Thank you for sharing. It’s important to remember the atrocities of war and genocide so that they don’t happen again. What a tragic memory.
I actually just watched a documentary about North Korea that gave me goosebumps: Beyond Utopia. It’s crazy to think that there are still countries governed by terror and tyranny.
PS: it’s beautiful you brought your mum’s writing to life here.
It makes me think of all the historic "Jewish quarters" in towns all over Europe. Historic as in dead, past, extinct. It also makes me think of, "They buried us, but they didn't know we were seeds."
My late grandparents were Holocaust survivors and I’m quite sure the trauma from that was passed down to my father, and me, and my brother through DNA. I’ve been through my own additional trauma in this life as I have complex PTSD and major depressive disorder but I was never a happy child. Makes you wonder.
Yup my daughter has anxiety and my son (who I’m estranged from, I’ll be launching a newsletter about him) is disabled but there was birth trauma there. My brother is a mess and so are his kids but for very different reasons. The Holocaust is creating trauma to descendants of survivors too.
I'm Second Generation and an American pioneer in writing 2G fiction and creative nonfiction, and there are many studies talk about the epigenetic nature of trauma. I worked through mine in therapy but mainly through writing and publishing. And a major surprise was having books of mine translated into German, going there on research and book tours, and making German friends. That's in my 19th book, a family/writer's memoir: https://www.levraphael.com/mygermany.html
Dearest young lady, My answer to you will possibly offend, though it would offend The Lord God if I remain silent. I was led to your comment and further led to your writings, which show that you are deeply involved in spiritualism. The tarot and clairvoyance are occultic. To this demonic involvement you may attribute your physical and mental distresses. You need deliverance from the occult who's dark world only ever brings harm and ultimately death, along with permanent separation from God. If you will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to deliver you, he will at once do so and heal you of your afflictions. There is life in his name and salvation in his name only - that is Jesus, the Christ. I pray for you that you consider this carefully. I know experiential of what I speak. May God bless and deliver you.
The difference between us, Miriam, is, I have been where you are, but you have not been where I am. So your comment is unfortunate and self indicting..
I also observe that you were willing to be unkind to someone who was reaching out to help you. I feel sorry for you.. Because self inflicted wounds are the hardest to be delivered from.
Unkind? Are you kidding me? You judged my beliefs so of course I will call you out on it. And the fact that you are saying this to me shows you have a serious superiority complex. Why not take your Bible and read it instead of bothering me. And you wonder why so many people aren’t fond of Christians huh? You don’t exactly help the image.
Our small church is mostly Ukranian and has helped a few refugee families migrate to the U.S. Their plight makes what we read in the news personal.
As I read your post, I am struck by how some endure such circumstances and emerge with compassion and conviction that we must not perpetuate such horror. Yet, others become hardened and vengeful, such as the generations of fighting in the Middle East.
These remind us Jesus was right, evil's roots are in our hearts and we need Him to change us.
So many lives were lost because of people dehumanizing other people based on race, ethnicity, gender, etc. These are the lessons we must learn and never forget.
What a beautiful memoir from your mother, and a wonderful share. The part I can truly feel is that section where she followed the group from behind and continued until she saw something she would never forget.
What a horrifying eyewitnessed event. It sounds like she wasn't alone on that hill. I'll imagine that she and the friend(s) with her looked to the heavens, made the Sign of the Cross, and then ran the hell out of there!
I'll also imagine that she stayed friends with the other witnesses, sharing in their tragedy. They became best friends, knew one another for decades, and did their best to comfort one another.
Out of weakness came strength. Out of curiosity came stillness. And above all, in a time of discomfort, came the peace that surpasses all understanding, so that life surpassed death.
Your lovely mom was inquisitive and especially smart to put down her memories in writing. How many of her writings do you have? Some put them into a book and add photos. Truly a golden find that deserves to be immortalized. Thank you again for sharing.
I have just been listening to a great radio program called Hitler's Arabs.
I understood how the Pope had been complicit with Hitler, but this program provides a very detailed account of how the Islamic leader of the time was also.
It also shows the reason today for the deep seated hatred of the Palestinians for the Jews.
I think you will get some interesting insights by listening to it.
Unfortunately we don’t learn from history as is evident in the world today. That poor woman, living with that memory all her life, how you would want to ‘un-see’ that! The cruelty of mankind is difficult to comprehend. Will we ever totally evolve into a compassionate, non violent species?
Our parents/grandparents stories are important to pass on so I’m glad you wrote about this time. In most countries I’ve visited I’ve taken a walking tour of Jewish ghetto’s or a concentration camp (France). The guides are historians who stress the importance of never forgetting dictatorships or the groups who suffered. The human spirit for hope & survival never ceases to amaze.
Your Mother finished with "To this day there is huge cultural jewish influence in Lviv. Much of the music and food has been adopted from the jews who lived in the city for centuries prior to the terror. Its mark will never leave, and this story should never be forgotten.”
Does she mean the Jewish influence is there, although the Jews are not? Or does she mean the terror will never leave, although the Jewish influence has permeated the society?
We were told to commemorate war with the saying "Lest We Forget"- meaning if we don't remember the sacrifices people gave to win a war then such sacrifices will be necessary again.
We must always remember the terror, and not allow it to raise it's head again.
But COVID totalitarianism has shown that this is certainly possible, even in advanced and supposedly democratic countries like Australia, where concentration camps were built for the unvaxinated- and they are still there waiting for the next wave of hysteria to be foisted on a submissive, self-centred and cowed society.
A distant relative in Germany tried untangling the family tree to pin down the Ukrainian side (as opposed to the Russian, Polish and Lithuanian) but was unsuccessful, probably because the salient records didn't survive WWII.
It’s really tough. I was amazingly found by one of my distant relatives here in US, he is half jewish actually. I will make a post about this as well soon.
Thank you for sharing. It’s important to remember the atrocities of war and genocide so that they don’t happen again. What a tragic memory.
I actually just watched a documentary about North Korea that gave me goosebumps: Beyond Utopia. It’s crazy to think that there are still countries governed by terror and tyranny.
PS: it’s beautiful you brought your mum’s writing to life here.
Thank you! I’m thinking of getting more stories from mom and dad, also will look up that documentary. How is family?
It makes me think of all the historic "Jewish quarters" in towns all over Europe. Historic as in dead, past, extinct. It also makes me think of, "They buried us, but they didn't know we were seeds."
Interesting to think about, spiritually and historically.
My late grandparents were Holocaust survivors and I’m quite sure the trauma from that was passed down to my father, and me, and my brother through DNA. I’ve been through my own additional trauma in this life as I have complex PTSD and major depressive disorder but I was never a happy child. Makes you wonder.
Yes, I believe in that 100%, I think we get a lot from the past in our DNA.
Yup my daughter has anxiety and my son (who I’m estranged from, I’ll be launching a newsletter about him) is disabled but there was birth trauma there. My brother is a mess and so are his kids but for very different reasons. The Holocaust is creating trauma to descendants of survivors too.
I’d like to read those posts about your son, are you coming out with it soon?
Yes maybe next week! I’ve been so busy still trying to get caught up with so much
I'm Second Generation and an American pioneer in writing 2G fiction and creative nonfiction, and there are many studies talk about the epigenetic nature of trauma. I worked through mine in therapy but mainly through writing and publishing. And a major surprise was having books of mine translated into German, going there on research and book tours, and making German friends. That's in my 19th book, a family/writer's memoir: https://www.levraphael.com/mygermany.html
Yes writing does help
Dearest young lady, My answer to you will possibly offend, though it would offend The Lord God if I remain silent. I was led to your comment and further led to your writings, which show that you are deeply involved in spiritualism. The tarot and clairvoyance are occultic. To this demonic involvement you may attribute your physical and mental distresses. You need deliverance from the occult who's dark world only ever brings harm and ultimately death, along with permanent separation from God. If you will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to deliver you, he will at once do so and heal you of your afflictions. There is life in his name and salvation in his name only - that is Jesus, the Christ. I pray for you that you consider this carefully. I know experiential of what I speak. May God bless and deliver you.
Not offended at all because I know how you people are 😃 closed minded and all had a yadda yadda anyhoo have a wonderful day!
'you people are 😃 closed minded and all'...
The difference between us, Miriam, is, I have been where you are, but you have not been where I am. So your comment is unfortunate and self indicting..
I also observe that you were willing to be unkind to someone who was reaching out to help you. I feel sorry for you.. Because self inflicted wounds are the hardest to be delivered from.
Unkind? Are you kidding me? You judged my beliefs so of course I will call you out on it. And the fact that you are saying this to me shows you have a serious superiority complex. Why not take your Bible and read it instead of bothering me. And you wonder why so many people aren’t fond of Christians huh? You don’t exactly help the image.
https://www.facebook.com/undilutedVibes/videos/365854852760414/
Yup I firmly believe it can play a role and if you’ve been through your in trauma it amplifies it
Our small church is mostly Ukranian and has helped a few refugee families migrate to the U.S. Their plight makes what we read in the news personal.
As I read your post, I am struck by how some endure such circumstances and emerge with compassion and conviction that we must not perpetuate such horror. Yet, others become hardened and vengeful, such as the generations of fighting in the Middle East.
These remind us Jesus was right, evil's roots are in our hearts and we need Him to change us.
I really love what you wrote here. Jesus’s teaching are perfect and that is yet another great one. Thank you for this!
Words fail...
The Jews are Gods chosen people. May we never forget !! This is so powerful and beautifully wrote.
Thank you, true stories are most powerful!
So many lives were lost because of people dehumanizing other people based on race, ethnicity, gender, etc. These are the lessons we must learn and never forget.
Yes, I wish more people would learn
What a beautiful memoir from your mother, and a wonderful share. The part I can truly feel is that section where she followed the group from behind and continued until she saw something she would never forget.
What a horrifying eyewitnessed event. It sounds like she wasn't alone on that hill. I'll imagine that she and the friend(s) with her looked to the heavens, made the Sign of the Cross, and then ran the hell out of there!
I'll also imagine that she stayed friends with the other witnesses, sharing in their tragedy. They became best friends, knew one another for decades, and did their best to comfort one another.
Out of weakness came strength. Out of curiosity came stillness. And above all, in a time of discomfort, came the peace that surpasses all understanding, so that life surpassed death.
I love your description of these feelings, that is very true, powerful events shape us in many ways.
Your lovely mom was inquisitive and especially smart to put down her memories in writing. How many of her writings do you have? Some put them into a book and add photos. Truly a golden find that deserves to be immortalized. Thank you again for sharing.
I’ll be learning more for sure, might write a family history book
You should 👌!
Thanks again for this post.
I have just been listening to a great radio program called Hitler's Arabs.
I understood how the Pope had been complicit with Hitler, but this program provides a very detailed account of how the Islamic leader of the time was also.
It also shows the reason today for the deep seated hatred of the Palestinians for the Jews.
I think you will get some interesting insights by listening to it.
Here is the link:
https://www.borntowin.net/files/audio/radio/hitlers_arabs.mp3
very interesting!
Such important truth to tell, Alexander. Thank you for passing it down.
Thank you for reading!
powerful and horrific. what your mom witnessed will not be something i forget. I can not even imagine.....
Thank you for reading the story
Unfortunately we don’t learn from history as is evident in the world today. That poor woman, living with that memory all her life, how you would want to ‘un-see’ that! The cruelty of mankind is difficult to comprehend. Will we ever totally evolve into a compassionate, non violent species?
That’s the big question and I think there will always be good and evil hand in hand, until the end of time.
😢
Our parents/grandparents stories are important to pass on so I’m glad you wrote about this time. In most countries I’ve visited I’ve taken a walking tour of Jewish ghetto’s or a concentration camp (France). The guides are historians who stress the importance of never forgetting dictatorships or the groups who suffered. The human spirit for hope & survival never ceases to amaze.
Yes, absolutely sad and tragic, but also amazing like you said.
Your Mother finished with "To this day there is huge cultural jewish influence in Lviv. Much of the music and food has been adopted from the jews who lived in the city for centuries prior to the terror. Its mark will never leave, and this story should never be forgotten.”
Does she mean the Jewish influence is there, although the Jews are not? Or does she mean the terror will never leave, although the Jewish influence has permeated the society?
We were told to commemorate war with the saying "Lest We Forget"- meaning if we don't remember the sacrifices people gave to win a war then such sacrifices will be necessary again.
We must always remember the terror, and not allow it to raise it's head again.
But COVID totalitarianism has shown that this is certainly possible, even in advanced and supposedly democratic countries like Australia, where concentration camps were built for the unvaxinated- and they are still there waiting for the next wave of hysteria to be foisted on a submissive, self-centred and cowed society.
That’s a good example of how people continue to all to be controlled by fear and lose morals over it and harm others.
For first part, it means that the culture has passed on, like food and music. There are jews living in Lviv now, but not many.
Thank you for sharing. As a Jewish person originally from Ukraine, I hope everyone remembers history.
For sure, it’s crucial
PS: my mother's maiden name seems like a combination of Polish and Ukrainian: Klaczko.
Yes! Very much so, we had similar names in the region.
A distant relative in Germany tried untangling the family tree to pin down the Ukrainian side (as opposed to the Russian, Polish and Lithuanian) but was unsuccessful, probably because the salient records didn't survive WWII.
It’s really tough. I was amazingly found by one of my distant relatives here in US, he is half jewish actually. I will make a post about this as well soon.
Wow. I have distant relatives in Germany who aren't even half-Jewish.