Comments on: six million

By: Ellie

Ellie — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:17:55 +0000

A truly moving story. I am glad that you connected the dots between the emphasis on a good education in your family with a longer family history – I guess we never know how ‘useful’ our knowledge actually is. I also think it is amazing that your grandmother worked in a concentration camp kitchen and now you have taken food to a joyous level in your lovely food blog! This is probably the best revenge on the plan to terminate us Jews – by living on with the same skills, talents, grace and courage as those they tried to kill.
Chazak v’Amatz! [Be strong and carry on!]

By: zahavah

zahavah — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:01:47 +0000

Thank you, everyone, for visiting, keeping the memories of survivors alive, and sharing your own stories.
- Meira – Thank you for reminding me that my Bubbie would be proud. She was the ultimate at persevering and I only hope to live up to her example. (And my flowered dishes are my other Bubbie’s…good memory though)
- Rikki – You put it so well – the number six million can be so overwhelming, but each of those people was an individual with a story and a life and a future extinguished.
- Suzy – Bittersweet it is to have these memories.
- Rianne – I’m glad my grandparents’ story served as an important reminder.
- Caroline – What a beautiful sentiment — I’m sure her neshama is causing mischief with another neshama we know!
- Irene – Thank you for sharing. One of the elements of the seder hagadah is that at the end, we praised as heros those who survived and those who didn’t. Those who went to the camps, those who hid, those who resisted, and those who didn’t.
- Honey – Yes indeed, I did love my grandparents

By: Honey Mayers

Honey Mayers — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:19:19 +0000

Its one of the best stories I’ve read!..
No doubt you really love your grand-parents!..

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:13:36 +0000

It is a beautiful story and a beautiful way to remember. I am a great-grandchild of grand-grandparents who did not survive. They had sent their children away (my grandfather and his siblings) but did not want to leave their land and their people because my great grandfather was a roshi in the village. Brave or stupid, I don’t know. They were shot by the Nazis. The hardest part for me is to remember without bitterness because the ones who died and the ones who survived do not deserve bitterness.

By: caroline

caroline — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:57:38 +0000

This is a beautiful way to remember and make your grandmother’s story and life come alive for the rest of us.
May her neshama have an aliya.

By: Rianne Mares

Rianne Mares — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:34:45 +0000

Thank you Gayle – not only for reminding us but also for sharing this very personal story of your grandparents.

Rianne

By: Suzy

Suzy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:26:13 +0000

Wow. What can I say. I got sick to my stomach and tears of joy at the same time! No one really knows how we all feel and think from day to day. Being of German and Luxembourg ancestry. We all have no idea who all was murdered. Parts of my grandmothers family came over before it happened. BUT most of them stayed and perished. As I sit here in my cozy office and great comfort. They suffered so much.

Praise be to Hashem that we are here now.

Suzy

By: Rikki

Rikki — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:38:54 +0000

Gayle,
What a loving testament to your grandparents. As a fellow grand-daughter of survivors it is so important to share their stories and remember that it wasn’t just 6 million but one, plus one, plus one…. Thank you for sharing with our LEADS group. Hope to see you Thursday.
Rikki

By: Meira

Meira — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:51:18 +0000

You are a wonderful testament of the strength and perseverance of your grandmother. She would be proud.

Although she would say that it is time to get rid of those dishes (or is that the grandmother on the other side).

-Meira