Please permit me, nearing the eighth anniversary of Reuven Stein's passing, to share more of his remarkable story as a Holocaust survivor who made it all the way to America (to have an NBA-crazed kid)
Thank you so much for this. Really. I mean that. As a society we sure do complain a lot for how good we have it. I know I’m guilty. God save us from war and hatred.
My parents were Viennese Jews who managed to escape Vienna barely before the Anschluss and made it to New York in 1940, seven years before I was born. My paternal grandparents were poor Polish Jews who found their way to Vienna some time in the very early 20th Century and ended their lives in the Sobibor death camp having been unable to be rescued, but my father never wanted to talk about his parents, and I didn’t ask the right questions (my mother was more open and could have filled me in), so I too have regrets given that my parents are now long gone. Your father must have been a remarkable man - thanks so much for sharing!
Marc, may your father's memory be a blessing! Now its time I take Dan Grunfeld's book off my night stand and read it. He spoke virtually to our synagogue a few months ago.
This is a really beautiful piece, Marc, and thank you for sharing the photos, as well. I have Romanian/Hungarian/Ukrainian/Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, and even though all of them got to the US between 1900 and 1910, the people in you pictures look familiar, and I mean that in the literal sense.
Allow yourself some grace about your 2015 piece, I'm certain that your father was and would be very proud of your work.
Thank you Marc for sharing this story. As someone who lost two grandparents in the last few years who were survivors it really reasonates. We're lucky to have had them in our lives!
Brilliant piece Marc, thanks for sharing! My entire family on my mother's side were from Romania so Transnistria is well known in my household. My Zaidie who was the youngest of 14 siblings was able to join the oldest of the 14 siblings who was allowed one entry VISA to Canada in the 1930's and missed out on the Holocaust where many of the remaining brothers and sisters were killed. The ones who survived ended up dispersing to Canada, the USA and Israel including my great grandfather who ended up in Canada as well. Dan's story is incredible as well and highly recommended!
My father passed from dementia, in hospice care in his nursing home. On his last day, my sister and I both visited him, and we knew his condition had significantly worsened. We resolved to take the next day off and stay with him all day.
I believe my dad figured this out, even though dementia had taken his ability to understand us or speak to us in anything but grunts. A few hours after I left him to go home to sleep, he passed peacefully by himself. I suspect that, as much as we would have loved to have been with him, he wanted to go on his own terms. And I'm eternally grateful that, as rough as his last month was, he got some dignity back in that.
I suspect, without knowing, your father wanted the same, and would have been proud that you were doing something you loved.
Thank you for bearing witness, Marc, and for correcting your account. That shows real bravery and attention to what’s right. We all have a responsibility to preserve these memories, and ensure that in this case, history doesn’t repeat.
Jun 14, 2022·edited Jun 14, 2022Liked by Marc Stein
What a moving tribute to your Father, Marc! In fact, got me to call my own Dad, just to check on him…
Thank you for allowing us to share in your family’s journey. They overcame so much, but very thankful we got hear about their journey through you. You would make them all proud, for sure! ☺️
Thank you so much for this. Really. I mean that. As a society we sure do complain a lot for how good we have it. I know I’m guilty. God save us from war and hatred.
My parents were Viennese Jews who managed to escape Vienna barely before the Anschluss and made it to New York in 1940, seven years before I was born. My paternal grandparents were poor Polish Jews who found their way to Vienna some time in the very early 20th Century and ended their lives in the Sobibor death camp having been unable to be rescued, but my father never wanted to talk about his parents, and I didn’t ask the right questions (my mother was more open and could have filled me in), so I too have regrets given that my parents are now long gone. Your father must have been a remarkable man - thanks so much for sharing!
Marc, may your father's memory be a blessing! Now its time I take Dan Grunfeld's book off my night stand and read it. He spoke virtually to our synagogue a few months ago.
This is a really beautiful piece, Marc, and thank you for sharing the photos, as well. I have Romanian/Hungarian/Ukrainian/Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, and even though all of them got to the US between 1900 and 1910, the people in you pictures look familiar, and I mean that in the literal sense.
Allow yourself some grace about your 2015 piece, I'm certain that your father was and would be very proud of your work.
Thank you Marc for sharing this story. As someone who lost two grandparents in the last few years who were survivors it really reasonates. We're lucky to have had them in our lives!
Brilliant piece Marc, thanks for sharing! My entire family on my mother's side were from Romania so Transnistria is well known in my household. My Zaidie who was the youngest of 14 siblings was able to join the oldest of the 14 siblings who was allowed one entry VISA to Canada in the 1930's and missed out on the Holocaust where many of the remaining brothers and sisters were killed. The ones who survived ended up dispersing to Canada, the USA and Israel including my great grandfather who ended up in Canada as well. Dan's story is incredible as well and highly recommended!
My father passed from dementia, in hospice care in his nursing home. On his last day, my sister and I both visited him, and we knew his condition had significantly worsened. We resolved to take the next day off and stay with him all day.
I believe my dad figured this out, even though dementia had taken his ability to understand us or speak to us in anything but grunts. A few hours after I left him to go home to sleep, he passed peacefully by himself. I suspect that, as much as we would have loved to have been with him, he wanted to go on his own terms. And I'm eternally grateful that, as rough as his last month was, he got some dignity back in that.
I suspect, without knowing, your father wanted the same, and would have been proud that you were doing something you loved.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for bearing witness, Marc, and for correcting your account. That shows real bravery and attention to what’s right. We all have a responsibility to preserve these memories, and ensure that in this case, history doesn’t repeat.
Very touching story, and a great read as always. Thanks for sharing, Marc.
What a moving tribute to your Father, Marc! In fact, got me to call my own Dad, just to check on him…
Thank you for allowing us to share in your family’s journey. They overcame so much, but very thankful we got hear about their journey through you. You would make them all proud, for sure! ☺️
Beautiful and thank you for sharing, Marc.
Carrying on the legacies and sharing the stories of our families fight for survival is all we can do, and you did it magnificently.
Reuven would be proud. Am Yisrael Chai!
Thank you for sharing this with us, Marc. Amidst all the NBA talk, it's nice to be reminded that we are all just humans carrying a legacy.
Marc, thanks for sharing this story. ❤️
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Beautiful tribute. Thank you for this.