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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT, CLICK THE FROG
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
In the Talmud it is written, “To save the life of one man is to save the world.”
TO SAVE ONE LIFE
Pain seared through the fifteen-year-old’s leg. “I’m so clumsy.”
“The snow is slippery. Needless to say, you won’t be dancing for a while, ma chérie.” The doctor’s kind eyes brimmed. “It’s a severe break. You need to be in hospital.”
“No, the SS—”
“Without medical care, one leg will end up shorter than the other.”
“Better to limp than be dead.” Huguette moaned.
“Then you’ll stay here—in my chalet.”
Today, Huguette is petitioning Yad V’Shem to recognize Dr. Frédéric Pétri of Val d’Isère as one of the Righteous among the Nations. Ken Y’hi Ratzon. May it be so.
To read more CLICK HERE. Thank you, Dale for sharing this with me.
No reason to include this video with this story. No reason.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
This is a lovely story, Rochelle. The doctor was not only kind but brave. Well written as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
He was brave indeed. He took his Hippocratic oath seriously, didn’t he? I hope Yad V’shem will recognize him. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like that: In the Talmud it is written, “To save the life of one man is to save the world.” It is also true that to kill one man is to kill all of humanity
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Dear Neil,
Thank you for your affirming words. May we never forget.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story, Rochelle!
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Thank you, Beans.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like how you connect real stories & heroes.
Have a great week!
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Thank you, Anita. May your week be a good one as well. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another gem of a historical fiction. Your linking of historical heroes and heroines and their struggles and achievements to universal themes is so very wonderful. Yet another wonderful flash from your stable, Rochelle.
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Dear Neel,
There were so many unsung heroes during that time. I don’t know that we’ll ever know of all of them. When I find them, I have to write about them. 😉 Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I am so pleased to have given you two things for this week! Of course, you did not disappoint one whit. Perfectly done, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
What would I do without you in my queue? Let’s not find out. Thank you for the photo, the story and the sweet comment.
Shalom and lotsa monumental hug,
Rochelle
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You’re stuck with me!
My pleasure times three!
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I am sure he helped many like her.
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I’ve no doubt of that, Colline. Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Courage and compassion are not found in just one race or religion, but throughout humankind.
Thankfully.
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Dear C.E.
True story. And we are all made better by their presence, aren’t we? Thank you for the read and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I read the BBC, so I saw the story and recognized it your story this week. Another great interpretation 🙂 And the video was perfect for this week….
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Dear Trent,
Lest we forget. Sadly the survivors are leaving this world for the next and those who remember with them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fantastic. I just watched The Counterfeiters about the men who counterfeited the pound and the dollar from within the walls of a concentration camp. This operation was first described in The Odessa File (which actually has one of the characters asking in a letter “Please say Kaddish for me.” Made me think of you!)
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Dear Josh,
“Please say Kaddish for me” isn’t an obscure phrase. I do remember it from Odessa File, now that you mention it. Thank you for thinking of me. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story as always Rochelle – there have been a few over the course of the last few days to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Aushwitz. These individual acts of survival and courage do help restore your faith in humanity, even in the face of such evil.
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Dear Iain,
Lest we forget. Thank you for your affirming comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good story of another hero that most of the world didn’t know about. I love the way you find and document these little gems of history.
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Dear Jan,
You can blame Dale for finding this one. Of course, when she shared it, there was no way to avoid it. Had to write it. Right? Of course write! Thanks, m’luv.
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So–was your plan to make me start my day in tears? You succeeded 🙂 Such stories, may they never be forgotten. My son and his wife attended the commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz last week. I’m sure he will be full of stories.
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Dear Linda,
Mission accomplished. 😉 The stories just keep on coming, don’t they? I doubt that we’ll ever know all of them. Thank you. Your tears are my compliment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He was very brave, as were many others who we may not hear about, but the lives they’d saved – or died trying to save – know the stories. Thank you for sharing this one, especially these times.
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Na’ama Y’kara,
I sure there are more of these righteous people than we will ever know. When I find them I can’t help but share them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I know, and you are a true champion of lost-bits-of-history and ‘things-we-need-to-know-but-maybe-don’t’ – I am very grateful for your doing that! It is a blessing to all of us!
XOXO, Na’ama
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Todah rabbah, Na’ama. You’re very encouraging.
Shalom and XOXO back atcha,
Rochelle
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🙂 🙂
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A timely piece indeed and a reminder that some good existed deep below the surface.
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Dear Keith,
Lest we forget. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for sharing the story The teaches us a bit of history of which most of us are not aware. Shalom, my friend.
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
So many stories. So little time to share them. Thank you, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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During a period in history when madness and brutality prevailed there were many acts of kindness. We should also remember them.
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Dear James,
The evil of the time is unfathomable, isn’t it? The heroes should definitely be remembered. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle–
That would be a shock to the system to see a documentary about one of your most emotional memories and see your and your brother’s face in it. It takes courage to do the right thing. It takes courage to survive. Your story highlights both.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
And then he wonders why he cried. He must’ve experienced a landslide of memories and emotions. Doing the right thing does take courage, May we all have it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a beautiful piece Rochelle, television at the moment is awash with awful stories of the holocaust coupled with fantastic tales of survival. It must NEVER happen again, and we must never forget
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Dear Shrawley,
Tis the season. January 27 marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. May we never forget. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s always inspiring when people remain true to their moral convictions. It isn’t always easy.
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Dear Tanille,
Doing the right thing during the Holocaust cost many their lives. 😦 Definitely not easy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No doubt, the SS would’ve solved his injury in the worst way possible. In the end, it proved to be the best decision. You always bring the important things to us to consider.
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Dear Eric,
I hope she can get the doctor recognized. Thank you for such an affirming comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love that quote, they are words to live by. Thank you again and again for connecting the past to the present. A beautiful story as always, Rochelle! Let us hope!
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Dear Brenda,
They are words to live by indeed. ❤ This is the kind of comment that makes writing these little historical flashes so rewarding. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It sounds like he deserves to be recognised. I wonder how many lives the Righteous saved?
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Dear Ali,
No question he’s deserving. I don’t think we’ll ever know how many lives the Righteous saved, but the recipients of their kindness do. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had heard this story. Thank you for sharing it. As the last of the survivors and those who helped them are dying now, it’s especially important to share their stories.
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Dear Merril,
You’re so right. The survivors and heroes are disappearing and even their children are up there in years. We must never forget and yet there are those who have the audacity to deny it ever happened. For these reasons I tell the stories when I learn them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you. I do the same, Rochelle. My family could have been among those who were murdered.
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That’s good to know. 😀 ❤
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May it be so.
Amen. Amen.
Shalom
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And another rousing amen. Thank you, Penny.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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for sure, he was a rose among the thorns and should be recognized. nice story.
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Many thanks, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was enjoyable to read, Rochelle, she wrote a nice story about her mother and H. And, you wrote a nice introduction.
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Dear Ted,
I hope Huguette gets her way. The good doctor deserves to be recognized. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That verse above is also in the Quran, word for word. Doctors put themselves on the front line but this doctor risked his life in other ways too.
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Dear Fatima,
If only all people adhered to these words. This doctor was a prime example. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It feels heartening that people can find it in themselves to help others even when most other people are too afraid to do so, even if they know it’s the right thing to do. Perhaps it comes down to the fact that, even though they put their own lives at risk, they know if they don’t help they will lessen themselves, impoverish their own humanity.
Thank you for bringing to light another of the world’s heroes in your own unique style, Rochelle.
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Dear Lynn,
It would’ve been a tough decision to make. However to some there is no question. To them we owe a debt. Thank you for your wonderful comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always my pleasure Rochelle
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“Better to limp than to be dead.” I’d have to agree with that! Thanks Rochelle!
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Thank you, Russell. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A moving story Rochelle, as ever you tell it with a finesse of touch.
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Thank you for such a lovely comment, Francine. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh wonderful story, Rochelle.
I hope he is recognized!
I love your snippets of the past, like Windows… seen so clearly 😊
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Dear Laurie,
Thank you for your lovely comment. Makes me smile and want to write more history. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I just read of Huguette somewhere — in the news or a magazine. A wonderful way to bring the story to life.
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Dear Genia,
I read the article on Facebook when Dale shared it. I knew I had to write about it. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, Rochelle!
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Thank you so much, Sascha.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for sharing this story.
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My pleasure, Dawn. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am late to the party, but I had to read your post, and I was not disappointed.
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What a lovely thing to say, Mike. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aww that is sad xx
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Dear Cathryn,
It was all beyond sad. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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