Last week Pope Francis visited Auschwitz, the barbarous extermination camp. He left his companions who had accompanied him and walked solo through the concentration camp’s entrance gate.
Before his visit, Pope Francis said that he would “like to go to that place of horror without speeches, without crowds.” He intended to go “alone, enter and pray,” adding, “and may God give me the grace to cry.”
The Pope’s plea resonated with me. Born upon the ashes of the Holocaust, I would like to convey to him what it was like as a child growing up on the “planet of tears” where weeping rivers flowed.
My earliest memories are that of my grandparents embracing us, their eyes constantly moist. Each time we would visit and say goodbye, we would line up for blessings. As my grandfather, Zayda, would place his hands on my head I would feel his hot tears fall upon me. My siblings and I had each been given the name of one who had perished in the flames of that terrible time, and there were still so many more names hovering above waiting to be redeemed.
We knew exactly from whence we came. We understood that every time we opened a prayer book or did a good deed we would bring life to those who left this world, murdered because they were Jews. Our light would now reignite their extinguished flame.
I carry the name of Zayda’s mother. Perhaps that is why his eyes always filled when he saw me. Finding comfort and solace through the next generation while at the same time confronting the tragic loss of that dark time must have been a most difficult emotion to confront over and over again.
We grew up feeling cherished. We knew that life was fragile, precious. We were not surrounded by sadness; our home was filled with great joy. But the tears of my elders would easily fall. How could they not? How does one ever forget a holy world that once was or babies being held by grandparents as they are taken away, never to be seen or heard from again? How do we dare live on if not by remembering?
One Yom Kippur, my brother and I spent the High Holidays with my grandparents. My Zayda was wrapped in his tallis as he stood on the bimah. I remember how his long white beard made him look as if he was a beautiful angel. My grandfather prayed out loud for the congregation as my brother stood at his side. At one point, Zayda began to sob. He was reciting the prayer of the 10 holy martyrs who had been taken to be killed by the Romans and brutally tortured.
After the service my brother had a question. “Zayda, why were you crying?”
“When I read this prayer I remembered my own father as he was taken away by the Nazis. This torture is what happened to us. To my parents, to our family, to us all. This is our story.”
The jagged hole that remained bore deep into the soul. How could my grandparents not cry?
Even when we would have a casual family gathering, the tears would fall. My grandfather would gather us round with our cousins and make the Shehecheyanu blessing, thanking God for allowing us to reach this moment of life. Because life would never again be taken for granted. The jagged hole that remained bore deep into the soul. How could my grandparents not cry?
A Legacy of Tears
But these cries are not new. We sit down at our Seder table with a cup of salt water to recall the tears of our ancestors who were beaten and enslaved in Egypt. And soon we will recall the destruction of our two Temples in Jerusalem. We read the Book of Lamentations on Tisha B’Av. We will fast, sit on the floor and read the words of Jeremiah the prophet: “Over these do I weep, my eye continuously runs with water because a comforter to restore my soul is far from me.” The nation of Israel was exiled in chains, taken out of Jerusalem as the fires of devastation raged. We lost our homes, our lives, and the ground was soaked with our blood. Our holy Temple stood no more.
How many tears have been shed throughout our history for the pain of our people?
We live with this legacy of our tears. Sadly, the cries of our people did not end in Auschwitz.
Cry No More
This past week I was blessed to visit my daughter and her family in Israel. One evening, I took my grandchildren out for supper in Jerusalem. There were squeals of laughter and lots of smiles as I got to spend time and reacquaint myself with each sweet child. As my 7-year-old granddaughter casually dipped her fries into ketchup she said to me “Bubby, I can’t believe that your mother was in the milchamah (war) and we know her! How could Bubba have lived through that when they wanted to kill all the Jews?”
We spoke a bit about the miracle of our people and how God has watched over us and here we are sitting in Jerusalem after that “terrible war.” We packed up our things to go and saw the flashing lights as the sounds of sirens filled the air.
The children looked at me. “Bubby, can you check if there is a terrorist attack again? Like the last time you were here?”
Thank God all was well. But like Pope Francis, I, too, plead with God to bring the day when we will cry no more from those who wish to destroy us, that we be given the grace to live in peace and dignity.
May God wipe away our tears and bring us comfort from all the pain we have endured.
(14) Moshe Horowitz, July 16, 2017 9:07 PM
Ignorance at it's worst! The Nazis high success rate was due to a rabitly generational Christian anti semitism. Christianity is halachicaly avoda Zara(idoletry)Do we need the Avi avos hatuma(grandfather of impurity)on our web sights?
(13) shilvib puri, August 7, 2016 7:54 AM
NO WONDER OUR PERSECUTORS WOULD PUNISH Us EVEN MORE WHEN WE USED TO CRY IN ANGUISH!!
whenever we have been beaten in the past (especially me), we would be beaten up even more if we wept in pain!!! (Sigh)
(12) brett, August 5, 2016 5:59 AM
Theater of the absurd
This Pontifex Maximus threatens tears for past atrocities of his predecessors and allies.
While currently being a main source of Jewish suffering through his continuous support of Palestinians and their terrorist government.
Remember his visit to Israel in 2014?
Theater of the absurd
(11) John Hughes, August 4, 2016 2:45 PM
Hi Slovie : Although saddened by the fact that so many Jews were killed for no reason , I was happy to see you acknowledged the Pope on his visit . I think the world itself is blessed to have Pope Francis . He is a people's Pope who gets involved in all world matters no matter what background it is . And may the world never experience such massive torture again . Thank you once again for sharing your experience .
(10) David, August 4, 2016 6:43 AM
Grace to Cry?
Perhaps there is something wrong with my understanding, when the Pope ask for "grace to cry." Or, perhaps there is something wrong with the person who needs grace in order to cry over the unspeakable atrocities committed against even one of Ha Shems chosen ones, but even more so for one to seek the tears over 6 million of the beloved ones. How can one hold back an ocean of tears from crushing against the sea wall as it tries to restrain endless waves seeking to release the anguish of the heart and mind, through the eyes of those taken, and those left behind.
No, it is grace which must be obtained by the one, in advance, having full certainty because having already known of the depths of depravity forced on this place; that as one begins to shed their tears, the question arises, "Will I be able to stop?"
Though I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to stand on that sacred ground, that too would be my fear, and for that, I would need grace from the Father.
(9) Tova Saul, August 3, 2016 12:12 PM
Why does he allow.....
....a Catholic church to stand in Birkenau?
(8) Rachel, August 3, 2016 7:05 AM
You were fortunate to grow up in such a home
My in-laws were hidden during the war. Both their fathers were murdered. After the war they were culturally Jewish, but not remotely religious. My children are the only Jewish grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My father-in-law wants to be buried with his non-Jewish second wife. My mother-in-law complains that our children were brainwashed by going to day schools. There are unfortunately mant secular families with stories like this.
(7) EDGAR, August 3, 2016 2:08 AM
I ALSO CRY FOR iSRAEL
I was deeply moved by the article, I stopped short of shedding tears and realized that life is never to be taken for granted. Enduring great suffering has been a constant path for the jewish people, but that has in turn made Israel great and strong. May G_D grant us a bright and prosperous future.
(6) Pauline, August 2, 2016 3:39 PM
Let us hope we can all work together . . .
Here in the UK I feel that God has blessed us: we have a wonderful and compassionate Pope in Francis, a wonderful and compassionate Archbishop of Canterbury in Justin Welby (I am Anglican) and a wonderful and compassionate Chief Rabbi in Ephraim Mirvis. God willing that we can all work together to make this world the way our Creator intends it. It is sad that there is not the equivalent of these men in Islam - it seems that every imam is his own chief.
(5) Anonymous, August 2, 2016 3:19 PM
God bless you for sharing your story with believers everywhere. I pray with you and your people that sorrow will be turned to joy for you and your loved ones very soon!
(4) Shoshana-Jerusalam, August 2, 2016 3:03 PM
forgiveness?
How dare the Pope ask for forgiveness? The only people who can ask forgiveness are the murderers themselves and they have to ask it from the victims. Have you ever heard of a Nazi asking forgiveness? Even the captured ones have never expressed remorse. Why should G-d forgive them? We, for our part, pray to see Him revenge the blood of our fallen Jews.
And what is the Pope doing to fight anti-Semitism? He has to make sure that in every country in the world they allow kosher slaughter, and nobody is trying to stop bris milah. He has to appeal to the EU to stop their antiSemitism and leave Israel alone. When he came here he bemoaned the plight of the poor Arabs and didn't have a decent word for the Jews. Also the missionaries are working and succeeding more than ever. True, he only has control over the Catholics but has he stopped them?
Even in Auschwitz he only asked that G-d should forgive the evil.. Why didn't he add the words, "that the Christians have done to the Jews"?
Even if he had, there can still be no forgiveness, but at least he would have shown sincerity. He stands there with his white robes, his head slightly bowed....and people fall for it.
Ayalah, August 2, 2016 5:02 PM
you are right on it!! i agree with every word you wrote
Shoshana-Jerusalem, August 2, 2016 7:27 PM
Thank you!
Janet, August 2, 2016 5:39 PM
Anti-Seminism
Pope Francis..."Catholics should be particularly sensitive to the significance to Jews of the Shoah, the Hebrew word for the Holocaust, and pledged “to do all that is possible with our Jewish friends to repel Catholics should be particularly sensitive to the significance to Jews of the Shoah, the Hebrew word for the Holocaust, and pledged “to do all that is possible with our Jewish friends to repel anti-Semitic tendencies.” tendencies.”
(3) Anonymous, August 2, 2016 2:55 PM
Amazing
After I read this story, I was thinking of the Jews in this country and around the world that do not stand up for Israel and their faith. I have met far to many that support political agendas that are clearly anti Israel. If you are anti Israel you are anti Semitic, no difference. The lessons of the Shoa, I am afraid have been lost to some. They are far to comfortable in their little world.
(2) theo, August 2, 2016 2:05 PM
Misguided pope
This pope seems to have a penchant for doing the wrong things at the wrong time
Did he specifically seek penance for the role his church played in this infamy or was it a publicity stunt ,- an ego trip
(1) SS, August 2, 2016 1:22 PM
So beautiful
Beautifully written, dear Slovie, just like your wonderful mother. We are waiting for all of you - finally - to ascend and join the people of Israel in the Land whose gates He has opened for us. Just think. If the whole nation returned to serve Him fully in the Land of Israel, would He not drive all our enemies out and usher in the End of Days?