what would you say if I were to ask you to tell me about your life
to tell me about your life
to tell me about your life where’d you talk about your favorite
where’d you talk about your favorite
where’d you talk about your favorite teacher or the time you moved in fourth
teacher or the time you moved in fourth
teacher or the time you moved in fourth grade would you gossip about your
grade would you gossip about your
grade would you gossip about your friends would you tell that story about
friends would you tell that story about
friends would you tell that story about how you scored the winning goal although
how you scored the winning goal although
how you scored the winning goal although I never scored a winning goal I did
I never scored a winning goal I did
I never scored a winning goal I did strike out in the bottom of the ninth
strike out in the bottom of the ninth
strike out in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded many times would
with the bases loaded many times would
with the bases loaded many times would you sing a song would you share your
you sing a song would you share your
you sing a song would you share your deepest fears or talk about your dreams
deepest fears or talk about your dreams
deepest fears or talk about your dreams for the future would you talk about the
for the future would you talk about the
for the future would you talk about the politics of the era well all of that is
politics of the era well all of that is
politics of the era well all of that is part of your life part of your history
part of your life part of your history
part of your life part of your history and all of what happened to all of us is
and all of what happened to all of us is
and all of what happened to all of us is part of our collective history yet when
part of our collective history yet when
part of our collective history yet when we think about history we usually think
we think about history we usually think
we think about history we usually think it just means memorizing dates and names
it just means memorizing dates and names
it just means memorizing dates and names of important people well I’m a professor
of important people well I’m a professor
of important people well I’m a professor of history I teach about the worst
of history I teach about the worst
of history I teach about the worst moments in the human experience I teach
moments in the human experience I teach
moments in the human experience I teach about the Holocaust about genocide about
about the Holocaust about genocide about
about the Holocaust about genocide about world war you know I often ask my
world war you know I often ask my
world war you know I often ask my students to think about the most
students to think about the most
students to think about the most important historical events to have
important historical events to have
important historical events to have occurred during their lifetime you can
occurred during their lifetime you can
occurred during their lifetime you can try this too you’re probably coming up
try this too you’re probably coming up
try this too you’re probably coming up with some major political and world
with some major political and world
with some major political and world events things like 9/11 various
events things like 9/11 various
events things like 9/11 various presidential elections
that finds this they quiet on that topic
that finds this they quiet on that topic but a few of you are probably thinking
but a few of you are probably thinking
but a few of you are probably thinking of the more mundane things that have
of the more mundane things that have
of the more mundane things that have transformed our lives things like the
transformed our lives things like the
transformed our lives things like the invention of the iPhone or the
invention of the iPhone or the
invention of the iPhone or the proliferation of Starbucks but these
proliferation of Starbucks but these
proliferation of Starbucks but these impact our lives in important ways as
impact our lives in important ways as
impact our lives in important ways as well we Forge intimate friendships over
well we Forge intimate friendships over
well we Forge intimate friendships over our phones and we plan our futures over
our phones and we plan our futures over
our phones and we plan our futures over coffee often at Starbucks these are
coffee often at Starbucks these are
coffee often at Starbucks these are important parts of our life too now
important parts of our life too now
important parts of our life too now don’t get me wrong I certainly think
don’t get me wrong I certainly think
don’t get me wrong I certainly think it’s important to know names and dates
it’s important to know names and dates
it’s important to know names and dates of important people and to know the
of important people and to know the
of important people and to know the facts the facts do matter and
the line the facts matter is not
the line the facts matter is not supposed to get applause um anyway their
supposed to get applause um anyway their
supposed to get applause um anyway their names and dates matter and the decisions
names and dates matter and the decisions
names and dates matter and the decisions that major decision makers in capital
that major decision makers in capital
that major decision makers in capital cities make profoundly impacts our daily
cities make profoundly impacts our daily
cities make profoundly impacts our daily lives with the stroke of a pen
lives with the stroke of a pen
lives with the stroke of a pen policymakers can make your marriage
policymakers can make your marriage
policymakers can make your marriage legal or your residency illegal so all
legal or your residency illegal so all
legal or your residency illegal so all of this matters but at the same time in
of this matters but at the same time in
of this matters but at the same time in twenty to thirty years from now when
twenty to thirty years from now when
twenty to thirty years from now when you’re trying to tell your life story to
you’re trying to tell your life story to
you’re trying to tell your life story to your children there’s a good chance that
your children there’s a good chance that
your children there’s a good chance that they’re going to be able to name the
they’re going to be able to name the
they’re going to be able to name the dates of Donald Trump’s presidency but
dates of Donald Trump’s presidency but
dates of Donald Trump’s presidency but it’s unlikely that they’re gonna know
it’s unlikely that they’re gonna know
it’s unlikely that they’re gonna know what a cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino was
what a cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino was
what a cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino was frankly I don’t and they’re not gonna
frankly I don’t and they’re not gonna
frankly I don’t and they’re not gonna know what it meant to Netflix and chill
but these are parts of our life as well
but these are parts of our life as well and in order to understand your life
and in order to understand your life
and in order to understand your life they need to understand those parts of
they need to understand those parts of
they need to understand those parts of the world that we live in as well well I
the world that we live in as well well I
the world that we live in as well well I started thinking about all of these
started thinking about all of these
started thinking about all of these issues about 15 years ago when I joined
issues about 15 years ago when I joined
issues about 15 years ago when I joined an international team of researchers to
an international team of researchers to
an international team of researchers to travel around Eastern Europe and
travel around Eastern Europe and
travel around Eastern Europe and interview Jewish survivors of the
interview Jewish survivors of the
interview Jewish survivors of the Holocaust their project was called a
Holocaust their project was called a
Holocaust their project was called a Haim which is a Yiddish acronym that
Haim which is a Yiddish acronym that
Haim which is a Yiddish acronym that means homeward and it stands for the
means homeward and it stands for the
means homeward and it stands for the archives of historical and ethnographic
archives of historical and ethnographic
archives of historical and ethnographic Yiddish memories and we interviewed
Yiddish memories and we interviewed
Yiddish memories and we interviewed hundreds of people we were most people
hundreds of people we were most people
hundreds of people we were most people who were in their 80s and 90s we
who were in their 80s and 90s we
who were in their 80s and 90s we traveled around Eastern Europe
traveled around Eastern Europe
traveled around Eastern Europe predominantly Ukraine and Moldova
predominantly Ukraine and Moldova
predominantly Ukraine and Moldova Romania looking for elderly Jews who
Romania looking for elderly Jews who
Romania looking for elderly Jews who could tell us the story of their lives
could tell us the story of their lives
could tell us the story of their lives who could tell us how they survived the
who could tell us how they survived the
who could tell us how they survived the Holocaust but more importantly for our
Holocaust but more importantly for our
Holocaust but more importantly for our purposes what life was like before we
purposes what life was like before we
purposes what life was like before we first I should say that in Ukraine
first I should say that in Ukraine
first I should say that in Ukraine itself bore a lot of the fighting of the
itself bore a lot of the fighting of the
itself bore a lot of the fighting of the war about 8 million people were killed
war about 8 million people were killed
war about 8 million people were killed in Ukraine during World War two
in Ukraine during World War two
in Ukraine during World War two including about a third of the victims
including about a third of the victims
including about a third of the victims of the
of the
of the Holocaust the people that we spoke to
Holocaust the people that we spoke to
Holocaust the people that we spoke to lost not only their families during the
lost not only their families during the
lost not only their families during the war but their entire communities their
war but their entire communities their
war but their entire communities their entire way of life when they came back
entire way of life when they came back
entire way of life when they came back to these towns they found that nobody
to these towns they found that nobody
to these towns they found that nobody even spoke their native tongue Yiddish
even spoke their native tongue Yiddish
even spoke their native tongue Yiddish their entire Yiddish speaking community
their entire Yiddish speaking community
their entire Yiddish speaking community in Eastern Europe had been eliminated
in Eastern Europe had been eliminated
in Eastern Europe had been eliminated during the war these people had grown up
during the war these people had grown up
during the war these people had grown up in Yiddish they had gone to schools
in Yiddish they had gone to schools
in Yiddish they had gone to schools where they learn Yiddish they’d made
where they learn Yiddish they’d made
where they learn Yiddish they’d made friendships in the Yiddish language and
friendships in the Yiddish language and
friendships in the Yiddish language and now there was nobody left with whom they
now there was nobody left with whom they
now there was nobody left with whom they could speak remember a minute ago we
could speak remember a minute ago we
could speak remember a minute ago we were talking about trying to explain to
were talking about trying to explain to
were talking about trying to explain to your children or grandchildren about
your children or grandchildren about
your children or grandchildren about Netflix and frappuccinos imagine now
Netflix and frappuccinos imagine now
Netflix and frappuccinos imagine now that even your language is gone and that
that even your language is gone and that
that even your language is gone and that nobody even speaks your language anymore
nobody even speaks your language anymore
nobody even speaks your language anymore that’s what it was like for the people
that’s what it was like for the people
that’s what it was like for the people that we interviewed we conducted our
that we interviewed we conducted our
that we interviewed we conducted our interviews in Yiddish and that helped
interviews in Yiddish and that helped
interviews in Yiddish and that helped stimulate memories for them and I think
stimulate memories for them and I think
stimulate memories for them and I think it made it a bit of a joyous experience
it made it a bit of a joyous experience
it made it a bit of a joyous experience for them to be talking in the language
for them to be talking in the language
for them to be talking in the language of their childhood we would find our
of their childhood we would find our
of their childhood we would find our informants really anywhere we would just
informants really anywhere we would just
informants really anywhere we would just go into synagogues or go into community
go into synagogues or go into community
go into synagogues or go into community centers or old-age homes sometimes we
centers or old-age homes sometimes we
centers or old-age homes sometimes we would just meet up with people on the
would just meet up with people on the
would just meet up with people on the streets and take out our video camera
streets and take out our video camera
streets and take out our video camera and start talking to them sometimes we
and start talking to them sometimes we
and start talking to them sometimes we would interview people in their homes or
would interview people in their homes or
would interview people in their homes or in their gardens really what we wanted
in their gardens really what we wanted
in their gardens really what we wanted to do when we introduced ourselves to
to do when we introduced ourselves to
to do when we introduced ourselves to people was set up a time to interview
people was set up a time to interview
people was set up a time to interview them in their homes at a comfortable
them in their homes at a comfortable
them in their homes at a comfortable place to set up our cameras but very
place to set up our cameras but very
place to set up our cameras but very often as soon as we walked into a
often as soon as we walked into a
often as soon as we walked into a community center and announced that we
community center and announced that we
community center and announced that we were videotaping oral history archives
were videotaping oral history archives
were videotaping oral history archives huge lineups of people formed to come
huge lineups of people formed to come
huge lineups of people formed to come speak with us people would begin talking
speak with us people would begin talking
speak with us people would begin talking and would speak for 45 minutes an hour
and would speak for 45 minutes an hour
and would speak for 45 minutes an hour before we could even get out our pens
before we could even get out our pens
before we could even get out our pens and papers or later our iPhones
and papers or later our iPhones
and papers or later our iPhones to record their phone numbers people
to record their phone numbers people
to record their phone numbers people were so anxious to talk to us often we
were so anxious to talk to us often we
were so anxious to talk to us often we would walk into a community centre to a
would walk into a community centre to a
would walk into a community centre to a disheartening scene of elderly people
disheartening scene of elderly people
disheartening scene of elderly people often poverty-stricken pensioners
often poverty-stricken pensioners
often poverty-stricken pensioners sitting at tables and silence but as
sitting at tables and silence but as
sitting at tables and silence but as soon as we took out our cameras the
soon as we took out our cameras the
soon as we took out our cameras the whole scene came to life one of them was
whole scene came to life one of them was
whole scene came to life one of them was a frontline nurse during the war another
a frontline nurse during the war another
a frontline nurse during the war another one of them fought the Nazis with the
one of them fought the Nazis with the
one of them fought the Nazis with the partisans in the forests another led a
partisans in the forests another led a
partisans in the forests another led a battalion of Tanks
battalion of Tanks
battalion of Tanks another was a singer in a wedding band
another was a singer in a wedding band
another was a singer in a wedding band 90 year olds literally got up to dance
these people wanted to tell us about
these people wanted to tell us about their heroic moments they told us about
their heroic moments they told us about
their heroic moments they told us about how they fought the Nazis and how they
how they fought the Nazis and how they
how they fought the Nazis and how they resisted communism that was important to
resisted communism that was important to
resisted communism that was important to them but the vast majority of the time
them but the vast majority of the time
them but the vast majority of the time we spent talking to them was about
we spent talking to them was about
we spent talking to them was about normal things that they missed about the
normal things that they missed about the
normal things that they missed about the ordinary things in life that the war had
ordinary things in life that the war had
ordinary things in life that the war had destroyed and those ordinary things that
destroyed and those ordinary things that
destroyed and those ordinary things that they still value to this day you see
they still value to this day you see
they still value to this day you see when you get into your 80s and 90s as I
when you get into your 80s and 90s as I
when you get into your 80s and 90s as I learned from these people it’s the
learned from these people it’s the
learned from these people it’s the ordinary things in life that ultimately
ordinary things in life that ultimately
ordinary things in life that ultimately matter people wanted to talk to us about
matter people wanted to talk to us about
matter people wanted to talk to us about songs they everyone wanted to sing to us
songs they everyone wanted to sing to us
songs they everyone wanted to sing to us some of them belted out show tunes from
some of them belted out show tunes from
some of them belted out show tunes from their youth others would kind of snicker
their youth others would kind of snicker
their youth others would kind of snicker as they told us you know vulgar
as they told us you know vulgar
as they told us you know vulgar schoolyard taunts that they remember
schoolyard taunts that they remember
schoolyard taunts that they remember from their childhood a lot of people
from their childhood a lot of people
from their childhood a lot of people wanted to pray for us and they showed us
wanted to pray for us and they showed us
wanted to pray for us and they showed us the hymns that they knew from the
the hymns that they knew from the
the hymns that they knew from the synagogue or the holiday songs that they
synagogue or the holiday songs that they
synagogue or the holiday songs that they would pray sometimes we’d be in the
would pray sometimes we’d be in the
would pray sometimes we’d be in the middle of a really light-hearted
middle of a really light-hearted
middle of a really light-hearted interview just kind of reminiscing about
interview just kind of reminiscing about
interview just kind of reminiscing about good times when suddenly they would
good times when suddenly they would
good times when suddenly they would remember a song and start singing in the
remember a song and start singing in the
remember a song and start singing in the middle of the song they would just break
middle of the song they would just break
middle of the song they would just break down crying because it reminded them of
down crying because it reminded them of
down crying because it reminded them of a painful memory
a painful memory
a painful memory it’s amazing what music can do to
it’s amazing what music can do to
it’s amazing what music can do to stimulate memory other times we’d be
stimulate memory other times we’d be
stimulate memory other times we’d be having very emotionally difficult
having very emotionally difficult
having very emotionally difficult interviews as people told us truly
interviews as people told us truly
interviews as people told us truly disturbing stories about the war or
disturbing stories about the war or
disturbing stories about the war or about other parts of their life and then
about other parts of their life and then
about other parts of their life and then they would get a twinkle in their eye as
they would get a twinkle in their eye as
they would get a twinkle in their eye as a song came to their mind and they would
a song came to their mind and they would
a song came to their mind and they would start singing and the first smile that
start singing and the first smile that
start singing and the first smile that we had seen in a four-hour interview
we had seen in a four-hour interview
we had seen in a four-hour interview would come across their face we
would come across their face we
would come across their face we interviewed yussle Cogan many times over
interviewed yussle Cogan many times over
interviewed yussle Cogan many times over the years yussle told us that he loved
the years yussle told us that he loved
the years yussle told us that he loved music as a child when he was a prisoner
music as a child when he was a prisoner
music as a child when he was a prisoner in the bear shed ghetto he told us that
in the bear shed ghetto he told us that
in the bear shed ghetto he told us that he would take the melodies of popular
he would take the melodies of popular
he would take the melodies of popular optimistic Soviet patriotic songs and
optimistic Soviet patriotic songs and
optimistic Soviet patriotic songs and instead of the lyrics in the original
instead of the lyrics in the original
instead of the lyrics in the original songs he would write in bitter ironic
songs he would write in bitter ironic
songs he would write in bitter ironic lyrics about the desperation of life in
lyrics about the desperation of life in
lyrics about the desperation of life in the bear shed ghetto
the bear shed ghetto
the bear shed ghetto he told us that he hid the notebook a
he told us that he hid the notebook a
he told us that he hid the notebook a notebook very much
notebook very much
notebook very much what he’s holding there he told us that
what he’s holding there he told us that
what he’s holding there he told us that he hid the notebook in the ghetto
he hid the notebook in the ghetto
he hid the notebook in the ghetto because he didn’t think he would make it
because he didn’t think he would make it
because he didn’t think he would make it out alive and he wanted to be sure that
out alive and he wanted to be sure that
out alive and he wanted to be sure that if he didn’t make it and generations to
if he didn’t make it and generations to
if he didn’t make it and generations to come people would know that in the
come people would know that in the
come people would know that in the Barrett ghetto in the worst of times
Barrett ghetto in the worst of times
Barrett ghetto in the worst of times yussle Cogan was still singing songs
yussle Cogan was still singing songs
yussle Cogan was still singing songs against Hitler well you also survived
against Hitler well you also survived
against Hitler well you also survived the war he survived a roundup by hiding
the war he survived a roundup by hiding
the war he survived a roundup by hiding in a chimney and had to stay hidden
in a chimney and had to stay hidden
in a chimney and had to stay hidden inside a chimney for several days he
inside a chimney for several days he
inside a chimney for several days he then joined the Red Army and fought all
then joined the Red Army and fought all
then joined the Red Army and fought all the way to Germany and participated in
the way to Germany and participated in
the way to Germany and participated in the Battle of Berlin he left his
the Battle of Berlin he left his
the Battle of Berlin he left his signature on the walls of the Reichstag
signature on the walls of the Reichstag
signature on the walls of the Reichstag in graffiti as a sign of victory other
in graffiti as a sign of victory other
in graffiti as a sign of victory other people talked about other aspects of
people talked about other aspects of
people talked about other aspects of their ordinary lives that they missed
their ordinary lives that they missed
their ordinary lives that they missed from days gone by a lot of people talked
from days gone by a lot of people talked
from days gone by a lot of people talked about home remedies for instance people
about home remedies for instance people
about home remedies for instance people told us how you can diagnose diseases by
told us how you can diagnose diseases by
told us how you can diagnose diseases by rolling an egg over your body the person
rolling an egg over your body the person
rolling an egg over your body the person being diagnosed by the way is my
being diagnosed by the way is my
being diagnosed by the way is my colleagues of Bayer curler with whom I
colleagues of Bayer curler with whom I
colleagues of Bayer curler with whom I was conducting the interview turned out
was conducting the interview turned out
was conducting the interview turned out he just had a cold
people also told us that you could cure
people also told us that you could cure all types of ailments or even get
all types of ailments or even get
all types of ailments or even get financial success or if you having
financial success or if you having
financial success or if you having trouble conceiving the answer is to go
trouble conceiving the answer is to go
trouble conceiving the answer is to go to the grave of a righteous person and
to the grave of a righteous person and
to the grave of a righteous person and pray by that grave other people told us
pray by that grave other people told us
pray by that grave other people told us one woman in particular told us about a
one woman in particular told us about a
one woman in particular told us about a whole bunch of diseases including the
whole bunch of diseases including the
whole bunch of diseases including the common cold that you can cure by
common cold that you can cure by
common cold that you can cure by drinking your own urine I wouldn’t try
drinking your own urine I wouldn’t try
drinking your own urine I wouldn’t try that one at home but all of these home
that one at home but all of these home
that one at home but all of these home cures you know I don’t think they really
cures you know I don’t think they really
cures you know I don’t think they really believe that they work but they remind
believe that they work but they remind
believe that they work but they remind them of a time in the past
them of a time in the past
them of a time in the past when this was common medicine when this
when this was common medicine when this
when this was common medicine when this is part of their daily life but nothing
is part of their daily life but nothing
is part of their daily life but nothing really brings people back like food
really brings people back like food
really brings people back like food psychologist can tell you that food
psychologist can tell you that food
psychologist can tell you that food stimulates memories and I can tell you
stimulates memories and I can tell you
stimulates memories and I can tell you that memories bring to mind tastes of
that memories bring to mind tastes of
that memories bring to mind tastes of food as well people spend hours talking
food as well people spend hours talking
food as well people spend hours talking to us about the foods that they used to
to us about the foods that they used to
to us about the foods that they used to eat our website has a whole section on
eat our website has a whole section on
eat our website has a whole section on recipes for gift filter fish you don’t
recipes for gift filter fish you don’t
recipes for gift filter fish you don’t know gefilte fish is the minced fish
know gefilte fish is the minced fish
know gefilte fish is the minced fish meat served in brine that was a popular
meat served in brine that was a popular
meat served in brine that was a popular dish in Eastern Europe whole communities
dish in Eastern Europe whole communities
dish in Eastern Europe whole communities were torn asunder by debates about
were torn asunder by debates about
were torn asunder by debates about whether it’s best to prepare gefilte
whether it’s best to prepare gefilte
whether it’s best to prepare gefilte fish by using an electric meat grinder
fish by using an electric meat grinder
fish by using an electric meat grinder or by hacking it by hand on a cutting
or by hacking it by hand on a cutting
or by hacking it by hand on a cutting board and the people we spoke with got
board and the people we spoke with got
board and the people we spoke with got frustrated trying to explain to us the
frustrated trying to explain to us the
frustrated trying to explain to us the difference between Gahanna fish and
difference between Gahanna fish and
difference between Gahanna fish and gefilte fish in much the same way that
gefilte fish in much the same way that
gefilte fish in much the same way that you may one day have trouble explaining
you may one day have trouble explaining
you may one day have trouble explaining to your grandchildren the difference
to your grandchildren the difference
to your grandchildren the difference between a latte and a macchiato food
between a latte and a macchiato food
between a latte and a macchiato food really brings to mind elements of the
really brings to mind elements of the
really brings to mind elements of the past and all of these aspects food
past and all of these aspects food
past and all of these aspects food medicines songs it’s all about trying to
medicines songs it’s all about trying to
medicines songs it’s all about trying to get hold of a world that is no more
get hold of a world that is no more
get hold of a world that is no more because the world can change very
because the world can change very
because the world can change very quickly historians can tell you that the
quickly historians can tell you that the
quickly historians can tell you that the world can change on a dime and when it
world can change on a dime and when it
world can change on a dime and when it does it becomes very difficult to
does it becomes very difficult to
does it becomes very difficult to remember what memory was once like we
remember what memory was once like we
remember what memory was once like we interviewed Itzik in Bella vice Minh
interviewed Itzik in Bella vice Minh
interviewed Itzik in Bella vice Minh many times over the years that we were
many times over the years that we were
many times over the years that we were conducting interviews there they laughed
conducting interviews there they laughed
conducting interviews there they laughed at how unlikely it
at how unlikely it
at how unlikely it that they ended up together both of them
that they ended up together both of them
that they ended up together both of them grew up in the same neighborhood Bella
grew up in the same neighborhood Bella
grew up in the same neighborhood Bella was from a sophisticated upper-class
was from a sophisticated upper-class
was from a sophisticated upper-class family and it SiC was the poorest son of
family and it SiC was the poorest son of
family and it SiC was the poorest son of a tailor but they had a lot in common
a tailor but they had a lot in common
a tailor but they had a lot in common from their childhood they remembered the
from their childhood they remembered the
from their childhood they remembered the same songs they remembered the same
same songs they remembered the same
same songs they remembered the same foods they remembered stories about
foods they remembered stories about
foods they remembered stories about Bella’s father who played the fiddle in
Bella’s father who played the fiddle in
Bella’s father who played the fiddle in the courtyard and all of the children
the courtyard and all of the children
the courtyard and all of the children would follow him along
would follow him along
would follow him along they had fond memories of those days but
they had fond memories of those days but
they had fond memories of those days but Bella also taught us how quickly that
Bella also taught us how quickly that
Bella also taught us how quickly that can change as a prize for having done
can change as a prize for having done
can change as a prize for having done well in eighth grade her parents decided
well in eighth grade her parents decided
well in eighth grade her parents decided to send her on a vacation with her
to send her on a vacation with her
to send her on a vacation with her grandmother in eastern Ukraine she left
grandmother in eastern Ukraine she left
grandmother in eastern Ukraine she left on June 20th 1941 for those of you who
on June 20th 1941 for those of you who
on June 20th 1941 for those of you who know some names and dates in history
know some names and dates in history
know some names and dates in history you’ll know that June 22nd 1941 is the
you’ll know that June 22nd 1941 is the
you’ll know that June 22nd 1941 is the day the Germans invaded the Soviet Union
day the Germans invaded the Soviet Union
day the Germans invaded the Soviet Union two days after Bella was sent on
two days after Bella was sent on
two days after Bella was sent on vacation she wasn’t able to get back to
vacation she wasn’t able to get back to
vacation she wasn’t able to get back to her family but she was able to exchange
her family but she was able to exchange
her family but she was able to exchange letters with them and in those letters
letters with them and in those letters
letters with them and in those letters Bella complained that she wanted to come
Bella complained that she wanted to come
Bella complained that she wanted to come home she begged to be allowed to come
home she begged to be allowed to come
home she begged to be allowed to come home and her family wrote her back
home and her family wrote her back
home and her family wrote her back saying enjoy the extra time you have on
saying enjoy the extra time you have on
saying enjoy the extra time you have on vacation don’t worry about it we’ll be
vacation don’t worry about it we’ll be
vacation don’t worry about it we’ll be fine
fine
fine but there was an ominous note to those
but there was an ominous note to those
but there was an ominous note to those letters because at the bottom they said
letters because at the bottom they said
letters because at the bottom they said but please send us sugar we desperately
but please send us sugar we desperately
but please send us sugar we desperately need it in August two months later the
need it in August two months later the
need it in August two months later the letter stopped
letter stopped
letter stopped Bella’s entire family was killed during
Bella’s entire family was killed during
Bella’s entire family was killed during the war by the Nazis along with 18 to
the war by the Nazis along with 18 to
the war by the Nazis along with 18 to 20,000 other people in her town Itzik
20,000 other people in her town Itzik
20,000 other people in her town Itzik also survived the war he survived by
also survived the war he survived by
also survived the war he survived by being a soldier in the Red Army but he
being a soldier in the Red Army but he
being a soldier in the Red Army but he didn’t want to talk about his time as a
didn’t want to talk about his time as a
didn’t want to talk about his time as a soldier at all he was much more
soldier at all he was much more
soldier at all he was much more interested in talking about what he was
interested in talking about what he was
interested in talking about what he was fighting for rather than the actual
fighting for rather than the actual
fighting for rather than the actual battle on the other hand some people
battle on the other hand some people
battle on the other hand some people just wanted to talk about the war we met
just wanted to talk about the war we met
just wanted to talk about the war we met David Foreman in a community center he
David Foreman in a community center he
David Foreman in a community center he was sitting at a table alone and we went
was sitting at a table alone and we went
was sitting at a table alone and we went up to him and asked him to tell us about
up to him and asked him to tell us about
up to him and asked him to tell us about his childhood to tell us about his
his childhood to tell us about his
his childhood to tell us about his schooling instead dov’è told us about
schooling instead dov’è told us about
schooling instead dov’è told us about how he fought the Nazis at Stalingrad
how he fought the Nazis at Stalingrad
how he fought the Nazis at Stalingrad the major turning points of the war and
the major turning points of the war and
the major turning points of the war and at the end of the interview his face lit
at the end of the interview his face lit
at the end of the interview his face lit up and he pulled out of his breast
up and he pulled out of his breast
up and he pulled out of his breast pocket a photo of himself wearing all of
pocket a photo of himself wearing all of
pocket a photo of himself wearing all of his war met
his war met
his war met now let me emphasize dobut had no idea
now let me emphasize dobut had no idea
now let me emphasize dobut had no idea that there was gonna be an international
that there was gonna be an international
that there was gonna be an international camera crew at the community center that
camera crew at the community center that
camera crew at the community center that day he carries that photo around with
day he carries that photo around with
day he carries that photo around with him apparently wherever he goes it’s as
him apparently wherever he goes it’s as
him apparently wherever he goes it’s as though he’s been waiting his entire life
though he’s been waiting his entire life
though he’s been waiting his entire life for somebody to ask him tell me about
for somebody to ask him tell me about
for somebody to ask him tell me about your life but in a way aren’t we all I
your life but in a way aren’t we all I
your life but in a way aren’t we all I realized that in reality I know very
realized that in reality I know very
realized that in reality I know very little about my own parents life this is
little about my own parents life this is
little about my own parents life this is a photo of my father sitting on his
a photo of my father sitting on his
a photo of my father sitting on his father’s lap outside their Budapest
father’s lap outside their Budapest
father’s lap outside their Budapest apartment in 1944 the photo had been
apartment in 1944 the photo had been
apartment in 1944 the photo had been sitting on my father’s desk for my whole
sitting on my father’s desk for my whole
sitting on my father’s desk for my whole childhood and I would pass by it and
childhood and I would pass by it and
childhood and I would pass by it and comment on how ridiculous he looks in
comment on how ridiculous he looks in
comment on how ridiculous he looks in those skinny shorts he insisted that
those skinny shorts he insisted that
those skinny shorts he insisted that they were stylish at the time but it
they were stylish at the time but it
they were stylish at the time but it took me a while to realize that both of
took me a while to realize that both of
took me a while to realize that both of them are wearing yellow stars over there
them are wearing yellow stars over there
them are wearing yellow stars over there and there that they were required to
and there that they were required to
and there that they were required to wear as Jews during the war well one
wear as Jews during the war well one
wear as Jews during the war well one time I got back from Ukraine and I set
time I got back from Ukraine and I set
time I got back from Ukraine and I set my father down and I asked him about his
my father down and I asked him about his
my father down and I asked him about his experiences and he told me some of the
experiences and he told me some of the
experiences and he told me some of the stories that I’d heard many times before
stories that I’d heard many times before
stories that I’d heard many times before he told me about how he survived how he
he told me about how he survived how he
he told me about how he survived how he escaped around up to Auschwitz
escaped around up to Auschwitz
escaped around up to Auschwitz about how he survived the war in hiding
about how he survived the war in hiding
about how he survived the war in hiding and how he escaped communist Hungary to
and how he escaped communist Hungary to
and how he escaped communist Hungary to safety in Canada but he also told me
safety in Canada but he also told me
safety in Canada but he also told me stories that I hadn’t heard before he
stories that I hadn’t heard before he
stories that I hadn’t heard before he told me stories about the family lumber
told me stories about the family lumber
told me stories about the family lumber business about their family vacations in
business about their family vacations in
business about their family vacations in Lake Balaton about his prized stamp
Lake Balaton about his prized stamp
Lake Balaton about his prized stamp collection all of these stories about
collection all of these stories about
collection all of these stories about parts of his life that really mattered
parts of his life that really mattered
parts of his life that really mattered to him I spoke with my mother as well
to him I spoke with my mother as well
to him I spoke with my mother as well she was in Halifax during the war but
she was in Halifax during the war but
she was in Halifax during the war but she told me about all of the war
she told me about all of the war
she told me about all of the war refugees who would stay in their house
refugees who would stay in their house
refugees who would stay in their house as they were coming through my
as they were coming through my
as they were coming through my grandfather was the rabbi of Halifax and
grandfather was the rabbi of Halifax and
grandfather was the rabbi of Halifax and he would help the war refugees find
he would help the war refugees find
he would help the war refugees find their way and my grandmother cooked
their way and my grandmother cooked
their way and my grandmother cooked noodle kugel for them well my
noodle kugel for them well my
noodle kugel for them well my grandmother died in 1980 and 37 years
grandmother died in 1980 and 37 years
grandmother died in 1980 and 37 years later I kid you not my parents still
later I kid you not my parents still
later I kid you not my parents still have a frozen noodle kögel that my
have a frozen noodle kögel that my
have a frozen noodle kögel that my grandmother bakes before she died 37
grandmother bakes before she died 37
grandmother bakes before she died 37 years ago I see it
years ago I see it
years ago I see it every time I visit my parents
every time I visit my parents
every time I visit my parents try to get out an ice cream open the
try to get out an ice cream open the
try to get out an ice cream open the freezer and there it is the frozen
freezer and there it is the frozen
freezer and there it is the frozen noodle kögel from 37 years ago clearly
noodle kögel from 37 years ago clearly
noodle kögel from 37 years ago clearly it represents more than the noodles and
it represents more than the noodles and
it represents more than the noodles and cinnamon and cottage cheese and whatever
cinnamon and cottage cheese and whatever
cinnamon and cottage cheese and whatever else you put in the noodle kögel but it
else you put in the noodle kögel but it
else you put in the noodle kögel but it represents something much more profound
represents something much more profound
represents something much more profound – my mother represents the time gone by
– my mother represents the time gone by
– my mother represents the time gone by well I learned a few things from all of
well I learned a few things from all of
well I learned a few things from all of these interviews one I learned that
these interviews one I learned that
these interviews one I learned that people are very proud of the good they
people are very proud of the good they
people are very proud of the good they did even 75 years ago they’re proud of
did even 75 years ago they’re proud of
did even 75 years ago they’re proud of when they stood up for injustice they’re
when they stood up for injustice they’re
when they stood up for injustice they’re proud of when they spoke up for the
proud of when they spoke up for the
proud of when they spoke up for the oppressed they’re proud of when they
oppressed they’re proud of when they
oppressed they’re proud of when they stood up for justice and when they stood
stood up for justice and when they stood
stood up for justice and when they stood against oppression these are things that
against oppression these are things that
against oppression these are things that really mattered to them but at the same
really mattered to them but at the same
really mattered to them but at the same time they cherish the little things in
time they cherish the little things in
time they cherish the little things in life that they shared as a community
life that they shared as a community
life that they shared as a community things like songs and music and the
things like songs and music and the
things like songs and music and the stories of each other these are things
stories of each other these are things
stories of each other these are things that they cherish seventy-five years
that they cherish seventy-five years
that they cherish seventy-five years later as well so my call to you is to
later as well so my call to you is to
later as well so my call to you is to ask your loved ones about their life to
ask your loved ones about their life to
ask your loved ones about their life to take out your loved ones for a macchiato
take out your loved ones for a macchiato
take out your loved ones for a macchiato Orica filter fish of yours own blind and
Orica filter fish of yours own blind and
Orica filter fish of yours own blind and asked them to tell you about their life
asked them to tell you about their life
asked them to tell you about their life ask them about their dreams ask them
ask them about their dreams ask them
ask them about their dreams ask them about what they cherish take out your
about what they cherish take out your
about what they cherish take out your phone and record it do that a whole
phone and record it do that a whole
phone and record it do that a whole bunch of times and then when you get
bunch of times and then when you get
bunch of times and then when you get really good at it put away the phone and
really good at it put away the phone and
really good at it put away the phone and just sit down and listen
”
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