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August Newsletter Inspirational Stories
Inspirational Stories
Over the last two months in my new role as the Curator of the Adelaide
Jewish Museum, I have come to realize that I am constantly going to be
exposed to experiences that are going to tweak my emotions and change my
perceptions.
Some problems on the website presented me with the opportunity to go through
every single entry in order to fix up some rather inappropriate looking
question marks that had crept into Adelaide's precious contributions. It
seemed a really arduous task at the outset, but as I read, I became more and
more engrossed.
Transported into the lives of Holocaust survivors, my understanding of the
Holocaust has been transformed from an impersonal Hollywood view to a real
life, totally overwhelming reality. I still find it hard to believe that
there are people walking around among us who have actually lived through the
terror that was the Holocaust!
As a mother, the stories of children affect me the most: A Child tearing
down boards from a tall fence in order to escape and hide in a cemetery. A
baby kept alive in a camp by her grandmother, who died just before the
English arrived. She gave her food to the baby in order that she would
survive, and she did! She lives here in Adelaide! Brave parents who had to
send their beautiful children to unknown people in other countries hoping to
save their lives. A four year old boy whose father disappeared just before
he went into hiding with his mother, moving from town to town, from bad
conditions to worse conditions, desperately hoping that they would not be
given up. This boy now gives talks here in Adelaide about his experiences.
Hearing Miriam Zimmet talk about her experiences at the "March of the
Living" in Poland where she revisited Auschwitz, her own mother a survivor
of this awful place, I was deeply affected by so many things. I was
shattered to hear the "formula" the Nazi's had for deciding who would live
and who would die on arrival at the station. If you were over 40, under 16,
infirm in any way, or a mother with a baby -- you were sent straight to the
gas chambers. I would have been a mother with a baby and my other children
are well under sixteen!
What have I learnt from the stories?
A friend asked me recently, "Why is it so important to Jewish people that
their children are brought up Jewish?" I would have answered her differently
years ago, but now I have come to realize that being Jewish isn't only about
religion, it is about being a "people". This "people" have struggled to
survive many times through history. Even people who live among us here in
Adelaide have had to endure unspeakable things in order to survive. It seems
the least that we can do is to pass on our Jewishness to our children and
ensure that their struggle was worthwhile.
My friend thought for a while and then said, "I suppose if you let Judaism
die out, it would be like the Holocaust happening all over again!" Yes,
except this time we would have done it to ourselves!
Thank you to those brave survivors and others who have shared their stories
with us. I have learnt from them as will many over the years, I am sure.
Project Abraham
I was lucky enough to attend the last Project Abraham seminar last week. I
was not disappointed and learnt a lot about Islam that I did not know. I
even learnt some new things about Judaism! I discovered that there are many
similarities between our religions. However, I also realized that it is the
fundamental differences between the two that make it so difficult to resolve
the conflict in the Middle East.
I am very proud to announce that there will be an exhibition of the Project
Abraham seminars starting at the Migration Museum on October 12 which I
encourage you to attend.
Contact Me
I'd love to share your stories and ideas for the Museum...
Adelaide Jewish Museum
P O Box 8070
Station Arcade
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: 8431-7732 Fax: 8110-0900
Email: laltman@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.adelaidejmuseum.org
Yours Sincerely
Leanda Altman
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