Something very special happened this week. Tutti and Popje were reunited! Popje had been living at the Museum of Jewish Civilization (MJC) at the University of Hartford for about five years. The MJC had a wonderful exhibit “Hartford Remembers the Holocaust” in which several local Holocaust survivor stories were told through pictures, documents, artifacts, andContinue reading “Reunion”
Category Archives: Connections
Family Matters
Hi there. My name is Abigail Sterne and I’m a distant relative living in the UK. My great grandfather was Kamil Lichtenstern…. I have recently been translating the diary of Oskar Lichtenstern which has been in the possession of my Great Aunt Gertrude Levitt, who is the youngest daughter of Kamil, and a first cousinContinue reading “Family Matters”
Švihov Torah Dedication
One month ago, I started a journey with a group of students researching a Holocaust Torah. Today, the torah was dedicated and officially took up residency at Shir Shalom in Woodstock, VT. I want to congratulate all these students for a job well done. Thank you! With everyone putting in a little time you wereContinue reading “Švihov Torah Dedication”
A Book Proposal
When am I going to write another book? People ask me that a lot. I usually hesitate to answer because the next book just hasn’t germinated yet. I know I should write more, but that isn’t the stuff books are made of. I don’t want to write a should. I want to write something thatContinue reading “A Book Proposal”
Searching for Stories
My mother tells how Heinz Lichtenstern, her father, escaped a transport to Auschwitz in 1944. Notified that he, along with all men aged 16 to 55 then in Theresienstadt, would be leaving soon, he had said his tearful goodbyes to his family. At the transport, before boarding, Heinz once again showed the family’s Paraguayan passport.Continue reading “Searching for Stories”
Swimming to the Start
As I turned my head to catch a breath of air all I could see above water was the distant edge of the crater and sky. The infinity pool at Beresheet is situated on the cliff above the Ramon Crater, the largest makhtesh in the world. The day before we took a Jeep ride intoContinue reading “Swimming to the Start”
A Story of Notarization
Dave asked me what I knew about the letter of notarization that accompanied the falsified Paraguayan passport. “Nothing,” I replied, “but I’ll see what I can find out.” I looked again at the letter. The notary’s stamp was clear. I did some internet sleuthing and I found his son, Avner Herzfeld, living part-time in SwitzerlandContinue reading “A Story of Notarization”
Breakfast with the Ambassador
As we approached the Zürich Hotel Engimatt, I recognized Jakob Kumoch, the Polish Ambassador to Switzerland, just getting out of his van with his staff. We were early so Dave and I slowed our pace hoping to greet him inside instead of on the sidewalk. Mr. Kumoch turned around, saw us, said my name, andContinue reading “Breakfast with the Ambassador”
Passport Update
In a few weeks I am going to a state ceremony honoring Konstanty Rokicki in Lucerne. I will be attending through an invitation from Ambassador Jakub Kumoch, who is the Polish Ambassador to Switzerland. Who is Konstanty Rokicki? And how did I receive an invitation from an ambassador? This is a long story and deservesContinue reading “Passport Update”
IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards 2018
The alarm woke us up at 4AM and Dave and I sleepily made our way to the Manchester Airport in 23 degree weather. It was colder than expected for an April morning in NH, but not entirely surprising. After a full day of travel we arrived in Austin, TX to a hot and humid 80Continue reading “IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards 2018”
K Heidi Fishman (Popje and Me) 