Only a week ago I would have put movies like The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, 2012, and the latest Batman movie on my must-see list. Apocalypse-style movies have an unexplainable draw - they’ve got the fast pace; they’ve got the action; for some they even offer a bit of realism.
Fighting for food, for freedom, and for life is such a romantic notion, and it's often dramatized on the big screen with trained actors, makeup, and props.
Last week’s event about the Bielski Brigade and about Bobe Leah Johnson’s inspiring story served as a reality check for me. That constant fight for food, freedom, and life was a reality for her and for millions of others less than a century ago, including for two of my own grandparents, a great aunt, a great uncle, and countless other family members.
My grandparents have only recently started telling me about their experiences during the Holocaust, and there’s still so much I don’t know. My grandfather was marched from Romania to a concentration camp in Ukraine – over 4000 kilometers by foot in any weather or condition. My grandmother escaped from Poland on a train and spent years hiding in Russia and in Central Asia.
No matter how much I hear about the Holocaust from my grandparents and how much research I do, I will never be able to fully appreciate their courage and faith, which is unfortunately found too rarely in my life, but which my grandparents, Bobe Leah, and so many others were blessed with.
I complain too much about homework and the weather, when instead I should celebrate every moment of the life I have and take every opportunity to improve the lives of others. I’m 18 and live at a time when I can do more than I ever could, and that’s thanks to my grandparents and everyone who has lived before me. Instead of glorifying fake battle scenes and empty characters, I’m going to try harder to exemplify the positivity and joy that Bobe Leah and my own grandparents have.
A few weeks ago, Ariela spoke about each of us being a light for others and spreading Judaism and goodness. I think spreading a message of joy and hope while still remembering all that has led to today is one way of being that light.
Meital is pictured on the right.