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When the Pets Stopped Playing
March 2, 2008
It is so very hard to imagine living in a nation that guarantees our civil rights that one day all our privileges as a citizen could be taken away because of our religion, race or beliefs. The total erasure of civil rights for the Jews was taken away methodically, gradually and then escalated to a crescendo that swept through Germany, Austria, Poland and their occupied territories during WWII. Once the National Socialists took office, no place for the Jew was found in Germany. Jews were stripped of their citizenship. They were degraded, plotted against, restricted and disenfranchised, not only as citizens but as human beings. Eventually like cattle they were rounded up deported and killed. They were socially ostracized and made the scapegoats of all the problems of society. Laws such as the Nuremberg Laws were enforced to the letter and eradicated all rights of the Jews, partial-Jews, their friends, mates and supporters. The cruel and degrading restriction in local communities extended to such little daily thing like having your hair styled in a salon, owning pets, and going to a public park. No pets, no pets, no pets…. I guess “animals” were not allowed to own pets.
Harassment of the Jews was undeniably the underlying, uniting raison d’être of the Nazis on their climb to power. The Jews had curfews, were denied advanced education, denied access to recreational activities and required to shop in only Jewish stores. But, one of the Nazis’ cruelest decrees forbids the Jews to own pets. A survivor of Theresienstadt, Birkenau and Stutthof Camps,
Helen Lewis, described It.:
“I can still see the old people, the old women, with their little pet hamsters, canaries, even goldfish – in the trams, holding on to these little creatures, taking them to the collection points with tears streaming down their faces, and trying to say goodbye to their little friends.”
Another Survivor, Susan, told me about how special Bogar was to her family. It was 1939 and her father brought home a small, furry puppy whose eyes wee like liquid chocolate and who would give them all kisses. He followed them everywhere and was a constant source of joy, amusement and companionship, Bogar was the holder of all of Susan’s deepest secrets. Bogar hated the sounds of planes and shooting and the fur on his back rose up when he heard a plane approach. One day in June of 1943 Susan and her family were marched to the Ghetto. Since dogs were not allowed, they left Bogar free at home hoping he would survive, Three weeks later, Susan and her family was taken from the Ghetto to the train station at Hajudhadhaz. Bogar was waiting outside the Ghetto. He was alive! He followed them to the train station where once again they had to leave him. Through all their trials and tribulations Susan’s family prayed for Bogar’s survival.
As a survivor’s child I have come to appreciate the littlest detail that defines us as human. This past fall, Temple Beth El in Boca Raton held a” Pet Blessing Ceremony.” Rabbi Robert Goodman gave a special prayer that began like this:
Dear God, Creator of all life, You have blessed us with life in so many forms- from the smallest insects to the largest animals that roam the earth. To human beings, you gave the power to think and to remember, the power to love and to nurture that love. Our pets give us the gift of unqualified and unconditional love. They love us and love us and love us. Their well of love is never dry…
We thank YOU, O God for all that they have given us.”
Amen.
I speak for myself and on behalf of all the members of NEXT GENERATIONS, when I thank our beloved country for ensuring the civil liberties we too often take for granted.
Greta Brewer
Vice President of Education,
NEXT GENERATIONS
NEXT GENERATIONS is under the auspices of LEAH, League for Educational Awareness of the Holocaust.
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