Schindler's List

Historically, this has been a very rough week for the Jews. As is customary I went easy on the indulgences and spent a bit of time learning and reviewing relevant topics. In addition to spending a lot of time reading Jewish History (from my sister-in-laws mint condition 11th grade textbook) I borrowed my Father-in-laws DVD of Schindler's List. The first and last time that I saw this movie was shortly after it came out in 1993. TABC, my high school, actually thought the movie was so meaningful and well done that they paid a theater to have a special showing and took the ENTIRE school to see it. Surprisingly, despite a fair deal of nudity (as well as the obvious, horrendous atrocities), I don't think any of the parents objected. I remember very clearly how moved I was when I saw it.

After more than 15 years the movie, thankfully, still holds up. No. It remains a benchmark film. Not only is it a remarkable piece of filmmaking (from an objective, artistic standpoint, the movie is well executed in every way) but it is a historic necessity. As any New Yorker will tell you, "Never Forget" is easier said than done. As a witness to the events of 9/11 I myself am at fault for allowing it's significance to diminish over the last several years. While we cannot let the weight of these great events stop us from living we must take them with us every day.

When the film was over I watched and read every bit of the extra features. The main extra was about an organization formed by the films director, Steven Spielberg, called the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. The foundation was built and is maintained by the University of Southern California. Through a remarkable effort the foundation has collected video testimonies of over 52,000 witnesses. The record is comprised mostly of Jewish witnesses, but also includes other persecuted groups as well as soldiers, politicians and civilians who saw the Holocaust with their own eyes. Among those interviewed is my ex-landlady Mrs. Hammer.


"Mrs. Hammer" taken five years ago for my as of yet unpublished Frum Faces project.

During our six years living in her house Mrs. Hammer often referred to her interview with Spielberg's crew. Until last night I never really knew what she was talking about. Now I know that her testimony can be seen at any of the numerous locations that have access to the Foundation's archive (in the NY area the closest three are Columbia University, Syracuse University and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C.). You can view a very brief bio of Mrs. Hammer online by searching the Testimonies Catalogue, but I urge you to visit a location near you to see the video. Use the search phrases "Yera Hammer" or Interview Code #18278.

Having never seen her video I decided to sit down with her myself to hear her first hand account first hand. It was exactly one year ago tomorrow (on Tisha B'Av, according to the Hebrew Calendar) that AY and I had the privilege to not only listen to her stories but ask her questions as well. As the great Jimmy V once said "There are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."

I agree. If you don't already laugh, think and cry every day why not give it a try tomorrow. For all those participating I wish you an easy and meaningful fast.