We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Yom Hashoah Ve Hagevurah (Devastation and Heroism Day) is each year on the Hebrew calendar the 27th of the month of Nissan. When it occurs on Sunday, as this year, technically it is observed on Monday. However, as most people are off work on Sunday, most observances will be today.
Yes, there was heroism among the devastation. Most of the heroes died in battle or revolt, as in Warsaw. Most died unsung as they gave of themselves to make others' last moments more comfortable; there's a special recognition for some survivors who helped others survive. Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust museum and documentation center, each year highlights the stories of some of the survivors. Here's a fighting hero, for example, and here's one saved by one of the caring Righteous Gentiles.
Here's a photo of Jews collected in one of the ghettos before their slaughter. Just look at each individual face, then multiply: the future and contributions of 1 1/2 million children and 4 1/2 million adults wiped out.
A popular singer and group in the 60’s was Jay and The Americans. Jay Black (Real nameDavid Blatt) was from an Orthodox Jewish background. His most famous song was Cara Mia. They had many top hits. His voice had an operatic/cantorial quality.
He recorded a famous Yiddish song called “Where is the little street?” (Vi iz dus geseleh?) in 1966. Jay adapted it into a version to demonstrate his feelings about the Holocaust. After a long struggle with the record company, he convinced them to let him record it. While recording it he worked with Artie Butler to help him with the arrangement. He added Chagall’s paintings to provide sentimental visions of the Jewish villages in vivid colors.
Hope you enjoy this! The Chagall pictures are spectacular.
The song is performed in English and Yiddish.
Excellent essay on the distinctiveness of the Holocaust from other genocides or everyday intolerance.
--i saved this pic tho it's hard to look at. i think it was because there is so much story in this brother and sister. the wrenching is in the little girl's attempt to present herself to the photographer. Even at her young age, one can see so much of a nature so needed in the world.
--and it's not taken in 1850, it's a modern European capital city in the mid 1940s, just a few years before i was born. In our world, IOW. Which makes the grotesque lies about Israel coming from such as the UN and the USA national security advisor Stephanie Power all the more galling and repulsive.
And most of all, mysterious --and in lieu of any rational explanation, mainly smelling of petrodollars.
Tracked: May 01, 09:07