I love Bartov's description of 2Gs as being forced to contend with "an oblivion." Amnesia seems like a good response when there's nothing to hang onto...except, as you say, there's always that deeply human urge to try and remember. Really powerful material--looking forward to Part 2!
Leah, you went to your ancestral village, and metaphorically, the Eastern European village of our Jewish race/ identity to discover personal history but ultimately ask the questions that probe to find our collective identity and your personal place within it. It is an incredible discovery to find these women that were children and experienced the the removal or deportation of Jews. Did you awaken them from their amnesia ? In time the lack of historical literacy or the desire for history book writers to spin untruths about this horrible period in Jewish history --and thus undermine jewish identity -will be a real threat to the survival of Judaism. Thus, the need for Israel.
But who will tell the jewish “ New Testament “ as it were to generations in the future over the next thousand years ? That’s why writing like yours is so important and so valuable. It is the writing of the jewish New Testament and is essential. I think there is an innate human instinct to tell our personal and collective stories. And the survival of a people can depend upon it. Such valuable writing that you are doing.
I love Bartov's description of 2Gs as being forced to contend with "an oblivion." Amnesia seems like a good response when there's nothing to hang onto...except, as you say, there's always that deeply human urge to try and remember. Really powerful material--looking forward to Part 2!
very good thankyou
Leah, you went to your ancestral village, and metaphorically, the Eastern European village of our Jewish race/ identity to discover personal history but ultimately ask the questions that probe to find our collective identity and your personal place within it. It is an incredible discovery to find these women that were children and experienced the the removal or deportation of Jews. Did you awaken them from their amnesia ? In time the lack of historical literacy or the desire for history book writers to spin untruths about this horrible period in Jewish history --and thus undermine jewish identity -will be a real threat to the survival of Judaism. Thus, the need for Israel.
But who will tell the jewish “ New Testament “ as it were to generations in the future over the next thousand years ? That’s why writing like yours is so important and so valuable. It is the writing of the jewish New Testament and is essential. I think there is an innate human instinct to tell our personal and collective stories. And the survival of a people can depend upon it. Such valuable writing that you are doing.
Bruce
Wonderful piece. I wonder if the amnesia in your grandmother village was out of guilt or shame.