Yad Vashem

No trip to Jerusalem would be allegedly complete without a trip to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the six million victims of the holocaust.  I was very moved by the gardens surrounding the museum which were dedicated to the righteous gentiles (those non-Jewish individuals who saved Jews) and the remembrance to the children killed in the holocaust.  I was not moved by the museum itself however.  The museum is very different from the one I remember from 28 years ago. Because of the one built in Washington DC, it was felt that a newer, more modern structure needed to be built. Like the one in DC, I found the museum to be very sanitized in its depiction. For example, little was mentioned of the US, notably FDR, lack of response.

Yael and I had some time before we had to meet up with our group so we decided to find the library to look up some information (Yael: the kindertransport to Sweden that her mom, Trude, and aunt, Erika,  in which her mom and aunt were involved; Marty: the role of Dutch prostitutes in hiding Jews).

We first approached an information person in the visitor center to find the library. Yael began to ask "Shalom, 28 years we were here and...." before the woman cut her off by saying "Listen that was then, things are different now, so you need to be here now and not remember the past."  Definitely a strange this to say at a museum dedicated to remembering.  Yael persisted and we got the directions.

We had to wait before the only one librarian who spoke English was available.  Unfortunately, neither of us were able to find the information that we were seeking. It was strange that Trude's  experience has not been documented.  My question was met without a lot of skepticism.  I did get one lead which I will pursue on the Internet.

We made a small contribution for which we received lapel pins that we will wear when we get home.

NOTE 1:  I really want to find a way to bring a holocaust remembrance to Vermont.  Two of our fellow travelers, Ina and Jerry, told us about something their JCC is doing.  With Yael's strong encouragement I think it is something we may be able to do. Basically, six large plexiglass containers are constructed in which one million pennies can be held.  The Swampscott JCC has been doing this for two years and has filled less than half of one container.  It will probably take a decade to fill the containers but in the meanwhile the six structures serve as a very visible reminder.  Definitely something we plan to pursue back in Brattleboro.  You can read about the idea by visiting www.wickedlocal.com/swampscott/homepage/8999338106893107199.  

Note 2: Don't forget to check out Yael's blog http://sabra-travelstoisrael.blogspot.com for a chronological account our experience.