and the Islamicists will reenact the horrors of the Holocaust if they can. We must protect Israel as we protect our own land. To do that, we must remain in the Middle East. Those who say it is none of our business are so very wrong. They hate us as much as they hate Jews. We are Jews; all non-Muslims are Jews. Europe never quite got it. And still does not get it. Sooner or later, it will be everyone's turn.

In this time of anniversaries we should remember that, for survivors, every day is the anniversary. Every day is full of the horrors of having survived.

Zack Queal, 17, said people need to learn from Jacobson's lesson. “This reinforces the old saying that people who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” he said.
“Anything can happen.”

pb

Little Pond

3 comments:

Karen of Scottsdale said...

Great editorial. You should write op-eds for papers.

Bonita said...

If only love could keep all people safe, and free from thoughts of war and revenge. The purpose of religion is to 'unite', to bond together all humanity in one family. When it becomes an instrument of death it is being miss-used.

pb said...

It would be wonderful if our Muslim brothers and sisters would loudly proclaim the tenets of their faith. How awful it must be for them to hear or read the sort of stuff we are all spewing in our terror and affront! And yet there is a mosque here in Elmira, and the leader there is a good man known only for his works. Surely there are others, now lying low to avoid taking flack.

Once again, I'd like to point up the example of Afghanistan. Except for the foolishness over the converted Christian, their recent good example in governing their land should be an inspiration to us. Perhaps we can look forward to a close friendship with our Muslim brethren in Iraq.