I appreciate what you are doing. In New Zealand, we have a saying about our people who traveled across the world to fight for freedom. "We will remember them." The saying is echoed all over the world, and yet man continues to be inhumane, if that is in fact logical. My mother rang me today, and said she had been in tears for much of the day. Her grandmother was murdered in Sobibor and my mother suffered as a child in Amsterdam and experienced things no child should experience. She has good friends who are in Israel at the moment and she is terrified for them. The anguish and the fears stay with you forever one way or another. My father who also suffered much in the war wouldn't tell me about his experiences, other than some stories he wrote in his autobiography, like https://leocappel.substack.com/p/journey-to-somewhere because he didn't want me to have nightmares like he did for much of his life. But remembering them, honours those who lost their lives.
Thank you for taking this journey and for bringing us along. As a child I also visited concentration camps, primarily Dachau, and could not get over how close this residential area was to Munich, 12 miles away. People who work in Munich commute from Dachau. But again, as a child, I didn't think the fascist past could or would bubble up in the U.S. But as you said, the parallels between the Holocaust, the war in Ukraine, the rhetoric coming from Trump, and the attack on Israeli civilians are now crystal clear.
Just as every Jew has relatives who was a victim to the Shoah, every Jew knows people or has family In Israel. While I am old enough to remember the Yom Kippur War, my kids (ages 30 and 35) are shaken to their core, they have friends who are soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. They also know people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but it feels so different, and we can't articulate why. I have no words to comfort them.
Likewise, I have no words to comfort you for what you are about to witness. I can only wish you strength. Please be safe my friend.
Thanks for articulating this. I am also from a branch of Jews that had already come to America, while the rest of my family tree is composed of empty, burned branches.
One thing I keep noticing in every piece of writing on the Israeli situation is that the writer doesn't know the right answer. I think that's tied right into your comments about the confluence of historical events and context and the endless eugenics and hatred.
The thing is, I don't think there is a solution. Just like the House GOP, any attempt at a moderate solution is undernined by flamethrowers.
I guess I'm just losing what faith I had left in humanity. 😭
I appreciate what you are doing. In New Zealand, we have a saying about our people who traveled across the world to fight for freedom. "We will remember them." The saying is echoed all over the world, and yet man continues to be inhumane, if that is in fact logical. My mother rang me today, and said she had been in tears for much of the day. Her grandmother was murdered in Sobibor and my mother suffered as a child in Amsterdam and experienced things no child should experience. She has good friends who are in Israel at the moment and she is terrified for them. The anguish and the fears stay with you forever one way or another. My father who also suffered much in the war wouldn't tell me about his experiences, other than some stories he wrote in his autobiography, like https://leocappel.substack.com/p/journey-to-somewhere because he didn't want me to have nightmares like he did for much of his life. But remembering them, honours those who lost their lives.
I’ve been thinking of you the past couple of days. Sending you strength and love from Seattle. Thank you for doing this work. ♥️
This piece will stay with me, thank you. Wishing you enough joy and ease to keep doing this work. And paid subscribers.
Thank you for taking this journey and for bringing us along. As a child I also visited concentration camps, primarily Dachau, and could not get over how close this residential area was to Munich, 12 miles away. People who work in Munich commute from Dachau. But again, as a child, I didn't think the fascist past could or would bubble up in the U.S. But as you said, the parallels between the Holocaust, the war in Ukraine, the rhetoric coming from Trump, and the attack on Israeli civilians are now crystal clear.
Just as every Jew has relatives who was a victim to the Shoah, every Jew knows people or has family In Israel. While I am old enough to remember the Yom Kippur War, my kids (ages 30 and 35) are shaken to their core, they have friends who are soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. They also know people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but it feels so different, and we can't articulate why. I have no words to comfort them.
Likewise, I have no words to comfort you for what you are about to witness. I can only wish you strength. Please be safe my friend.
Thanks for articulating this. I am also from a branch of Jews that had already come to America, while the rest of my family tree is composed of empty, burned branches.
One thing I keep noticing in every piece of writing on the Israeli situation is that the writer doesn't know the right answer. I think that's tied right into your comments about the confluence of historical events and context and the endless eugenics and hatred.
The thing is, I don't think there is a solution. Just like the House GOP, any attempt at a moderate solution is undernined by flamethrowers.
I guess I'm just losing what faith I had left in humanity. 😭
Me also!
Holding you in my heart and thoughts!
An important correction: Oświęcim is not Polish for "Auschwitz"--"Auschwitz" is German for Oświęcim.
Lauren, My hope is to see you succeed - enlighten us - remind us. The world needs more like you. Thank you D