Author Archives: K Heidi Fishman

On the Way to Terezín

Our guide, Jiri, picked us up at our hotel. After a few minutes of introductions and small talk we climbed into his minivan and headed to Terezín. The drive there from Prague was about 45 minutes, and I used the time to explain to Jiri that my mother and her family were prisoners in TheresienstadtContinue reading “On the Way to Terezín”

Kaddish in Prague

For our second day in Prague I had set up a meeting with one of the archivists at the Jewish Museum. I was hoping that she might have access to some of the primary source material I was looking for. According to my great-grandfather’s diary, my grandfather, Heinz, had been told to report for aContinue reading “Kaddish in Prague”

Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague

I just returned home after spending two weeks in Europe digging through the last bits of unearthed archives for “Scraps of Hope” research. Over the next several weeks I will share some of what I did and didn’t find. Our first stop was Prague. My husband and I spent the first day as tourists exploringContinue reading “Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague”

Mau and Gerty

Erik Schumacher’s new book, “Mau and Gerty: A Jewish Love Story Between Migrations and World Wars” is out. I heard about it from my friend Myriam. I wanted to read it immediately. It tells the story of a couple, Mau Hanemann and Gerty Kelemen. Erik was inspired to write the book after one of theContinue reading “Mau and Gerty”

Lost But Not Forgotten

I recently lost two of my sources. Henny’s husband sent me an email notifying me of her passing in November, and then Edith’s son sent an email of her death in January. I did not know either of these women personally, but they both have been instrumental in my research. Through the wonder of theContinue reading “Lost But Not Forgotten”

It’s Time for a Miracle

This morning when I woke up and heard the news I was disgusted. NPR reports that Donald Trump wants to ban all Muslims from entering the United States (even US born citizens). Really? We actually have a presidential candidate who says ban people of a certain religion from our country. Wasn’t this country founded byContinue reading “It’s Time for a Miracle”

Back to Work

I have to confess that I haven’t been working on “Scraps of Hope” for a while. First there were some family problems that drew my attention away from my book. Then I was sick. I spent two months in bed recovering, and just when I thought I was healthy enough to get back into theContinue reading “Back to Work”