Stefanie's Story
Ever since I was a child, I have been told that my Zadie has been through so much in his life. It wasn't until around the eighth grade that I understood how much "so much" truly is. My Zadie is a Holocaust survivor. In the eighth grade, I visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC with my Religious school class. I knew what the Holocaust was before I went, but I did not know about it in great detail. In the beginning of the tour, I learned about the horrors of the Holocaust with my father by my side. He told me personal family stories as we walked throughout the museum, about how my Zadie went into hiding and how if he didn't, I probably would not be alive today. Even though the entire experience in the museum was emotional, there was one moment that sticks out the most. The part that impacted me the most was when we arrived at a glass bridge listing all of the towns that were destroyed by the Nazis during the Holocast. My father pointed and said "see that town? That's where your Zadie grew up." I was in disbelief. I didn't think it was possible for thousands of towns to be wiped out in such a sort amount of time. The worst part was that there were so many names on the glass wall that my Zadie's town, Punsk, could only been seen if you squinted.
Stefanie. Personal Interview. 30 Jul. 2014.
Stefanie. Personal Interview. 30 Jul. 2014.