A 2nd Generation's Journey
| The Hatikva |
Last week, my son Alon, finished his officer's course at the base in the Negev
desert. The proud families were invited to the cadets' graduation, where they
marched and received their officer's pins. It was the usual Army ceremony
including flag raising, marching bands, speeches… I enjoy seeing these
ceremonies, but am usually not taken in by all the fanfare.
desert. The proud families were invited to the cadets' graduation, where they
marched and received their officer's pins. It was the usual Army ceremony
including flag raising, marching bands, speeches… I enjoy seeing these
ceremonies, but am usually not taken in by all the fanfare.
In the recording you can hear my mother, Cesia
Frommer Einhorn, belting out the song with her
operatic voice (and the only one who really knew
all the words in Hebrew), full of determination,
wanting the whole world to know that despite all
that she and others had suffered though, they had
not lost their hope and still dreamed of returning
one day to Zion.
Where did my mother's amazing strength come
from? How did she find this strength and hope,
despite the atrocities she witnessed and suffered,
despite the death march from Auschwitz to Bergen
Belsen, despite only days earlier having
contemplated running and killing herself on the
electric fence of the camp?
Frommer Einhorn, belting out the song with her
operatic voice (and the only one who really knew
all the words in Hebrew), full of determination,
wanting the whole world to know that despite all
that she and others had suffered though, they had
not lost their hope and still dreamed of returning
one day to Zion.
Where did my mother's amazing strength come
from? How did she find this strength and hope,
despite the atrocities she witnessed and suffered,
despite the death march from Auschwitz to Bergen
Belsen, despite only days earlier having
contemplated running and killing herself on the
electric fence of the camp?
These were my thoughts as 64 years
later, in the State of Israel, where The
Hatikva, "The Hope", has really come
true, I saw all these young men and
women become officers in a Jewish
Army, an Army and State that did not
exist 64 years ago to save these
concentration camp prisoners.
later, in the State of Israel, where The
Hatikva, "The Hope", has really come
true, I saw all these young men and
women become officers in a Jewish
Army, an Army and State that did not
exist 64 years ago to save these
concentration camp prisoners.
Until – the end of the ceremony, when everyone rose to sing the national anthem,
The Hatikva. I was overwhelmed with emotion and broke down crying. My
thoughts were with my mother, who 64 years earlier, in perhaps the most horrific
nightmare ever known to mankind, sang this same song.
In 1945, the BBC recorded the surviving prisoners of the Bergen Belsen
concentration camp, singing the Hatikva "The Hope" on their first Sabbath
celebration after liberation, surrounded by the dead and dying.
1945 BBC recording (with transcript) or if have difficulty try
http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?m=2935546
The Hatikva. I was overwhelmed with emotion and broke down crying. My
thoughts were with my mother, who 64 years earlier, in perhaps the most horrific
nightmare ever known to mankind, sang this same song.
In 1945, the BBC recorded the surviving prisoners of the Bergen Belsen
concentration camp, singing the Hatikva "The Hope" on their first Sabbath
celebration after liberation, surrounded by the dead and dying.
1945 BBC recording (with transcript) or if have difficulty try
http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?m=2935546
| Cesia Frommer April 1945, Day of Liberation, Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp |
| Cesia's Grandson, Alon Oct. 2009 right after receiving his officer's pin Negev Base, Israel |
My mother's hope and determination were not for naught. She would have been
very proud.
As the ceremony finished one white dove sailed over the cadets' heads.
Perhaps, she was here with us.
Cesia (Cecilia) Einhorn passed away on May 28th, 2009, 5 months ago.
very proud.
As the ceremony finished one white dove sailed over the cadets' heads.
Perhaps, she was here with us.
Cesia (Cecilia) Einhorn passed away on May 28th, 2009, 5 months ago.
Words of the Hatikva
Why is this haunting song, today the national anthem of Israel, so moving? The
melody is so different from other national anthems that resonate with strength and
pride. The sad melody of the Hatikva seems to resonates with 2000 years of
Jewish suffering. Perhaps it is part of our collective consciousness that moves us
so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatikvah
Liberation of Bergen Belsen
BBC radio report and photos
(Difficult viewing, but shows how far we have come in 60 years.)
BBC Broadcast 1945 Bergen Belsen
Why is this haunting song, today the national anthem of Israel, so moving? The
melody is so different from other national anthems that resonate with strength and
pride. The sad melody of the Hatikva seems to resonates with 2000 years of
Jewish suffering. Perhaps it is part of our collective consciousness that moves us
so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatikvah
Liberation of Bergen Belsen
BBC radio report and photos
(Difficult viewing, but shows how far we have come in 60 years.)
BBC Broadcast 1945 Bergen Belsen
- Written by Oran Aviv
Oct. 30, 2009 – 2 days before my mothers birthday
oran@reflexandmore.com
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