David, from what I understand from you about your background, your direct ancestors' fortune was in emigrating as early as they did compared to mine, who were luckier than others. If you don't know this, you'll be interested to learn that when the Kamianets-Podilskyi massacre was carried out on August 27-28, 1941, a month before Babi Yar, of the 23,600 Jews murdered, 16,000 of them had been deported there from Hungary. Then, between May and July, 1944, in one of the late efforts to complete the extermination of European Jewry, 440,000 still surviving Hungarian Jews were rounded up and shipped to Auschwitz, where of course most of them were killed. If you saw the film Zone of Interest, it is this round up that is being planned around the huge conference table late in the film.
Thanks, Matthew. Of my varied purposes in this writing, one is to offer an example of how historical understanding may be enlivened and more meaningful when its vital connection to current and individual lives can be seen.
You always make such admirable use of history, Jay, finding enlightening ways set the personal within the context of much larger, sometimes world-wide, events that also help tell your particular back story, one of persistence and endurance and survival.
No matter how many times I read them, I am struck again and again by the magnitude of the numbers, which, even now, in our time, continue to be augmented. That we have cold words like "extermination" to explain those numbers in no way diminishes them.
Terrifically detailed. My grandmother was sent away by her parents during a pogram with only one suitcase with the candle sticks I now own and she was only 13 years old, never to see her parents again. She died before I was born and I am named for her, angel as she was, according to all her children. I explain this undeserved gift of a name in my short story "Rugalach" in _The Woman Who Never Cooked_.
Sorry for the slow reply, Mary. Thanks for sharing the story of your grandmother. I can imagine what those candle sticks mean to you. The only possession my father retained of his life in Ukraine was the photo of Zakiah I've shared once or twice here. I should have ordered your collection before, but now of course I had to. Just done. BTW, I only last evening finally discovered my copy of *Who By Fire* in one of the not a few remaining unpacked book boxes, so I can return to reading. So looking forward.
Thanks for this, Jay. I believe my ancestors were fortunate to be in central Hungary, away from the front lines.
David, from what I understand from you about your background, your direct ancestors' fortune was in emigrating as early as they did compared to mine, who were luckier than others. If you don't know this, you'll be interested to learn that when the Kamianets-Podilskyi massacre was carried out on August 27-28, 1941, a month before Babi Yar, of the 23,600 Jews murdered, 16,000 of them had been deported there from Hungary. Then, between May and July, 1944, in one of the late efforts to complete the extermination of European Jewry, 440,000 still surviving Hungarian Jews were rounded up and shipped to Auschwitz, where of course most of them were killed. If you saw the film Zone of Interest, it is this round up that is being planned around the huge conference table late in the film.
Certainly the timing was everything as well.
Lots of interesting history here Jay, much of which I was unfamiliar with. Appreciate the insight and excellent writing.
Thanks, Matthew. Of my varied purposes in this writing, one is to offer an example of how historical understanding may be enlivened and more meaningful when its vital connection to current and individual lives can be seen.
You always make such admirable use of history, Jay, finding enlightening ways set the personal within the context of much larger, sometimes world-wide, events that also help tell your particular back story, one of persistence and endurance and survival.
No matter how many times I read them, I am struck again and again by the magnitude of the numbers, which, even now, in our time, continue to be augmented. That we have cold words like "extermination" to explain those numbers in no way diminishes them.
You are so right, Maureen about that last. Unfortunately, in different ways, I'm not done touching on that subject.
Terrifically detailed. My grandmother was sent away by her parents during a pogram with only one suitcase with the candle sticks I now own and she was only 13 years old, never to see her parents again. She died before I was born and I am named for her, angel as she was, according to all her children. I explain this undeserved gift of a name in my short story "Rugalach" in _The Woman Who Never Cooked_.
Sorry for the slow reply, Mary. Thanks for sharing the story of your grandmother. I can imagine what those candle sticks mean to you. The only possession my father retained of his life in Ukraine was the photo of Zakiah I've shared once or twice here. I should have ordered your collection before, but now of course I had to. Just done. BTW, I only last evening finally discovered my copy of *Who By Fire* in one of the not a few remaining unpacked book boxes, so I can return to reading. So looking forward.