L'Chaim! To Life!

The new year is 5784, according to the Hebrew calendar. It is a time of beginnings, of promise, but also a time of reflection. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are called the Days of Awe. It is a time for meditation, for remembrance, and for asking forgiveness. I have always been most impressed by that last part because, in Jewish tradition, you must ask for forgiveness from those you may have wronged directly from that person. None of that easy prayer to the Heavens stuff. This is an earthly endeavor, and a humbling one. For me, it works as a deterrent. I try really hard not to commit any wrong to a fellow human being, although I’m sure I don’t always achieve that goal. During these in-between days, Jews are implored to contemplate how to live better, how to give more of themselves in the year to come.

As it happens, it is also the time that my mother died – 23 years ago. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed. Trite as it sounds, she is still part of me, and I feel my parents’ presence every day. It helps, of course, that I am surrounded by many of their belongings – keepsakes I can only hope my children and grandchildren will someday value.

You are the sweetest man in the world, my mother wrote to my father. You are the only one I care for.

Today I feel nearer to them than ever, having immersed myself in their past, recreating their escape from the Holocaust and the obstacles they faced as immigrants. And now, the culmination of my work is almost a reality. In the Wake of Madness: My Family’s Escape from the Nazis will be released on February 5, 2024. It is a story worth sharing because it is both a cautionary tale and one of hope, homage to my parents’ fierce determination to seek a “normal” life despite the tragic and frenzied events that surrounded them. I find myself seeking their inspiration, steeped as we are in such perplexing and anxious times.

So I thought I would share the book cover with you today. It’s a good representation of my parents’ optimistic love and the treasure trove of documents that made those tumultuous times come to life. For me, the upcoming publication of the book is both a beginning and a continuation, both a recognition of horror and a celebration of family, friends and the sheer joy of living.

2024, in the Roman calendar favored by most countries today, will be chocked full of challenges to our democracy and our humanity. While promoting my book, I fear that the confluence of history and current events will give me plenty to talk about.

May you all be written in the Book of Life for a sweet new year - and may we all find the courage and resilience to face whatever challenges await. L’chaim!