By Jeff French Segall
On April 19, a beautiful spring Friday, approximately 300 people gathered in Riverside Park to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which began on April 19, 1943, and grew into the largest single revolt by Jews during the Holocaust, lasting until May 16.
There were scholars, poets, and singers at the Upper West Side event, which had a quiet but uplifting tone, with talented professionals performing works of resistance, loss, and survival.
“The essence of it,” said one attendee, who preferred to remain nameless, “was that not all Jews went like sheep to the slaughter. There was resistance and survival. We are here.”
“Here” was at “Der Shteyn” (the Stone) in Riverside Park between West 83rd and 84th streets.
Once intended to be the cornerstone for a future, more elaborate monument, the stone bears the inscription: “This Is the Site for the American Memorial to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Battle, April-May, 1943, and to the Six Million Jews of Europe Martyred in the Cause of Human Liberty.”
All attendees lined up and took turns placing flowers upon the stone, then gathered around in small groups, in deep conversation with one another, most vowing that next year, they will be back for the 83rd commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
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Love this and sorry I missed it. Curious as to why there were no Israeli flags in the crowd?
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising commemoration has strong historical ties to the secular Yiddish-speaking community and the Bundist political movement (as did many of the fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto themselves), and its concept of “doikayt” – “hereness” – the idea of building both Jewish community and coalitions with other groups wherever we are in the world. Note that the flags present are all local ones: the flag of the U.S., the flag of New York City, the flag of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. This event has nothing to do with Israel, and if anything is associated with a longstanding cultural tradition which intentionally refrains from centering the State of Israel.
i didn’t see any politicians either!
Not sure why you would expect Israeli flags at this event? I couldn’t go this year but I have attended the event many times in the past (including once in Warsaw). Rain or shine. Never seen an Israeli flag and never expected to see one. I am by no means prejudiced against the Israeli flag and it’s natural to see one at other events but not there.
Beautiful and moving. Thank you for your coverage of this important ritual.
Here is the link to a personal video of the audience joining in to sing the final two Bund anthems, Dos Partizaner Lid and Die Bundishe shvue (The Bundist Oath).
https://youtu.be/Rci7sbsATAM
Thank you for the link. Touching to watch but sad to see so few young faces. Both my parents were Holocaust survivors .
Is irony dead?
Have you taken a moment to read the plaque?
?
This is an obnoxious off topic swipe at Israel. Shame on you for posting.
Anyone interested in the topic should read the great Leon Uris novel “Mila 18.” It was never made into a film, because after the mini-series “QBVII” (which Uris hated) he decided he would not sell to the film industry anymore. But it really should be made into a movie.
Another good read is Miron Białoszewski’s Memoir of the Warsaw Uprising (NYRB Classics)
When my (non-practicing Jewish) family moved to 83rd Street 60 years ago, we were surprised to find ourselves literally just steps from such an august memorial. A couple of years later, when we were old enough to understand, my parents explained to my two brothers and me exactly what the memorial was. (Although non-practicing, we maintained Pesach every year, so we were familiar with some of our Jewish history, as well as, of course, with WWII (our father had fought), Germany, Hitler and the Holocaust).
When my brothers and I would ride our bikes down to the park and up and down the promenade, we always stopped for a moment just to acknowledge the memorial. And, of course, whenever relatives visited, we always took them down to the park to visit the memorial.
Having not been to the park in a while (due to the cold temperatures), I thank you for reminding me, and will visit the memorial at my first opportunity.
Shalom!
A real resistance to real oppression.
Can you cite examples of “fake” repression? Do you mean, as Candice Owens claims, that in the USA Christianity is discriminated against — an obviously delusional claim, or do you mean something/s else.