I've heard Dugo's story often and it never ceases to get to me, just as the stories of all of the survivors. I just wonder what will happen to our world when there are no more survivors left.
The Jewish people will be left with the sorrow. Alone. It will be particularly difficult for the children of survivors, as I have mentioned in the article.
I am greatly moved by your writing. You have opened my mind to these issues. At one time in my life when I was young, I read everything I could about the Holocaust. Every Passover, our large gathering of family would stand and sing the Partisans of Warsaw song. My aunt has created support groups for children survivors of the Holocaust, studied and written about the resiliency - or lack - of children shuttled to England and an orphanage there ("Love Despite Hate", Sarah Moskovitz, Phd), and translated to English the Yiddish poems rescued as part of the Yingleblum archives (poetryinhell.org "Poetry in Hell"), and advised the documentary about the Archive. So - our family is very aware of it, and raised money for the establishment of Israel in the dark cold days in Chicago of the '30's and '40's. The Holocaust is never far from my thoughts. But, in the past ten years or so, I realize my heart, mind, and soul can only take so much, and I have backed away from any graphic retellings. I don't understand why this is so. Maybe it is part of the aging process (I'm a Baby Boomer, born in 1952). Although I do understand one factor affecting me. It is the adoption and even usurpation of the Jewish memory and memorialization of the Holocaust by well-intentioned - or not well-intentioned American Christians. Case in point: a church in my new (very nonJewish) area has totally taken over a Holocaust Remembrance Day public observation. I was invited to attend by a non-Jewish neighbor, and so I attended. Why am I so completely put off by a large church organizing to say "Never Again", with a few token Jewish participants? Why does it feel patronizing, or worse? Why do I not accept that there are good gentiles who want to remember (apparently more than the small local Jewish population)? Why did the church not partner in sponsoring this with a Jewish organization? It was like Jews were invited to this event, and some participated in this event, but were not "of" this event. The church - or its members are even fund-raising for a permanent memorial to the Holocaust in the city square. None of this feels quite right, at least to me. Should I question their motives, or accept their friendship and allyship whatever their motivation? I am troubled by the Christian movement in America that has adopted Israel's existence for their own cause. Is this kind of friendship better than no friendship, especially now that antiSemitism in America, of all places, has re-emerged with an energy and evil life force that I have never seen or experienced in my entire, mostly protected, lifetime?
Your substack, your writing, your thoughts have reintroduced the idea of me thinking about this again. You approach it so personally, and so gently, I am willing to start taking baby steps to think about these things again. So - I want to thank you for your writing about this, and your challenge to all who read this substack.
Sharon, thank you for your kind remarks. They make my writing worthwhile. I do not envy your dilemma with your Christian neighbors. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. The way I see it, there are two types of Zionist Christians: the ones who want to convert you and the ones who take a pass on that point of theology. You will not find better friends than the latter, and the former, well, just let them know that you are not up for sale. However, anyone who supports Israel is an ally so let them know that whatever their motives, you appreciate that. I understand your anguish that the Holocaust is being subsumed under a wider universalist umbrella, but that is irreversible. There is a Jewish future that portends well towards all humanity, and we need to focus on that. All the best to you.
Thank you. I will mull on this. I'd appreciate reading more of your thoughts about this. Indeed, I had let my (I believe well-meaning) neighbor know that I was not interested in attending his prayer-group's gathering to listen to a "rabbi" speak to them (a mosaic rabbi, I think he was called). I wished I could have told him how his offer had deeply offended me, but I understood that to keep neighborly relations with him (and he WAS a good neighbor), I would not try to educate him on my feelings, and how I perceived his offer.
I think that is a large part of my problem with the Evangelical Christians I have met or read about. They are so convinced of and so consumed by their perception of Jews that they do not try (or even Think of trying) to see how things could look from our perception of the world, who we are, and what we feel is our place in the world. It's so blind. And - if they could hear the truth - so unloving. But they only know what they know. I only say this as my own experience of these competing worlds. I understand there are many types of Christians in the world. I am only writing about a certain type. I do not lump them in all together. On the other hand, Ehud, I am still uneasy about Israel accepting this kind of friendship. I understand the reasoning behind it (so different from the times when "good" Christians just turned their backs), but I am still uneasy with it. It feels like I am locked up in a cage with a friendly tiger. I am grateful for the friendship, but realize it could turn at any point.
I think that sooner rather than later supporters of Israel will find that Israel will meet its destiny with or without their support, and that the benefactors of any support will be the supporters themselves. Even most in Israel do not realize it completely yet. The miracle of Israel will soon be undeniable.
David Leitner did not write his memoir. Zehava is Dugo's daughter. Here is the link to the printed book. The price is in shekels; in dollars with shipping it is about 25 USD. If you purchase you will have free access also to the online version which has new material and multi-media. https://www.dugostory.com/product-page/the-story-of-dugo-1
If I may add to this, I need to say how much it hurts to hear the pain of Jews, whom I have been taught to respect since childhood. Because I am a Christian, I have learned of the holy root you are to the Christian faith. Without you, there is no Christian. The Holy Scriptures, the Prophets, the seed of Abraham, to David to Yeshua. Within the last 20 years I learned from Day 1 that the Jews were The chosen of G-d, the apple of His Eye, to hurt them or Israel is to curse yourself. Our place of worship had several services for Jewish congregations to join us, and they did likewise. We had Nights to Honor Israel 🇮🇱 for secular and religious Jews. Both Pastors and Rabbis taught.
Recently, I realized that though I knew of centuries of hatred, pogroms, and the Holocaust, I did not know enough to understand ancient history, so I’ve delved into more history books and the antisemitism that God’s Chosen have lived through in every epoch and every nation. Most painful was to learn about the pain the Jews have suffered under the auspices of Church leaders. I have to say, I am sorry for the ugliness of the first family’s younger brother. I’m relieved to know that I have never been part of a church that put themselves above God’s chosen. Of course I hope all Jews will turn to Yeshua someday, but I understand how precious your Faith is to you, and will never think of convincing you to believe as I do. Shalom.
Everyone knows and is sick and tired of it. We are warning our friends, neighbors, and local sheriffs, having church meetings over this. They will not cause another Russian Revolution (https://rense.com//general86/realholo.htm). There's simply not enough pilpulling out of the truth anymore, attacking with offense while pretending they are victims, even the boomers are catching on.
Repent and turn to Jesus while there's still time to do so, it's unbelievable what they have done to us after we saved them in WW2, no thank you, no memorials to our soldiers who ran into the line of fire to fight and die for them.
“My basic thesis is that the Jews are a criminal people, and the Jews completely control the United States, and the Jews are using the United States as a vehicle to take over the world.”
– Bobby Fischer
Jesus and many of us still offer grace, turn to Him while there's still time, this isn't about blind hatred, Brother Augustine is now my brother in Christ just like any other that turn to the Messiah: Romans Road - https://files.catbox.moe/i5cvlp.png
I wish they all could understand how frustrating it is for those of us who supported Israel in our churches all those years, we never hated you guys, it's ASTONISHING what's happened, our grandparents fought for you. - https://files.catbox.moe/jjo7iz.jpeg, and https://files.catbox.moe/w77y98.jpg not to mention the endless "my fellow whites" bashing us.
Yet we are still the "antisemites" It's simply astonishing, we tried to help them in the US for so many years and they turn on us.
I really appreciate your linking my substack and very kind words, Ehud. For those interested in my series a good place to start is here, where the first 20 installments are listed: https://godofthedesert.substack.com/p/how-to-satirize-the-idiotic-haters This installment here also tells much of my personal story about why I as a "Judeo-Christian mystic" have chosen to shift my career to fighting for Zionism - https://godofthedesert.substack.com/p/7-reasons-this-christian-hippie-became This series here also links to and excerpts to some of the stories I've written for the wonderful Jewish News Syndicate service where I write as a freelance reporter: https://godofthedesert.substack.com/p/3-hidden-weapons-to-defend-the-jewish
Enjoyed reading. Keep up the good work!
I've heard Dugo's story often and it never ceases to get to me, just as the stories of all of the survivors. I just wonder what will happen to our world when there are no more survivors left.
The Jewish people will be left with the sorrow. Alone. It will be particularly difficult for the children of survivors, as I have mentioned in the article.
I am greatly moved by your writing. You have opened my mind to these issues. At one time in my life when I was young, I read everything I could about the Holocaust. Every Passover, our large gathering of family would stand and sing the Partisans of Warsaw song. My aunt has created support groups for children survivors of the Holocaust, studied and written about the resiliency - or lack - of children shuttled to England and an orphanage there ("Love Despite Hate", Sarah Moskovitz, Phd), and translated to English the Yiddish poems rescued as part of the Yingleblum archives (poetryinhell.org "Poetry in Hell"), and advised the documentary about the Archive. So - our family is very aware of it, and raised money for the establishment of Israel in the dark cold days in Chicago of the '30's and '40's. The Holocaust is never far from my thoughts. But, in the past ten years or so, I realize my heart, mind, and soul can only take so much, and I have backed away from any graphic retellings. I don't understand why this is so. Maybe it is part of the aging process (I'm a Baby Boomer, born in 1952). Although I do understand one factor affecting me. It is the adoption and even usurpation of the Jewish memory and memorialization of the Holocaust by well-intentioned - or not well-intentioned American Christians. Case in point: a church in my new (very nonJewish) area has totally taken over a Holocaust Remembrance Day public observation. I was invited to attend by a non-Jewish neighbor, and so I attended. Why am I so completely put off by a large church organizing to say "Never Again", with a few token Jewish participants? Why does it feel patronizing, or worse? Why do I not accept that there are good gentiles who want to remember (apparently more than the small local Jewish population)? Why did the church not partner in sponsoring this with a Jewish organization? It was like Jews were invited to this event, and some participated in this event, but were not "of" this event. The church - or its members are even fund-raising for a permanent memorial to the Holocaust in the city square. None of this feels quite right, at least to me. Should I question their motives, or accept their friendship and allyship whatever their motivation? I am troubled by the Christian movement in America that has adopted Israel's existence for their own cause. Is this kind of friendship better than no friendship, especially now that antiSemitism in America, of all places, has re-emerged with an energy and evil life force that I have never seen or experienced in my entire, mostly protected, lifetime?
Your substack, your writing, your thoughts have reintroduced the idea of me thinking about this again. You approach it so personally, and so gently, I am willing to start taking baby steps to think about these things again. So - I want to thank you for your writing about this, and your challenge to all who read this substack.
Sharon, thank you for your kind remarks. They make my writing worthwhile. I do not envy your dilemma with your Christian neighbors. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. The way I see it, there are two types of Zionist Christians: the ones who want to convert you and the ones who take a pass on that point of theology. You will not find better friends than the latter, and the former, well, just let them know that you are not up for sale. However, anyone who supports Israel is an ally so let them know that whatever their motives, you appreciate that. I understand your anguish that the Holocaust is being subsumed under a wider universalist umbrella, but that is irreversible. There is a Jewish future that portends well towards all humanity, and we need to focus on that. All the best to you.
Thank you. I will mull on this. I'd appreciate reading more of your thoughts about this. Indeed, I had let my (I believe well-meaning) neighbor know that I was not interested in attending his prayer-group's gathering to listen to a "rabbi" speak to them (a mosaic rabbi, I think he was called). I wished I could have told him how his offer had deeply offended me, but I understood that to keep neighborly relations with him (and he WAS a good neighbor), I would not try to educate him on my feelings, and how I perceived his offer.
I think that is a large part of my problem with the Evangelical Christians I have met or read about. They are so convinced of and so consumed by their perception of Jews that they do not try (or even Think of trying) to see how things could look from our perception of the world, who we are, and what we feel is our place in the world. It's so blind. And - if they could hear the truth - so unloving. But they only know what they know. I only say this as my own experience of these competing worlds. I understand there are many types of Christians in the world. I am only writing about a certain type. I do not lump them in all together. On the other hand, Ehud, I am still uneasy about Israel accepting this kind of friendship. I understand the reasoning behind it (so different from the times when "good" Christians just turned their backs), but I am still uneasy with it. It feels like I am locked up in a cage with a friendly tiger. I am grateful for the friendship, but realize it could turn at any point.
Messianic rabbi.
I think that sooner rather than later supporters of Israel will find that Israel will meet its destiny with or without their support, and that the benefactors of any support will be the supporters themselves. Even most in Israel do not realize it completely yet. The miracle of Israel will soon be undeniable.
Did David Leitner write his own memoir? I have tried to access Zhava Kors book, but it seems to only be available by ebook. I'll keep looking.
David Leitner did not write his memoir. Zehava is Dugo's daughter. Here is the link to the printed book. The price is in shekels; in dollars with shipping it is about 25 USD. If you purchase you will have free access also to the online version which has new material and multi-media. https://www.dugostory.com/product-page/the-story-of-dugo-1
The beauty of Dugo is that his optimism is an optimism with eyes open.
Fyi: the documentary my Aunt was an advisor to:
https://whowillwriteourhistory.com/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Sharon, I am writing; more to come. I just spent some time reading your aunt's translations at poetryinhell.org.
I am not the same person I was before I started reading the poems. They document the end of a great civilization at the moment it ended.
If I may add to this, I need to say how much it hurts to hear the pain of Jews, whom I have been taught to respect since childhood. Because I am a Christian, I have learned of the holy root you are to the Christian faith. Without you, there is no Christian. The Holy Scriptures, the Prophets, the seed of Abraham, to David to Yeshua. Within the last 20 years I learned from Day 1 that the Jews were The chosen of G-d, the apple of His Eye, to hurt them or Israel is to curse yourself. Our place of worship had several services for Jewish congregations to join us, and they did likewise. We had Nights to Honor Israel 🇮🇱 for secular and religious Jews. Both Pastors and Rabbis taught.
Recently, I realized that though I knew of centuries of hatred, pogroms, and the Holocaust, I did not know enough to understand ancient history, so I’ve delved into more history books and the antisemitism that God’s Chosen have lived through in every epoch and every nation. Most painful was to learn about the pain the Jews have suffered under the auspices of Church leaders. I have to say, I am sorry for the ugliness of the first family’s younger brother. I’m relieved to know that I have never been part of a church that put themselves above God’s chosen. Of course I hope all Jews will turn to Yeshua someday, but I understand how precious your Faith is to you, and will never think of convincing you to believe as I do. Shalom.
"We love persecution, it justifies offense - https://files.catbox.moe/qaz3op.png
Everyone knows and is sick and tired of it. We are warning our friends, neighbors, and local sheriffs, having church meetings over this. They will not cause another Russian Revolution (https://rense.com//general86/realholo.htm). There's simply not enough pilpulling out of the truth anymore, attacking with offense while pretending they are victims, even the boomers are catching on.
1918 Communist Revolution in Germany, it really was them all along - https://files.catbox.moe/vnnfzc.jpg, https://files.catbox.moe/mmx7f7.png
“Our messiah will not return until Europe and Christianity are destroyed” - https://files.catbox.moe/utm5jn.png
Who owned the sugar and cotton slave farms - https://files.catbox.moe/o30jxv.png and https://files.catbox.moe/ugrfzb.jpg
Who was really behind the African Slave trade - https://files.catbox.moe/ugrfzb.jpg, https://files.catbox.moe/6qg4fv.jpg,
All that time they blamed it on us when it was them
https://www.thelawsalon.net/Jews-selling-Blacks.pdf
Calling Europeans and Christians "Amalek" - https://files.catbox.moe/mt71ca.jpg
Repent and turn to Jesus while there's still time to do so, it's unbelievable what they have done to us after we saved them in WW2, no thank you, no memorials to our soldiers who ran into the line of fire to fight and die for them.
Brother Augustine is an Ashkenazi like Bobby Fischer warning what's happening - https://files.catbox.moe/48x2w8.jpg
“My basic thesis is that the Jews are a criminal people, and the Jews completely control the United States, and the Jews are using the United States as a vehicle to take over the world.”
– Bobby Fischer
Jesus and many of us still offer grace, turn to Him while there's still time, this isn't about blind hatred, Brother Augustine is now my brother in Christ just like any other that turn to the Messiah: Romans Road - https://files.catbox.moe/i5cvlp.png
I wish they all could understand how frustrating it is for those of us who supported Israel in our churches all those years, we never hated you guys, it's ASTONISHING what's happened, our grandparents fought for you. - https://files.catbox.moe/jjo7iz.jpeg, and https://files.catbox.moe/w77y98.jpg not to mention the endless "my fellow whites" bashing us.
Yet we are still the "antisemites" It's simply astonishing, we tried to help them in the US for so many years and they turn on us.