“For the dead and the living"

Yad Vashem - The Jerusalem Holocaust Museum

Sunny and Hot (93 degrees at 11pm)

“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.”  ― Elie Wiesel

The Hidden Child

Berthe was born in 1933. When safety began to deteriorate for Jews, Berthe and her family moved to Lyon, France. Soon Hitler invaded France and Berthe's parents decided to place Berthe with a non-Jewish family in Switzerland. At the age of 6 Berthe began her new life - pretending to be a Christian. She observed the other girls around her to learn how to act. And she thought the world of her new "mother",  a simple, hard-working farmer's wife with a kind heart. 

Berthe, age 84

She also thought the oldest member of the family Marcel was tall and good looking. He treated Berthe like a sister and she thought of him as a brother. 

Marcel and Berthe's two "sisters"

As Berthe neared 12 she prepared to be confirmed in the church. Her "mother", the only family member who knew that Berthe was Jewish, suggested that she wait until the following year as the war would probably be over. She didn't want Berthe to have to convert to a different faith and maybe it wouldn't be necessary. However Berthe remembers wishing she could have worn a beautiful white confirmation dress!

Berthe's wise and kind "mother"

After the war Berthe was reunited with her family. She lost two aunts to the Holocaust. Berthe and her husband eventually settled in Israel. It was a strange feeling, Berthe said, to be surrounded by people who didn't want to harm her.

Berthe stayed in touch with Marcel and his wife all through Marcel's life - the brother she always wanted but never had.

 He was always a handsome man, Berthe said!

Berthe's "mother" was recognized for her humanity in taking Berthe. See her picture, center right.

Intermission between two heavy topics

 Above the kitchen in a neighborhood eatery in Jerusalem.

This in a city that has endless Christians making a pilgrimage

I can't figure out a solution to the middle east mess and

I can't figure out which sink to use! Total paralysis...

The Holocaust Museum

1.1 million children were murdered

Inside is darkness and a path to be followed using a handrail. A voice tells the name of a child murdered, his/her age and hometown, followed by the name of another child. It was very moving.

The darkness was filled with thousands of candles, like stars splashed around the sky. Each one a child that was denied an adulthood.