Beautifully, heart achingly written. I think most of my family was able to escape the Holocaust and come to America to start a new life. This begs the question…when is it time to leave? How did they know? G-D bless the souls that did not escape. May their memories forever be a blessing.
Steven, ….. “layers” here too in your account …. Breathtaking… Heavy…beautifully written…the photographs most welcome… I’ve only stopped just…at the airport in Berlin twice…
Your writing … gripping..the “texture” sad but helpful… still as we struggle similarly through unwelcome unsavory oppressive Far Right aggression.
It is kind and touching of you to share so much of your poignant history, your family,…with us your students, friends, warriors for Truth …. in this journey…it… offers another “layer” of strength to us to continue to stare into the Face of unholy assault and fight for what is Good.
As always, thank you - to your wife and family for sharing you and your gift with us.
Thank you for sharing how your family’s story is interwoven into the history of Berlin, Steven. The historic and contemporary photos within your beautifully written narrative added to my understanding of this “layered” city. It was chilling to read that people in Germany are attracted to the far-right anti- immigrant extremist and racist ideology called AfD, which has been praised by J.D Vance. You would think a country that survived the traumatic horror of the Holocaust would not gravitate toward this political direction again!
Thank You Steven .. You are pretty amazing to go there and be able to see that Germany has changed. Now with fascism on the rise we can only hope it doesn't take hold. One of the things that I have been doing for quite awhile now, is watching MHz . It has so many foreign tv series, German, Italian, French, Flemish ...What I love about it is you get to see the various differences in there cultures. I have grown to love Germany, Italy, and France. I want to go to Italy next spring. Two german series that I love are Tatort Munster . I have fallen in love with the characters . the other German series is Donna Leon's Brunette Mysteries. It takes place in Venice and the characters are Italians of course, but it is played by Germans. It is excellent .. I have watched both series more than once .. It is my way of escaping the rot we are dealing with here. Thanks !
"Humans have the remarkable ability to live through darkest times and find new ways to adapt". This does not acknowledge the millions who died fighting for those millions murdered. The ones left who did not fight and approved the murders learned to bide their time, infecting the minds of the newly disaffected and authoritarian cult members to rise again. Humans don't adapt. They continue to run in a circle of fear: afraid of others, afraid of Science, afraid of each other.
Appreciate the nuance. As for my initial note, better said like this: History proves over and over that humans—if they’re lucky enough and able to survive the darkest times—can find new ways to adapt and change.
Thanks for sharing this essay of truth so beautifully written based on your personal experience. It is horrific what direction the US has chosen and now to learn Germany is teetering there as well. May we all regain our sense and correct our course to keep Nazi at bay.
Thanks for sharing this Steve. 🖖
Beautifully, heart achingly written. I think most of my family was able to escape the Holocaust and come to America to start a new life. This begs the question…when is it time to leave? How did they know? G-D bless the souls that did not escape. May their memories forever be a blessing.
Steven, ….. “layers” here too in your account …. Breathtaking… Heavy…beautifully written…the photographs most welcome… I’ve only stopped just…at the airport in Berlin twice…
Your writing … gripping..the “texture” sad but helpful… still as we struggle similarly through unwelcome unsavory oppressive Far Right aggression.
It is kind and touching of you to share so much of your poignant history, your family,…with us your students, friends, warriors for Truth …. in this journey…it… offers another “layer” of strength to us to continue to stare into the Face of unholy assault and fight for what is Good.
As always, thank you - to your wife and family for sharing you and your gift with us.
With prayers and Hope
💙🇺🇸💙
Thank you for sharing how your family’s story is interwoven into the history of Berlin, Steven. The historic and contemporary photos within your beautifully written narrative added to my understanding of this “layered” city. It was chilling to read that people in Germany are attracted to the far-right anti- immigrant extremist and racist ideology called AfD, which has been praised by J.D Vance. You would think a country that survived the traumatic horror of the Holocaust would not gravitate toward this political direction again!
Thank You Steven .. You are pretty amazing to go there and be able to see that Germany has changed. Now with fascism on the rise we can only hope it doesn't take hold. One of the things that I have been doing for quite awhile now, is watching MHz . It has so many foreign tv series, German, Italian, French, Flemish ...What I love about it is you get to see the various differences in there cultures. I have grown to love Germany, Italy, and France. I want to go to Italy next spring. Two german series that I love are Tatort Munster . I have fallen in love with the characters . the other German series is Donna Leon's Brunette Mysteries. It takes place in Venice and the characters are Italians of course, but it is played by Germans. It is excellent .. I have watched both series more than once .. It is my way of escaping the rot we are dealing with here. Thanks !
"Humans have the remarkable ability to live through darkest times and find new ways to adapt". This does not acknowledge the millions who died fighting for those millions murdered. The ones left who did not fight and approved the murders learned to bide their time, infecting the minds of the newly disaffected and authoritarian cult members to rise again. Humans don't adapt. They continue to run in a circle of fear: afraid of others, afraid of Science, afraid of each other.
Appreciate the nuance. As for my initial note, better said like this: History proves over and over that humans—if they’re lucky enough and able to survive the darkest times—can find new ways to adapt and change.
Thanks for sharing this essay of truth so beautifully written based on your personal experience. It is horrific what direction the US has chosen and now to learn Germany is teetering there as well. May we all regain our sense and correct our course to keep Nazi at bay.