Tuesday evening I went to the HeartStorm Farmstead where gracious owners Kim and Mike, Rabbi Raskin from Chabad of Southern VT, and Baltic Truth Holocaust Documentary, were hosting Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz, who was there to tell his miraculous story of survival. Gotz was 13 years old and living in Kovno (Kaunas) Lithuania when warContinue reading “Hate is Our Enemy”
Category Archives: Memory
From Švihov to Vermont
I have received another interesting email. Dear Mr. [sic] Rabbi Ilene Harkavy Haigh, Dear Mrs. Heidi Fishman,Last week our town has been visited by our native born Mrs. Nina Weil-Pelc again. Since 1968 she’s been living in Zurick, Switzerland. We were pleased about her wanting to see her birthplace again and being in a goodContinue reading “From Švihov to Vermont”
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 Sacred Trust
What do you do when you get an email from your rabbi with the subject line, “HELP”? I say, “I’m not sure I can, but I’ll give it a try.” This is how another project started. The congregation I belong to, Shir Shalom in Woodstock, VT, has been gifted the permanent loan of a HolocaustContinue reading “A Sacred Trust”
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”
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”
Walking with the President
We bought lunch at a kiosk before boarding the bus from Zurich to Lucerne along with the passport survivors and their families. Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, sat next to us and I took the opportunity to show him the documents I had brought with me. He closed his eyes and gave a visibleContinue reading “Walking with the President”
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”
Visiting My Grandparents
My mother told me the code for the entrance gate. I reached out my car window and punched it in, but it didn’t work. Luckily, just at that moment a car exited the gated community. I put my foot on the gas and scooted in before the barrier bar closed. My mother and I wereContinue reading “Visiting My Grandparents”
Yom HaShoah 2018
Over a year ago a classmate from Loomis-Chaffee, Jim Rice, invited me to come speak at his congregation. This week that invitation came to fruition as I spent three days at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, MI. My visit started with a lovely lunch and a tour of the building. Temple Beth El isContinue reading “Yom HaShoah 2018”
K Heidi Fishman (Popje and Me) 