REMEMBER? FORGIVE? FORGET? " remember" when they grabbed us and dragged us to the camps? And the world stood by in silence and asked us to "forgive"? But the S.S. Tortured us - never let us "forget" we are Jews. And do you "remember" when we were liberated and we were looking for our parents, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters. But they had perished - six millions of them. And the world told us: "forgive" and "forget". And do you "remember" that a new generation grew up I'm Israel and they never wanted to "forgive" their parents for marching into the gas chambers like a bunch ifs heel without resisting? And we tried to "forget". But the. Do you "remember" that voices appeared telling the rest do the world, that the Holocaust never happened? And there was nothing to "forgive" or to "forget". And when the rest of us gathers here in memory of our dear ones, who perished during the Holocaust, some of us like to "remember" Some do us might be read to "forgive" But none of us should ever "forget". Written by Klaus Stern, a survivor Stern, Klaus. "REMEMBER? FORGIVE? FORGET?" Survivors Speak Out. Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House Ltd, 1989. 31. Print. |
WERE ALL THIS BUT A BAD DREAM! In a childhood trams we are sometimes chased by a devil, a monster with a terrible face whose outstretched arms are reaching for us - in fear we run in a frenzied race ... then we awaken, breathe a sigh of relief - it was only a nightmare, just a little bad dream. But I can attest that the devil exists, for I saw, myself, how he catches his Rody, then gleefully watches him twisting in pain, gasping for breath, pleading in vain, and listens with pleasure- cruel,I name, to his pleas for mercy, his weeping, his cries, as he struggles to live, Then despairs and then ... died. I had the devil chase me for years, with millions of others I ran in great fear; I heard their cries - I felt my own tears scream down my face when death seemed so near. I saw many around me miss their stride stumble and falter, fall to the side - men, women, and children with no place to hide, with no hope left, no strength to spare, defeated, exhausted, filled with despair. There are times when I wish that I could pretend that things never happened - that they never took place, that the millions who vanished without leaving a trace are still out there, alive ... as they were in those days. There are times when I wish I could make it all see, just an innocent nightmare - just a little bad dream. Written by Michael Koenig, a survivor Koenig, Michael. "WERE IT BUT A BAD DREAM." Survivors Speak Out. Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House Ltd, 1989. 63-64. Print. |