My Grandfather's Megillah

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My Grandfather's Megillah

This handwritten Book of Esther called the Megillah (“scroll”), for the holiday of Purim, belonged to my maternal grandfather. I never knew my grandfather, but I cherish having something that I know was his, was touched by his hands, and that connects us. Unfortunately, not much else is known about where the scroll came from and how my grandfather acquired it, but I can feel history—mine and that of the Jewish people—when I hold it, and I try to imagine the answers to those unknown questions. There are other kinds of megillahs, but only Esther is read from a handwritten scroll—traditionally written with a goose quill. There had been water damage to some of the lettering on this scroll, but the ink still glistens on the leather. Happy Purim, and don’t forget to make some noise if you see the name of the badman of the story--Haman….it’s written 54 times in the Megillah!

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We Remember

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There is no substitute for hearing and learning from the stories of those who bore witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Growing up, Gerda Weissmann Klein’s personal account as a survivor, her book All But My Life: A Memoir, had a significant impact on me—her recounting of humanity and inhumanity, friendship and family, hope, chance, small gifts and sacrifice, and the ultimate arrival of liberation and new love.

I had the great honor and pleasure of sharing a meal and visit with her a few years ago. I think especially of Gerda and other survivors having to watch the destructive hatred, racism, antisemitism, fascism, and general disregard for the sanctity of all human life that has continued to permeate our society and rear its ugly head.

I think of so, so many people we lose to hatred and inaction, and feel a renewed sense of urgency to listen while we have the opportunity so that “Never Again” does not become an empty promise.

Here are just some of the memorials from around the world (Israel, Berlin, Hungary, Holland, U.S., Italy) that for me best express the immense and profound loss.