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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
As we open this Wednesday, November 9, it is 86 year to the day since the violent Kristallnacht. This week I honor the often forgotten victims of the Holocaust.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
AMIDST THE SHADOWS
My parents met in a displaced persons camp after the liberation. Each of them had lost both a spouse and a daughter. Finding solace in each other’s arms, I think they married more for convenience than love.
Born in 1949, they named me Sarah-Elisheva after their slain children.
One morning when I was ten, I made breakfast.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dad grimaced. “My Elisheva never burned the toast.”
“I’m not Elisheva. I’m not Sarah! I’m me!”
He flew into a rage and slapped me. Mom screamed.
Obscured by my sisters’ memories, Auschwitz will forever be tattooed into my soul.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Living up to your parent’s nightmares can be harder than living up to their dreams. This is deep and satisfying, Rochelle. One of your best
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Thank you for such a lovely, affirming comment, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very beautifully narrated.
So true.
Survivors will forever live with the pain.
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Dear Anita,
Sadly, survivors often pass that pain to the next generation. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The repercussions still linger on, sometimes in the most frightening ways. Beautifully expressed.
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Dear Iain,
All too often the pain and anger are visited on the next generation, aren’t they? Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Full of sad images. Words fail me,
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Dear Michael,
Your lack of words is high praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is sad.
Bitter sweet, bitter for the memory it tells. Sweet for the way it is written.
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What a lovely thing to say, Chioma. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This was deeply sad but beautifully written. Recently, I have watched two movies about the Holocaust and your story brings to life the pain and suffering of the victims. Many physically survived the horrors but the emotional suffering remained with them.
Thanks for honoring the victims.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
I recently watched “The Invisibles” a very touching docudrama from Germany. Sadly with trauma of this magnitude, the repercussions reach far into the next generations. Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a horrible circumstance of birth. They never saw her as herself, only as a replacement. So very sad and beautifully written. I have to agree with Neil. This is top shelf writing!
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I wonder how often this happens with parents who’ve lost children. I can see the tendency to see the next child as a replacement. Your words re my writing are affirming, for, as you know I’ve been feeling like I was in Author Netherworld for the some time now. Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa grateful hugs,
Rochelle
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I think it happens more often than we think – consciously or not. I remember after Austin died, a friend told me she hoped my next one was a girl…. well, as we know, that didn’t happen. Iain was never a replacement kid.
You know what I feel about your wriring!
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Dear Dale,
You’ve struck me as having more kids to replace Austin. And you’ve been so forthcoming with your thoughts and feelings. You’re probably one of the healthiest people I know emotionally.
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You mean not struck you, I hope!
You are kind to say so. There are days where I feel less so!
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Ach, forehead slap! Insert NEVER. You’ve never struck me as… oy. Feelings are normal.
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You know I am totally teasing you!
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Outstanding. This one had me feeling the anguish of all three characters, caught in such an evil web of horror.
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Dear Linda,
A better compliment I couldn’t ask for. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a heavy burden carrying the grief of your parents.
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Dear Sadje,
A heavy burdeb indeed. Thank you for your affirming comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome Rochelle. Take care
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Wow! just Wow! There’s no way I could ever to the emotion in this one. Wow.
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Thank you for the wow, Bear. I’ll always accept “wow”! 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Horrible, but no doubt true in many lives and on through the generations. Powerful, as usual, Rochelle.
(And well done for luring Dale out to play again!)
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Dear Jen,
Sadly, that kind of trauma effects generations to come. Thank you. And yes, luring Dale back into the fray makes me smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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PTSD is not just an issue for the warriors, but for survivors as well. Your story illustrates the spillover of survivors. It’s sad but, a reality for many. I’m sure, or hoping dad realizes his mistake later and apologizes. May we never forget the horrors of wartime atrocities and work to eliminate them from our culture.
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Dear Jan,
I’m pretty sure, in retrospect, my dad suffered from PTSD from WWII. Of course that wasn’t a thing back then. But PTSD isn’t just for war vets, is it? Any trauma can trigger it. Thanks for your support and comments, m’luv.
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Kids always suffer from the weaknesses of their parents. A vicious cycle that may never end. The old saying is ‘hurt people hurt people’ and this is a great example of it.
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Dear Lisa,
“Hurt people hurt people.” It’s so true. it’s a toufh cycle to break and can be passed from generation to generation. Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Naming a child for a dead one – or in this case two – isn’t fair on the new child. She will never be able to live up to their rose-tinted memories.
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Dear Liz,
Naming a child after a loved one who’s passed is an Ashkenazic tradition. Although I believe these parents could’ve chosen better.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a painful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust! Very poignant!
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Thank you so much, Neel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such sad memories like tattoos on the mind with a reminder every day by the numbers on their arms.
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Dear James,
It was an ugly time in history. Sometimes it feels a rerun is just around the corner. Thank you for taking time away from that grandson to comment. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Your story shocks us, as it should. It is a sad reality for so many burdened by intergenerational trauma. How to escape it? Somehow I hope Sarah-Elisheva finds the strength to be the one that doesn’t pass it on, for herself and her future family. Great writing, my friend.
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dorah,
We can but hope this circle won’t remain unbroken. 😉 Thank you for your kind and affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, Rochelle,
There are so many variables twinkling like sad diamonds in your story. The times and culture, the world as it was then, and, of course, the Holocaust’s nightmare remembered by survivors. Well done and a great pick for a pic. 🙂
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
I just watched an old Playhouse 90 entitled “In the Presence of Mine Enemies” made in 1960 about Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. Chilling in the time frame, aired only 15 years after the Holocaust. Written by Rod Serling. (Full episode on YouTube).
I hope we’re not heading for another. Thank you so much for your comments and support.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Greetings, Rochelle.
It is worrisome.
Peace,
Bill
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Oh, how sad! So many failed expectations after that war. Well done.
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Dear Lish,
Definitely sad. So many survivors carried their pain to the second and third generations. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s an impossible situation all the way around. There’s nowhere to hide from the scars we carry with us and no way to escape the shadows they cast on others. Heartbreaking, Rochelle.
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Dear Nobbin,
The worst scars are the invisible ones, aren’t they? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh what loaded story! Very powerful, thank you. (I hope this comment works!)
Ps I took a photo on a walk last week that I thought would make a good photo prompt! How do I get it to you, if interested? Thanks
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Dear Stars,
Your comment still ended up in my trash folder SMH. At any rate, I check it every day. 😉 Thank you re my story. As for photos you can send them to my email runtshell@gmail.com. I’m always on the lookout for good ones. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Everything I wanted to say and more has already been said. A touching tale indeed Rochelle.
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Thank you, Keith. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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she was named to honor the memories of those that were lost. someday she’d realize that her parents meant well.
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Dear Plaridel,
It is an Ashkenazi Jewish tradition to name a child after a loved one who has passed. While it might be perceived as an honor, it was one that came with unrealistic expectations for Sarah-Elishevah. Definitely a recipe for dysfuntion.
Note: I was named after my mother’s stepmother. Fortunately I wasn’t expected to be Grandma Rose, who according to Mom was a saint who could do no wrong. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it was true in our family, too. my cousin was named after our great grandmother and my other cousin was named after our grandfather. 🙂
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Beautifully told, Rochelle.
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Thank you so much, Fleur.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome Rochelle 😊
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My heart breaks for her. Will we ever learn? So well written in so few words.
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Thank you for your wonderful comment, Dahlia.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sad story indeed. In reality the knowledge of PTSD was not known in those days and appropriate counselling not available. Though in later years the framers of the original PTSD diagnosis had in mind events such as war, torture, rape, the Nazi Holocaust, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, natural disasters and human-made disasters. From your other comments I am glad you took the time to find and see the docu-drama “Invisibles”.
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Dear Subroto,
Thank you for the tip about “Invisibles.” So well done and worth taking the time to read the subtitles. “The Pianist” if you haven’t seen it is a brilliant dramatization of a true story of one man’s survival in the Warsaw Ghetto. I highly recomment it if you haven’t seen it.
I’m glad PTSD is known and treated today. I’m pretty sure, in retrospect, my poor father suffered from it from WWII. He passed the rage along to his offspring. So I’m grateful for knowledgable therabpists. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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so much pain for all three, well written Rochelle ❤
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Thank you, Angela. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I dare say that’s an anger that could never be understood by someone who has never endured such traumatic events. Well done Rochelle.
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Thank you, Andrea. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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💗
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I guess the nightmare continues for some.
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Dear Bernadette,
Sadly, the nightmare often continues for generations.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully heartrending rendition of a reality all too many of those around me and some I’d grown up with had lived. This is why we know now that historical trauma lingers in the second and third and fourth generation, and why it is so paramount we learn to help those who suffered, yes, but alongside it and even more so, prevent future suffering that creates even more generations of sorrow that can never be undone.
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
The tattooed arms were a fact of life during my childhood. Not to mention some of the children of those survivors who carried their parents’ bitterness. Such a sad thing.
Thank you for your affirming comments which are always so appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, the tattooed arms were a fact of life for us, too, growing up. And the many post-traumatic behaviors and realities (that were not call that, then …) of the survivors and then in their offspring. My cousin, who is a world renowned researcher in the post-trauma field, did some research about it and about the impact on stress-system and stress hormones in 2nd and 3rd generation holocaust survivors. So, yeah, it is not ‘only in people’s heads’. … xoxo Na’ama
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Gosh, what a terrible burden to have to live with. Her name always a reminder of what was lost… how does she grow to become herself? Touching and heartbreaking, Rochelle.
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Dear Laurie,
My guess is that, unless there’s some healing in the family, Sarah-Elishevah will have her name legally changed. 😉 Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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