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I was born a decade after WWII ended, and grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Philly.I was made aware of the Holocaust from a very tender age, and wondered if modern-day Nazis had painted a black swastika on our white garage door when I was 8. I couldnt understand why my Grandpop and Bubby seemed to be sad so often. Little did I know that my great-grandmother, 2 great aunts, their husbands and 8 children were liquidated in Poland in November 1942. Then came the films from the death camps. Were my relatives lucky that they were spared that horror and were killed in the streets of the town in Poland where my family had lived since the 1700s? Then came the 20 years of relentless nightmares. At first, I was in a camp, looking for my family, hoping against hope that they were still alive. I didnt even know what they looked like, yet I kept looking. Eventually, my nightmares turned from being in the camps to being on the outside of the electric fence, still looking. During my first semester of college, I had a western civ class (there were about 35 students). During the semester, our prof showed a documentary, Night and Fog. I hadnt heard of it, but when I realized what is was, I didnt know if I was going to throw up or pass out. Unfortunately, my French was quite good by that time (it was narrated in French). I tried to tame my feelings by putting my head down on my desk; that didnt work for very long. I eventually left the room and waited until class was over to explain to my prof why I left the room. Im pretty sure that I was the only Jew in the class. He said that he understood. Now, as one of the family genealogists, Ive come to terms with losing 30 members of my immediate family, just on my Dads side. We never knew about my Moms side. As more and more people explore their DNA, Ive often read how surprised and excited people were to discover that they have Jewish blood. Then their excitement was tempered by learning that they lost untold numbers of their newly-found families in the Holocaust. As a parent of 2 little ones, I couldnt understand why someone would fire-bomb our synagogue in Sacramento, CA in the 1980s. Thus, how it has been for me to be Jewish in America. Am I still afraid that Nazis are coming for me? Now, more than ever.(originally posted in Video & Multimedia)
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Hekate
(91,659 posts)The current blow-up at DU is temporary we will right ourselves again.
As President Biden said today Silence is complicity, and We cant not know.
PCIntern
(25,853 posts)All of us who live or lived there have a whole lot in common!
BOSSHOG
(37,388 posts)Very sobering post. Thank You. Although no longer in Philly, born and raised there. Glad you are posting.
housecat
(3,130 posts)markie
(22,761 posts)and welcome
MLAA
(17,553 posts)![](/emoticons/grouphug.gif)
Welcome to DU. I recently saw the movie Golda. It was heartbreaking and terrifying but it filled me with admiration for Golda and the strength and resilience of the Israeli people.
onecaliberal
(33,395 posts)a kennedy
(30,138 posts)![](/emoticons/hug.gif)
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TomSlick
(11,230 posts)moonshinegnomie
(2,594 posts)In case the nut jobs take over
I bought ammo this week
Ligyron
(7,700 posts)wnylib
(22,242 posts)in Erie. Now living in western NY for a few decades. I visited Philly once, many years ago in my teens.
As a genealogy buff, I know that many people today have some Jewish ancestry without realizing it. Their ancestors were forced to convert in some cases, and in other cases converted for convenience or due to marrying someone of another faith.
For such a small portion of the human race, Jews have made several major contributions to science, theater, film, politics, literature, music, and various visual art forms. Anti Semitism appears to be based in envy.
JustAnotherGen
(32,314 posts)Thank you for this.
crickets
(26,057 posts)You are among friends here. Feelings are at a high pitch and nerves are frayed given what is going on in Israel right now, but this is a good community of people and we are glad you're here. Thank you for sharing your story.
calimary
(81,993 posts)Thank you so much for sharing your story.
As an adoptee who found some of my blood-relatives, I can relate somewhat. But I have a Catholic background, so Ill never fully grok the agony built into Jewish history.
And theres something else about that which I will never understand. Why is there hatred and hostility toward the Jews? I just dont get it. Ive studied history (loved it in school - one of my favorite subjects). And I still dont get it.
I dont think Ill ever get it.
catrose
(5,110 posts)It didn't take a generation before my ancestors changed their name and joined the Baptist Church. And when I wanted to look for European relatives--nope.
Somewhere around 2000, I listened to an author speak about her struggle with conversion to Judaism. She thought it might affect her children and grandchildren later. At the time, I marveled, because we already vanquished the Nazis, yes? Turns out no. She did convert, but I think of her and her family every time there's another terrorist attack.
I haven't yet had the courage to convert.