Branderburg Tor and Unter de Linden

We had a fun day that started with a visit to one of the oldest standing and active synagogues in berlin, the Ashkenazic orthodox synagogue, and later an easy stroll on Unter de Linden that started at the branderburg Tor and ended at Alexander platz. Later this evening my mom received an award at the Silent Heroes museum. Remarkable and unforgetful. 

Visiting Ima's old neighborhood

Yesterday we took our mom to her old neighborhood and saw from outside the two apartments she lived in, one before the war and the other during the war until she went to hiding.  From there we walked to the main synagogue where the family belonged to.  It was an emotional day. I videotaped the trip and will try to upload the footage later, together with some still shots. In the evening we attended dinner at the home of a joirnaliat who has been writing about our mom's group of children, the Vila Emma children. 

At the Topographic Des Terror Museum by the old wall that used to separate East and West during between 1961 - 1989.  

The museum provides such a powerful depiction narrative of the planned terror state that Hitler's National Socialist party implemented in Germany, starting in 1933.  

תמיד שאני נכנסת לסיפור של אמא, היומן בתקופת המלחמה, אז אני חושבת שגם אנחנו צריכים לכתוב.
אבל, אני, ברגעים של סגירת מעגל עם היומן הזה ועם כל מה שהיה, לא מוצאת מילים לתאר.
מה שהטיול הזה בעיקר עושה,
הוא מפגש משפחתי של ארבעה. שלוש אחיות ואח.
בגיליאים 51-65 הבנות כולן כבר סבתות והבן, מאוד קרוב לזה.
תחושת ההמשכיות היא החזקה מכולן.
גם ביומן של אמא, וגם בזיכרון שיש לי מלגדול לידה,
ישנה אוירה מאוד חזקה של: עושים הכי טוב שיש עם מה שיש.
לכן, לפעמים כשאני מסתכלת עלינו מהצד, אני מעלה חיוך
על התקפות הצחוק שיש לנו,
על הסיבה שפתאום מתחיל פרץ הצחוק הזה,
ובעיקר, כמה קל לצחוק ביחד,
בהרכב האנושי הספציפי הזה ובסיטואציה הזו.
איזו הקלה,
איזו שמחה זה מביא.
היום נלך למוזיאון הטופוגרפיה של הטרור,
ומשם נמשיך לעוד מקום, שבודאי, נחליט עליו בהמשך.
אביגיל
 

Evening of presentation and discussion at the Schartzkoph Foundation

She was sitting there not far from the Reichstagg, in the center of a room full of highly educated intellectua of all ages who came to listen to her, a woman who fled Germany at the age of 14.  This was my mother tonight, at the age of 88 and with barely any formal education.

I'm feeling so proud of her for the presentation and discussion she chose to be part of today, and with so much confidence and grace.  At the age of 88, she is still able to speak so clearly and respond to questions in German from many guests, most of them she has never met in her life.  As she was speaking, I reminded myself how fortunate I am to have her as my role model and teacher.  My mother tought us to let go of hateret and resentment while practicing gratitude and seeking happiness. I'm the luckiest son in the world, to have her as my mom!

Kristalnacht - Reading names at the Jewish Community Center

We visited the Jewish  community center, located walking distance from our hotel, and read names of the Jewish Berliners who parished during the war.  It was so powerful and emotional to have our mom honoring the names of our family members who died during the war.  Kristalnacht, that happened 77 years ago, signified the beginning of the painful destruction  of the Jewish community here in Berlin and around Germany.

I arrived to Berlin last night and met everyone at a local theatre where we watch the musicle Chicago (German version, which was so similar to the Broadway production, besides the language).  It was incredible.  It was so nice to meet Klaus Voigt, the Historian who wrote the book about our mom and was instrumental in organizing this week's program, who joined us at the theatre.  Afterwards we enjoyed a nice Harari style evening of laughs and good time.  Today, November 9, is an anniversary of Kristalnacht that started exactly 77 years ago (11/9/1938) right where we are now.  It's very powerful and emotional for us to be back here so many years ago with our mom, who was 11 years old at the time.  We plan to join an event that commemorates this today at the Jewish community center.  I'll try to send some pictures from this event as well.

Tonight will be one of the events that my mom will be speaking at, together with Mr. Voigt and others.

Getting ready for our trip!

We are all so excited to meet up in Berlin soon.  My ima and two of my sisters, Bilha and Avigail, are arriving from Tel Aviv, and my sister Ada is arriving from Amsterdam.  I'll be joining them tomorrow (arriving from LA).  Can't Wait!