Holocaust, Hell.

I can't say I've been to hell. Not in comparison to the stories we heard while overseas and the stories and facts we all know about the Holocaust. It's not fair to compare my suffering now, as I deal with society and humanity and try to educate, to the suffering, then. It's minimal in comparison.

But I can say I survived Auschwitz. I survived Majdanek. And that's rare. It's fantastic that I could visit these places and have the opportunity to witness the sites and atrocities to further educate and prevent genocide. But it is hell, and I was there, I witnessed, too.

I'm currently reading Halina Birenbaum's memoir "Hope is the Last to Die", which I bought at Auschwitz and she describes Majdanek as the following:

"How was it possible to cope in Majdanek with the burden of memories, cruelty and pain? There was one remedy: Majdanek itself. Majdanek gave no one time for memories, sorrow or despair. The threat of death and torture meant that every minute spent in the camp dulled the mind while it sharpened the animal instinct and killed all human impulse (113)."

Majdanek was hell on Earth and it still is, today. While there are exhibits, memorials, here it is not to the extent that Auschwitz has. For the most part, Majdanek is as Majdanek was. And that made things real. That gave me goosebumps. And that really showed the hell. The reality of it and made Pinchas' story, and now Halina's, come to life and haunt me.

It is this place that is the epitome of evil and fear and horror in my mind. And it is this place that is in mind so often during the night as I dream, pray and wake, shaken.

It is hell and I agree with what Philip Riteman, Auschwitz survivor, told me: we all live in Heaven. And it is so beautiful.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone, from New Brunswick.

Location:Fredericton, NB