This shredding machine story has been haunting me. I've read it in two places: The London Times and UPI. I've been trying not to think about it, but it keeps popping up in my mind. Horrific.

Many people truly believe that the USA is more dangerous than these monsters and that Israel is committing worse crimes. These people's concept of reality is sadly flawed. And yes, that is quite an understatement.

The UPI link via Occam's Toothbrush

posted by Imshin 22:05

Today was a very ordinary Shabbat. Youngest went to a friend. Bish and Eldest went to the shopping center at Kibbutz Shfayim to buy poufs for the girls (that’s those big bean bag things). The girls have been dying for them for ages. I thought Shfayim, a popular shopping place for Shabbat because most places of commerce are closed, wouldn’t be as packed as usual. We usually don’t go near there on a Shabbat, but Bish says it was just as packed with shoppers as every Shabbat.

I’ve been checking up on Salam about once an hour but there’s nothing new. I see they’ve put those oil trenches around Baghdad on fire. You’ll remember we heard about them from Salam first. This probably means that the whole of Baghdad is under a horrible black suffocating cloud.

Here a Home Front Command top officer has been anonymously complaining to the Press that the decision to tell the public here to open the masks was an expensive mistake. I don’t know why these people can’t keep their mouths shut. A Home Command Front officer, high up as he may be, probably isn’t in possession of all the information with regard to intelligence and contact with the US and even if he is, it’s not his decision. His job is to follow the orders of his superiors and not to run to the journalists when things aren’t going as he likes. If I know these things, the Home Front can’t be bothered with the extra work and the headache they’re going to have “refreshing” the gas mask kits after this is over. Well that’s just too bad.

Anyway, tomorrow the bigwigs are going to reassess the situation and decide whether to bring down the level of alert. Picking up Youngest I saw just one person with a gas mask, although there were quite a lot of people out on their evening stroll. Besides us, that is. I’m what is known as a “Yekkit”. Yekke’s were what the German immigrants in the 1930’s were called, but it has become synonymous to doing things in an orderly fashion, strictly by the book. Well, the orderly thing is debatable, but by the book – definitely. Tonight this family will be just as ready for a missile attack as we were on the first night, even though Richard Perle just told Israeli TV channel 2 that coalition forces are in control of Western Iraq and that missiles on Israel are now very unlikely.

Update: IDF spokesperson called on Israeli citizens to continue to carry the gas mask kits. Israel TV channel 10 news.

posted by Imshin 19:44

If you came from Diane for a glimpse of the IDF Home Front Command booklet in Arabic - this is it. And this is the English version. You might find the Home Front Command website interesting, as well.

* * * *

"Ya Saddam, Ya Habib
Udrub, Udrub Tal Abib!" ("Our beloved Saddam, hit Tel Aviv")
Palestinians are again chanting the popular chant from 1991, in widespread demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza in support of Saddam, benefactor of the families of suicide bombers, (and bin Laden, according to Ynet). It looks like they will be disappointed this time around, no dancing on the rooftops. Gil has more links on this and Allison sums it up nicely from her Unsealed Room.

posted by Imshin 09:04

Once again, I woke up surprised and grateful this morning following another quiet night. This groggy early morning waking-up sleepiness is a welcome sensation. It means nothing happened again.

For months, no, years, we've been waiting for this. For months everyone has been saying that, this time, we'll not be involved, do not fear. But we are in possession of insecurities and lingering anxieties from the last Gulf War when we were targeted night after night, completely unprovoked, especially here in Tel Aviv, just spitting distance from IDF headquarters. Back then the sound of a motorbike resembling the beginning of an air raid siren continued to make our hearts beat faster months after it was over.

This is this war. So even though my heart reacted with instinctive fear when they let us hear the sirens in Kuwait on TV the day before yesterday, that is there and I am here. And here all is quiet.

I awoke with the pictures in my mind of the immense numbers of coalition troops moving in a planned and orderly fashion through the desert and with a feeling of amazement, tremendous respect and, yes, Awe. I am grateful to be on the right side of the Shock for once. I'm just relieved it's not us being shocked.

Yes, I'm sorry for the Iraqis, I know the terror they are experiencing. I feel no hatred for them. On the contrary, I feel a great deal of compassion, even though I realize they are not going to love Israel and Israelis any more after this is over. Probably even less.

* * * *

Andromeda suggests that problems accessing Salam can be overcome by browsing dearraed.blogspot. I've tried it and it works.

posted by Imshin 07:48

Okay this is enough!
I am not in Iraq. I am not being bombed right now. I am in central Tel Aviv, Israel. All is quiet. I admit, my gas mask and those of my husband and daughters are ready by the door of our apartment for rapid removal to the sealed security room on our floor, should we be awoken in the night by a missile attack. But the danger of this happening is low and is decreasing as time goes on, thanks to Coalition forces operating in Western Iraq and because this war really has nothing to do with us.

I welcome all of my many new visitors. I'm really happy to see you all. Please come in and feel welcome to explore my humble abode. The water is on the boil. Do you take sugar with your coffee?

But you see, you've come to the wrong place. Nothing is happening here. You might like to go over to Salam's. That's were the action is.

And for the latest update from him, check out Diane (if you didn't come from her in the first place).

posted by Imshin 22:30

Shabbat Shalom.
I hope all you Israelis have got your radios set on the silent station for the weekend like Head Rabbi Lau instructed!

By the way, there was the usual amount of cars near work this morning and when I got out of work this afternoon. I had to drive round a bit to find a parking spot, same as usual. But the streets were much emptier than usual. People have obviously stayed in town, but they're keeping indoors.
posted by Imshin 18:05

I don't think there will be any missiles either, but you know how it is. A mother gets worried. Actually I'm much less worried than I expected to be. Still we had everything ready for the dash to the security room, in the middle of the night. I notice Bish forgot about the silent radio station last night when he went to bed after me. The night before we had a fight about it. I said that it's unnecessary and if he uses my bedside clock radio I won't wake on time for work. I need it to wake me up.

Last night I slept beautifully, always appreciated more when you half expect a loud and unpleasant walk-up call in the middle of the night!

I wonder what parking will be like near work. Fridays and Saturdays are usually difficult in parking terms because the people who live round there don't vacate their spaces by going to work themselves. This will be a good indication of how many people have left town. As far as I can see from the window, parking round here is pretty normal. I live on the junction of two busy main Tel Aviv roads so this is a good indication.
posted by Imshin 06:57

Youngest’s piano teacher says Tel Aviv streets are completely empty. She says her Thursday evening concert is going on as usual at the conservatorium. Good for them!
posted by Imshin 20:04

No such luck
I rang my boss for an answer about the weekend. He said that on principal, they’ve decided that mothers won’t be working over the weekend, but he’s got a real problem on Friday between 8am and 4pm and could I please…

Bish absolutely refuses to go without me. So once again I have unpacked our bags. Since this happens so often when we plan to go to our little hideout in Mitzpe Ramon, I’m used to the feeling of disappointment.

There are some good sides to not going. For one thing, Bish will get to see the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game this evening. Our little apartment in Mitzpe Ramon does not boast a television. Or a radio for that matter, but we would have taken one this time. And I’ll be able to catch up with the laundry.

We won’t bother to get the girls up for school tomorrow. I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. We might decide to go then.

posted by Imshin 19:50

Those reporters in Kuwait with their gas masks on look so silly. What good do they think the mask will do of they’re standing outside in thin shirts with no additional protection?
posted by Imshin 17:35

I feel very spoilt in my relative safety, writing about what’s happening here when American, British and other soldiers are going to get killed over there.

A friend of mine has some important job in times of emergency. He was one of very few Israelis who got to meet some of the US military that are in Israel - Patriot operators, I think. He confessed being very impressed with them and how professional and businesslike they were. I’ve been hearing things like this a lot. A lot of people here are currently completely in awe with US soldiers as they are coming over on the media, serious, professional, disciplined. Complaining is often the national pastime over here, and people are pointing out the US soldiers’ complete lack of it.

Furthermore, a lot of people here are expressing empathy for the Iraqi people and what they are about to endure. I too am checking up on Salam all the time.

So excuse me if I sound like a spoilt brat. I’m just writing what I see and feel.

posted by Imshin 17:34

I’m cheesed off with hysterical parents. Quite a lot of kids from Youngest’s class (second grade) came to school and they studied nicely as usual. However, only eight of Eldest’s classmates (sixth grade) came (including Eldest). Those that did come didn’t want to stay of course “It’s not fair, blah blah blah”. Damn those other parents. I really see no justification for all this fuss. Business as usual, that’s the healthiest way, I think.

I might be able to get off this weekend after all and go down to Mitzpe Ramon with Bish and the girls, but I’ll only know later on.

Are people carrying masks in Tel Aviv as requested? Well, I didn’t get around very much today, but from the short drive from home to work and back I’d say so so. Some with, some without. I didn’t notice any difference in the amount of traffic in the city or in vacant parking places lining the sidewalks. In 1991 one of the best things was the abundance of parking in Tel Aviv, after everyone left town. Too bad I didn’t have a car back then. Of course, this was following the missile attacks. Most people don’t think we’re going to get any this time.

I don’t think that the fact that scuds having been launched against Kuwait really increases the likelihood of our getting them too, but it does make people feel a bit uneasier.

posted by Imshin 17:02

Bish wants to go to Mitzpe Ramon with the girls tomorrow afternoon for the weekend, but doesn’t want to leave me on my own here. Isn’t that sweet? Will someone please tell him I’m quite happy to be left here on my own? I’ll be able to raid the chocolate drawer freely. Hmm, maybe that’s why he doesn’t want me here on my own.
posted by Imshin 23:40

Gas masks time
Just as I was trying to get Youngest to start getting ready for her shower, they announced that we must open the gas mask kits and try them on. Youngest’s special mask completely baffled me. Bish had to go out and forgot to put on his cell phone as usual, so I couldn’t ask him for his advice. The Home Front Command phone line was continually engaged (duh). It took me about half an hour to work it out and dare try it on her. I mainly dithered about trying out the battery-operated pump thingy and then about opening the filter so as not to waste it, but without the filter and the pump you can’t try it on at all. Don’t ask. She hated it, poor thing. I don’t blame her. It says here to keep the masks fitted with the filter. Seeing as I’m sending the girls to school tomorrow, and if necessary their teachers are going to have to help thirty odd children with the masks (if all the kids go to school, which is unlikely), I thought it wiser to leave their rather complicated children’s masks fitted out with the filter, than trust their teachers to have time to fiddle with them for them.

We’ve got to carry the masks everywhere from now on, kids included. This means I have to send Youngest (not yet 8 years-old) to school with an atropin shot in her gas mask box. Is this wise? Bish says I shouldn't worry. I've warned the girls they mustn't touch the atropin and mustn't attempt to put on the masks without grown ups. Eldest seems so unhappy about the whole mask thing that I don't think she'd dream of putting it on by herself.

They’ve also announced that the silent radio station will start working soon (Hebrew link). This is a silent radio broadcast that allows us to sleep with the radio on. This way we can catch the very first code announcing a missile attack originally meant to alert the people who work the air raid sirens. It was a great help in 1991 because you didn’t get much warning in those days and there wasn’t much time to get into your sealed room, air raid shelter or whatever and this way you got a few precious extra seconds.

posted by Imshin 22:48

Nothing will probably happen here, but still…
Schools will be open tomorrow. Bish and I both have to work. It looks like I’m going to have to work over the weekend too. My job has some sort of significance in a time of emergency and I can’t just stay off. Bish’s mother is also very busy in her capacity as organizer of volunteers for the Home Front Command in her town. When I rang her cell phone this morning, she pressed to accept the call but didn’t answer. I could hear her talking in the middle of what sounded like a pretty important meeting. It sounded like they were making last minute logistic plans.

All these things taken into account, Mitzpe Ramon is out of the question for the time being. Bish would rather the girls were there. I’m more an advocate of routine. It doesn’t matter either way because we can’t go or send them. At least we have a good security room here in Tel Aviv. Much better than the place we were living last time. Bish is talking about going down with the girls (and without me) for the weekend.

I think a lot of parents won’t be sending their kids to school tomorrow, which could be a good thing, because it will be easier for the teachers to organize the kids that do show up (like mine) in the secure rooms if necessary. Both my girls’ teachers don’t have kids of their own, so there won’t be a danger of their not coming. The missiles, if they arrive, will most likely be coming in the night anyway. I hope they do, because the sealed room on my floor at work is so pathetic, I reckon it’ll be just as safe to stay in my own office, or make a dash for the good sealed room downstairs at the front.

I don’t like the idea of not having the girls with me at home all the time. But this is just the way it has to be. I do think keeping to routine is better for the girls psychologically. The kids who will go to school will probably have a lot of fun, especially if there are not a lot of them, because there will probably be a special intimate atmosphere. Eldest is trying to persuade me to let her stay home. She reasons that they won't get any studying done so why bother. No way is she staying home alone tomorrow!

Another member of my family, who will remain unnamed, has prepared for war by buying earplugs and an extra tin of baked beans. This person has no intention of letting any silly old missile attack spoil his/her beauty sleep. That’s the spirit! If I didn’t have any kids I‘d probably do the same. Lucky devil!

posted by Imshin 18:08

Triple Sealing
It doesn't get more surreal than this. Organizing the security room, we can clearly hear the neighbors on the floors above and below organizing theirs too. This building has sixteen floors. This must be going on all the way up. At one point the neighbors from the floor above come down to visit us and tell us that in 1991 the neighbors all chatted and passed verbal messages between the floors.

The security room is all ready with chairs, cushions, food, water, radio, games, first-aid kit... Gas masks and evacuation bags are all ready in a big bag by our apartment door. Our neighbor says she'll bring a TV. She's gone to take her elderly mother her gas mask.

Eldest is starting to be nervous. She says it's getting too real, what with preparing the security room, and picking out games to put there. I explain to her that it's mainly a matter of taking precautions. I do believe it's unlikely that we will need to use the room, or that anything will happen to us even if missiles are launched towards Israel, but it's better to know we are ready. I am more nervous that the war will not go as smoothly as the US hopes, than about Israel being involved. The Frog feels differently. Well, it doesn't really matter what we imagine will happen, as long as we are ready. We'll know soon enough.

Everyone is hoping the rain that started this afternoon will keep up. Rain is good for dispersing gas, should it arrive.

Update (11pm): Eldest just came looking for her inhaler. She hasn't needed it for months and months, even though we have had this cold rainy winter. Lucky I'd already packed an inhaler in her evacuation bag and there's one in the first-aid kit. It's also fortunate that she still has the kid's mask with the pump, which is easier to breathe with.

posted by Imshin 19:23

Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go
Thank you Lynn B. and Haggai for taking the time to e-mail me and tell me that it's called a pre-nuptial agreement. I had thought of that but didn't think it suitable. The agreement we signed was a monetary agreement between two people, not necessarily between a couple planning to enter any sort of marital style arrangement. Another reason it didn't seem appropriate was the connotation I have, probably the result of watching too many crumby American suspense movies (No offense. I don't think all American suspense movies are crumby. You have to admit some are, though), of a pre-nuptial agreement being something to do with scheming opportunists marrying millionaires while harboring dark ideas of murder and easy money (Or something on the lines of that tacky fat blond woman whom I have seen momentarily on American TV shows while zapping. Am I right in supposing that her late husband didn't find such an agreement necessary?).

This could serve as a taste of how Hollywood colors the way non-Americans perceive the US, in case you guys were wondering why you aren't so very popular in certain corners of the world. Us foreigners probably get a pretty warped view of life in America (What? Don’t all Americans look like Michelle Pfeifer?).

Yesterday I met up with some old school pals, who have returned to live in Israel after many years in various parts of North America. They pointed out how hard it is for them in Israel to reach the standard of living they had enjoyed effortlessly in the US and Canada. I'm fortunate I don't have to make any such comparisons, never having lived or worked anywhere but in Israel (besides a few years in infanthood and early childhood). It's maybe easier to appreciate and enjoy what you do have if you don't have high expectations.

Treasury Minister Netanyahu announced new economic steps yesterday including the plan to fire around two thousand government workers this year (and another two thousand next year) and an average cut of 8% in governmental salaries. Sounds the right thing to do to me, the question is if he’ll manage to get it past the Histadrut (union). I only hope I'm not one of the two (or four) thousand.

Netanyahu's timing was impeccable. The whole thing is getting far less media attention than if everyone wasn't more interested in what's going to happen in Iraq.

And if we're on the subject of war with Iraq, I've come to the conclusion that this must be the war most-talked-about-in-advance in all of history.

Anyway, the latest is, fresh from this morning, that we're to prepare the secure rooms for use already. There was widespread speculation at my workplace this morning that tonight’s the night. Well, those of you who are in America will maybe get to see it start live on TV this evening. I'll be asleep in bed, thank you very much, unless rudely awoken by an air raid siren.

I had to work till 1 am last night for reasons unrelated to the war. Today I came home from work early because it's Purim. Now I'm going to bed for a little afternoon schloff (before I drop - I didn't get much sleep last night). When I get up, we'll start moving stuff into the security room.

posted by Imshin 14:15

Happy Purim


posted by Imshin 07:09

The London Times says Israeli commandos have operated in Western Iraq, in addition to American and British forces there, who are apparently operating out of Jordan.
posted by Imshin 14:07

I must get this.
posted by Imshin 08:29

Nearly ready
When Bish and I got married (back in the year dot) we weren’t very happy about the idea of playing into the hands of the ultra-orthodox by being married by the Rabbinate. We played with the idea of going to Cyprus or Britain for a civil wedding. In the end we went ahead with the whole orthodox shaboom, so as not to do our parents out of the pleasure of a wedding celebration with all their friends and family. Furthermore, a civil marriage would have somewhat complicated the issue of taking out the (very small but still necessary) state-sponsored mortgage we were entitled to (not a lot - we would have got it, it would just have taken longer to organize and we didn’t have time, for various technical reasons). The fact that we really couldn’t afford any trips abroad also helped the decision. I’m glad we did go ahead with an orthodox Jewish wedding, although I still don’t appreciate not having had a choice.

In those days, people were starting to be aware of the idea of a monetary relations agreement between couples (whether married or in a long term relationship). I’m not sure if I’ve translated the term correctly. In Hebrew it’s Heskem Yahasei Mamon. Bish and I had read about this a few months before the wedding and decided it would be a good idea. Of course, being us, we forgot about it and remembered three days before the night (Weddings in Israel are usually at night, preferably on a Tuesday which is deemed a lucky day because during the seven days of creation God looked at his work every day and saw it was good. On Tuesday this happened not once but twice). So we spent the three days running up to the wedding sitting with our lawyer planning our divorce. Down to the tiniest of details. This was not very pleasant (What am I talking about? It was pure hell.), but at least we knew where we stood.

Last night I packed evacuation bags for us all, according to the Home Front Command booklet (Do I really have to link to this again?). It felt very much the same as planning our divorce all those years ago. Trying to visualize the worst so as to be prepared, hoping the preparations would not have to be utilized.

My mother’s illness and death have taught me you can’t ever really prepare for the worst.

I spent most of the evening searching, unsuccessfully, for Bish’s inoculation booklet. Do you think I’m being a bit obsessive?

Bish prepared the "security room" with plastic sheeting for sealing (It's quite an old building by Israeli standards - today built-in sealing is part of the requirements).

posted by Imshin 07:43

Tomorrow?!
Wait! It’s too soon. I’m not quite ready yet. Tomorrow is very inconvenient. Couldn’t we just…

help!

[Bish thinks it's maybe time to prepare the security room]

posted by Imshin 21:52

My humble suggestion in answer to Beth’s query: (“Why are we going to war with Iraq at all? Why not just move in with a surgical strike and kill Saddam Hussein, and then see if the country falls peacefully?”)
Because there would be a blood bath between the different ethnic groups, for a start. There's a lot of revenge coming to a lot of people. A temporary military occupation is necessary to prevent this and to help create (attempt to create?) a more responsible alternative style of government. Remember the WMD Iraq still has? Does the US want it falling into the hands of another bunch of thugs or does the US want it destroyed?

posted by Imshin 21:31

Purim
So the girls went off to school today in their Purim finery (the next three days are holidays so the kids celebrate at school today, although Purim day actually falls on Tuesday). Youngest as a pink fairy and Eldest as a black and green witch (coupled up with best friend who was a black and purple witch). Nothing that allowed me much creativity this year, but they were happy, sort of. As grown ups we look at all the kids in their shiny colorful costumes and think what fun they’re having, but there is a lot of tension in it, competitiveness, bashfulness. They usually don't enjoy actually being dressed up as much as the planning and anticipating. At least the weather kept fine. When it rains it’s very inconvenient because the costumes don’t usually allow for sweaters, coats and umbrellas.

The jokes are all about which masks we’ll be wearing this Purim. Last Gulf War Purim came just at the end of the war and a lot of people went to Purim parties with their gas masks all decorated. Since 1991 Purim has changed its flavor somewhat, or is it just me growing older? Many important events have been burnt into our memories as part of Purim. Baruch Goldstein’s massacre of worshippers in the Hebron Cave of Machpela in 1994 was the first. Then came the terrorist attack at Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv in 1996. A year later, in 1997, it was the terrorist attack in the Apropo Cafe in Tel Aviv. There could be more, but these are the things that automatically come to mind.

So people get nervous at Purim. This is life. The fun and the tragic forever intertwined. The fear of terrorist attacks is such that I have never taken my girls to Purim parades or outdoor street parties. I always loved the Tel Aviv Purim Parade (called Adloyada - “ad de lo yada” means “until not knowing”. You are meant to be so happy in Purim as to be incapable of knowing anything – alcohol is encouraged), and I once took my nephew when he was a baby (he’s now in high school). They haven’t had it in Tel Aviv for a few years. I think the last one here was in 1998. They have one in Holon, a large satellite town just South of Tel Aviv, and in other smaller towns.

[Israeli PM Ben Gurion meeting Egyptian president Nasser - wishful thinking in the Tel Aviv “Adloyada” of 1956]

I can hear happy music coming from the school Purimon. When I took Youngest I noticed the teachers seemed to be having the most fun. They were all dressed as Little Red Riding Hood.

posted by Imshin 10:41

From Naomi Ragen’s Mailing list:

PURIM IN DACHAU By Solly Ganor
March, 1945.

They arrived from Auschwitz in several groups. Each group counted about twenty people. Of course, they didn't look like people. They looked more like walking skeletons. They had triangular faces with pointed chins, and sunken cheeks. Even the lips had shrunken to thin blue lines. The only prominent feature were their eyes; they were unusually large and with a strange sheen, almost luminous. They were known in concentration camp slang, as ‘Musselman’. That was usually the last stage before death. They spoke Yiddish with an accent, which to us Lithuanian Jews, sounded strange. They told us that they came from the ghetto of Lodz through Auschwitz,
before they were sent to our camp. Our camp was known as the ‘Outer camp of Dachau, number 10’ and it was situated near the picturesque town of Utting, by lake Amersee.

Our camp was sitting in the middle of a small forest with surrounding green meadows and beautiful landscapes.

I remember the day when we were brought there, I thought to myself, ‘How can anything bad happen to us among all this beauty’? I soon found out that the beauty was in the landscape only. The Germans in charge of us were sadists and murderers.

The Lodz people fell into the same deceptive trap. They thought that after Auschwitz, our camp looked like paradise. Most of them died soon after their arrival, from hard labor, beatings and starvation, still they preferred to die here than in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. It was from them that we heard the incredible stories of gas chambers,
and crematoriums, where thousands of our people were murdered every day. Some of them told us that they were standing naked before the gas chambers when they were suddenly ordered to get dressed and were sent to our camp. The Germans must have been really desperate for workers to send these walking skeletons all the way from Poland.

Around March 1945, there were only a few of them left alive. One of them was known as ‘Chaim the Rabbi’. We never found out whether he was actually a rabbi, but he always washed his hands and made a bracha before eating. He knew the dates of the Jewish calendar, and also knew all the prayers by heart. From time to time when the Germans were not looking, he would invite us to participate in the
evening prayers.

Our Jewish camp commander, Burgin, heard about him and tried to get him easier jobs. Most people died when they had to carry a hundred pounds of cement sacks on their backs, or other chores of heavy labor. He wouldn’t have lasted a day on a job like this. He once told me that if he would survive he would get married and have at least a dozen children.

Around the middle of March, we were given a day off. It was a Sunday. The camp was covered with snow, but here and there the first signs of spring was in the air. We heard vague rumors of the American break through into Germany and a glimmer of hope was kindled in our hearts. After breakfast, consisting of a slice of moldy bread, a tiny piece of margarine, and brown water, known as ‘Ersatz Coffee’, we returned to our barrack to get some extra sleep.

Suddenly we noticed ‘Chaim the Rabbi’ standing in the snow and shouting “ Haman to the gallows! Haman to the gallows!” On his head he had a paper crown made of a cement sack, and he was draped in a blanket which had cut out stars from the same paper attached to it.

We stood like petrified before this strange apparition, barely able to trust our eyes, while he performed a dance in the snow, singing: “I am Achashwerosch, Achashwerosh, the king of the Persians.” Then he stood still straightened himself out, chin pointed to the sky, his right arm extended in an imperial gesture and shouted:
“Haman to the gallows! Haman to the gallows! And when I say Haman to the gallows, we all know which Haman we are talking about!” We were sure that he has lost his wits, as so many did in these impossible times. By now there was about fifty of us standing gaping at the “Rabbi”, when he said: “Yiidden wos iz mit ajch! Haint is Purim, lomir shpilen a purim shpil!” “Fellow Jews, what is the matter with you?! today is Purim, let us play a Purim Shpil!” Then it dawned on us that back home, a million years ago, this was the time of the year when we children were dressing up for Purim, playing, and eating ‘Hamanetaschen’. It took the ‘Rabbi’ to remember the exact date by the Jewish calendar when Purim was. We hardly knew what day it was.

He then divided the roles of Ester Hamalka, Mordechai, Vashti and Haman among the onlookers.I was honored to receive the role of Mordechai, and we all ended up dancing in the snow. And so we had our Purim Shpil in Dachau. But that was not the end of the story. The “Rabbi” promised us that we will get today our ‘Shalach Manot’, and we thought that it was hardly likely to happen.

But, miracle of miracles, the same afternoon, a delegation of the International Red Cross, came to the camp. It was the first time that they bothered about us. Still, we welcomed them with open arms, because they brought us the “Shalach Manot” the ‘Rabbi’ promised. Each one of us received a parcel, containing, a tin of sweet condensed milk, a small bar of chocolate, a box of sugar cubes, and a pack of cigarettes. It is impossible to describe our joy! Here we were starving to death as suddenly on Purim, we received these heavenly gifts. Since then we never doubted the ‘Rabbi’ anymore.

His prediction also came true. Two months later ‘Hamman-Hitler’ went to the gallows, and shot himself in Berlin, while we, those of us who were still alive, were rescued by the American army, on May 2, 1945. I lost track of the ‘Rabbi’ on our ‘Death March’, from Dachau to Tyrol, but I hope that he survived and had many children as he always wanted. I always remember him when Purim comes around, for the unforgettable ‘Purim Shpil’ in Dachau.

Solly Ganor
Herzelia Pituach.
Purim. ‘Yud Daled, Adar.’
March 16, 2003

posted by Imshin 09:30

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