ARTFUL READERS CLUB  

November 28, 2014

"The Girl in the Green Sweater:

A Life in Holocaust's Shadow"

by Kyrstyna Chiger with Daniel Paisner 

Hi Folks,

It's the end of the month...time for my monthly book review and art for the Artful Readers Club (and anyone else who might enjoy the suggestion of a new book to read or avoid.) Hope the month has been good to you and that you're ready to face the holiday season head on!

This month's book is THE GIRL IN THE GREEN SWEATER: A LIFE IN HOLOCAUST'S SHADOW by Krystyna Chiger (who lived through the horrific time) and Daniel Paisner. Krystyna recounts the story of her survival as a child, while her family transitioned from a wealthy home to the Lvov Ghetto and then into the sewers of Poland, living amid rats, worms and filth. They fled to the sewers, along with several other Jews, then unknown to them, to save their lives during the final 14 months of the Holocaust. Their belief was that they'd see the sun again in a few weeks...this was not their lot!

 

 Krystyna was almost 8 years old when Germany and Russia split Poland in 1939. Living under the Communist government wasn't easy for the Jews in Eastern Poland as the Ukrainians were brutally cruel to them. When the German army invaded, they suffered another brand of cruelty. All their circumstances are viewed and explained through the eyes of Krystyna...a child victim of the times, (augmented, in part, by the unpublished memoirs of her father.) But, in typical child-like fashion, her positive attitude shines through her writing as she's grateful to be with her family...even through such difficult times.  Their survival beneath the city in the inhabitable sewers, in addition to their own bravery and tenacity, depended greatly on the support and eventual friendship of a Polish Catholic man, Leopold Socha (a sewer worker and former thief) and his two friends. They risked their own lives and that of their families to bring them supplies, comfort and news even when the money to pay  for these services ran out...good to find that their intentions were not solely mercenary.

With each book I read about the Holocaust, I'm overwhelmed by the human capacity for cruelty as well as bravery, generosity and will to survive. This book is no different in that manner...Krystyna shares her thoughts as a little girl and keeps the reader intrigued by the story and the sheer miracle of survival. Most poignant were the times she and her little brother could hear the children playing above their sewer grate... 

This was a beautiful piece of historical literature.... beautiful, harrowing and heartbreaking. It's not just another Holocaust story, it's unique, haunting and in the end, triumphant!! YES...this is a must-read!

Thanks for stopping by. I pray you enjoyed your Thanksgiving (those of you who celebrate the holiday,) and that you found many blessings for which to be thankful. I'm thankful, among other things, for YOU! 

xox,

Hope to see you for my next...

abbyj

  

CHRISTMAS IN KRAKOW, POLAND

January 3, 2013

Ten days in the 2nd largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland, KRAKOW...that's where we were for Christmas. Situated on the Vistula River, the city dates back to the 7th century...medieval times. In fact, it's a walled city that has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish academic, cultural, economic and artistic life. 

Staying at a small, conventional Bed and Breakfast with a definite flavor of Poland, (called TANGO HOUSE) we climbed 55 steps up a winding stairway to our cozy room. 

We were right around the corner from the heart of Krakow's ancient Main Market Square (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site,)

at the center of the action in this busy city all the time. Centrally located, the sights, sounds and smells  of the Christmas season enveloped us as we walked the cobbled streets and hidden alleyways,

peeked in the gaily decorated shops and eateries...

and enjoyed the Christmas Market stalls and entertainment.

The pungent taste of sausages, sauerkraut and hot, spicy mulled wine are memorable pleasures as was the traditional hourly trumpet signal, heard around the clock...LIVE...since the 13th century... from the top of the taller of St. Mary's two towers.

The plaintive tune breaks off, incomplete, to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city.  It's a lovely tradition, though somewhat gruesome in its history. Another lovely happening, (not gruesome at all,) that may BECOME a tradition, was held in the Main Market Square. It was a Christmas tree giveaway.  A local radio station gave a fresh cut tree to all who were patient and cold-resistant enough to wait in the exceptionally long lines. Nice...and there was music playing and lots of seasonal good will going around at the same time!! We wanted to find out more about it, but couldn't find anyone who spoke English!!

A very walkable, beautiful city, untouched by the ravages of WWII, Krakow was the country's first capital (before it was determined that Warsaw should have that distinction...politics!!)  A legend attributes the founding of the city to the mythical ruler, King Krakus, who built it atop a cave inhabited by the Wawel Dragon. The dreaded dragon's lair was at the foot of Wawel Hill on the bank of the Vistula River. 

Wawel Castle can be seen above the dragon's lair today.

Boasting many ancient churches (note the 12 Apostles welcoming worshippers and visitors alike,)

the home of a Pope,

and a few synagogues for the less than 200 Jews left in Krakow,

WWII's Nazi Reign of Terror is still very much in evidence. A visit to the concentration/death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau was a sobering reminder of humanity's lowest point. It's one thing to read about the horrors of the Holocaust, but quite another to walk on its grounds and see the remnants of these camps: sprawling and desolate places, partially destroyed by the Germans when they realized that they were losing the war. There was enough for us to get a chilling picture...an inkling...of the terror that these people lived through with each borrowed day. We say "Never Again,"  but like atrocities are still happening in pockets all over the world today. 

One of the most unnerving aspects of this visit was to see the young people posing for their friends' cameras, while standing next to assorted horrors, with big grins on their faces. Have sufficient years gone by that Auschwitz is just another museum?

The once Jewish section of Krakow, called Kazimierz, is now an up and coming neighborhood for fashion, night life, restaurants, bars and art. A stone's throw away, we found Oskar Schindler's factory (of "Schindler's List" fame.) A German businessman who came to Poland to profit from WWII, he ended up saving the lives of more than 1200 Jews by employing them...often at great risk to his own life!

On a brighter note, a visit to an extraordinary mall (one of two in Krakow) was a pleasant surprise. It had many high end shops, the usual assortment of chain stores (both Polish and American,) the ONLY Starbucks in the city...it even had a shop that launders, cleans and irons your clothes. Have you ever seen that kind of shop in a mall in the USA or Canada? I haven't! In addition, it had an enormous play/activity/crafts area for children.

I was in Krakow in 1981 doing a documentary for television with Project Hope at the Polish-American Children's Hospital. The country had just emerged from Communist rule and was carefully, cautiously stretching  its arms toward freedom. It was the first time there were colorful fruits and vegetables in the markets. The steel mills were still going strong and when it snowed, it was actually GRAY, not white!! When we were out walking, the air pollution made breathing difficult...many wore masks. Today, the city of Krakow is unrecognizable. It has opened its arms to tourists and created a strong infrastructure that has made a visit to this medieval city a wonderful experience. People were warm and welcoming, returning our smiles and greetings. Seeing remnants of the walled, medieval city that Krakow was...it's ancient buildings (like the Renaissance style Cloth Hall, the world's arguably oldest shopping mall and hub of the city since the 13th century,) 

and stepping aside for the passing horse and carriage, visiting Krakow was a treat that will remain in our thoughts and bring us smiles for a long time to come!

Thanks for traveling with me... I'm taking the month off from blogging. There may be a quick posting here and there, but I hope to see you in February, when I'll be blogging regularly once again.

Thanks, family and friends...Once again, Happy 2013!!

Big Hugs and love,
abbyj

POLAND, MARRIAGE and NATURE 
May 7, 2012 

Since Michael and I have an anniversary coming up toward the end of this month, TAKE A WORD's prompt to do an art piece about weddings was very timely...a trip down memory lane so very long ago... YES, we're jumping on a trampoline!!! 

Hello, dear family and friends...happy that you've checked in! Some fun art challenges this week...and some good learning experience. I must, for the zillionth time, pay homage to Google and the Internet in general...as a research tool (as well as a way to keep in touch with loved ones all over the globe!)   

In my year-long challenge blog, the Art and Sole POSTCARD CHALLENGE, our virtual journey was to POLAND. Interesting place... especially in the city of Sopot where there's a rather unusual house... 

and Szymbark, where there's a whole community of upside-down houses like this one...  different colors and different styles, but all upside down.

Then, there's the KRASNOLUDKI or little people. The town of Wroclaw is where most of them live... kids believe in them and love them; adults are amused when they see them. But, as the story goes, beware of them and above all, don't get them angry!!! 

Poland is a poor country and wages are low. They have the highest unemployment rate and they marry very young. Interestingly, the most beloved "Hollywood Movie Star" for Polish teenagers is Johnny Depp...I'm with THEM!!  Finally, Polish weddings are fun occasions (as are all weddings...) They have a tradition of pinning money on the bride's dress to "buy" a dance as well as throwing money instead of rice at the newlyweds as they depart.
Poland's city of Auschwitz (called Oswiecim today,) houses the most infamous and deadly Nazi concentration camp from the time of World War II. Because I believe that this was a time that shamed humanity, a time we need to remember and never repeat, that's the subject of my  postcard this week... 

A couple more of those blog challenges I love- the COLLAGE OBSESSION challenge was to create a piece of art with a SPIRALS theme......I looked underwater for my inspiration.

Finally, the CRAZY AMIGO blog liked the TREE theme. I recalled a time, in Tanzania, Africa, when I crawled into the shelter of a century-old BAOBAB tree. They're amazing trees- often called upside- down trees.  Some have been said to be over 2,000 years old. Memorialized in Antoine de Saint-Exupery's book, Le Petite Prince, they're found dead and alive in a variety of unique shapes and sizes. The Baobab is also known as the tree of life, with good reason. It can provide shelter, clothing (its bark is very fibrous,) food (its leaves are used as condiments and medicines and its fruit is edible and full of Vitamin C,) and water, (stored by the trunk,) for the animal and human inhabitants of the African Savannah regions.  For much of the year, the tree is leafless and looks like its roots are sticking up in the air!  Can you see me in the tree?

Lots to digest in this week's posting...hope you were able to plough through it...and I look forward to seeing you for the next...

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
abbyj