HEROES

     Last nite I met and heard from eight heroes. Children when their world collapsed, slowly and then faster and faster, these heroes, all born between 1925 and 1929, were survivors with powerful tales to tell and overwhelming emotions and hopes for the future of the world and the Jewish people.
     The kids who had interviewed them were just a regular bunch, nice, caring, and I had met quite a few in previous trips to Chicago, but these kids came out changed, definitely for the better, with a more serious understanding of the world and their place and responsibility in it. These kids included my granddaughter who has spoken about her interviewee many, many times. This was all part of a program called "Names, Not Numbers" where a dying generation is encouraged to tell their story. It is hard on them, very hard and one could see that in the movie made and in their talking at the podium when introduced.
     They spoke of families all lost, ripped from life in most awful ways, of being left alone at 14 or 16, of not recognizing a parent after a separation of years, of hiding in caves, and of some good people, few enough, who held out a hand to help them. The audience heard the never gone feeling of terror and loss, of grief beyond words, but we also heard the courage, heard the words which gave these kids the onus of a new burden - to tell the tale to the next generation because there will be no more survivors to tell the story any longer. And these kids will indeed take up that job and consider it a privilege. I will have a DVD of the whole movie and its making, all the interviews, and if anyone is interested, it can be viewed and well worth it.
     These heroes, everyday ordinary kids who were living a normal life in their places in so many countries in Europe, including a most fascinating man from Greece where the Jewish population was basically wiped out, showed me that perseverance, a clear intention and luck, along with a sense of faith are important traits to develop and maintain. Still feisty, still caring, they brought us to tears and earned roaring standing ovations, honor and admiration for their willingness to share despite the hurt to themselves, to rip off the scabs and be scarred all over again.
     Surely their lesson must be heard loud and clear. With anti - Semitism growing, becoming quite PC, be it open or disguised as anti - Zionism, with the American college campuses aroar with mental, verbal and physical attacks on Jewish kids, with strong efforts to isolate them, with accusations about their identification with Jewish questions, we must continue to be vigilant and support those who combat this.
     And we must continue to fight wrong wherever and whenever it reveals itself. One survivor, a real love, begged everyone to remember, we are all G-d's children, and must be kind to each other, to love each other, to be good for each other. A hard thing to do, but we must try, even as we fight against those who would oppose these thoughts and deeds. Wherever and whenever. And hope that others will join in the fray and grow alongside us as we continue the struggles. Where are some of these struggles? Just read the paper, listen to the news and look around you. The answers are quite clear. One day perhaps we will be able to "overcome" and "give peace a chance". One day.