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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 © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
This year has zipped by and now we are ready to take the final Friday Fictioneers challenge…of the year. 😉 To find my story I did a Google search of famous people born on the first of January. This is where it led me.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
TRUE CHARITY
In our home in Jerusalem, we celebrated holidays according to the lunar calendar. Rosh HaShana, which fell in autumn, was the beginning of our new year. However, my grandfather raised a glass of champagne every January 1st.
“To Chiune Sugihara, a true hero.”
“What did he do, Saba?” I asked.
“What did he do? Funny you should ask.” Saba’s eyes misted. “Mr. Sugihara was the Japanese consul in Lithuania. He issued visas to some 6000 Jews. Thanks to him we escaped the Nazis.”
“Why do always you toast him on January 1st?”
“To wish him a happy birthday, of course.”
Should you have 11 minutes to spare CLICK to watch a worthwhile video about this man. You won’t regret it.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Lekha shanah tovah, Rochelle
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Gam l’ekha, Neil.
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Thank You Rochelle. Lovely memory and honoring toast. Happy New Year to you. Every man has a great woman by his side. Aligato gozaimasu Sensei Sugihara Chinue no tsuma desu. My Japanese Sensei would probably scold me for my mistakes in this sentence. Please accept my deepest apologies Kumi.
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Sorry Chiune.
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Dear Susan,
I have a fair idea of what you wrote but have minimal knowledge of Japanese. Thank you for your kind comments. Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dozo 😌
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Goes to show there is good in every race, it’s the individual that matters. He broke the WWII Japanese stereotype.
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It is so good that you selected to tell this. Our world needs these individuals more than ever. Rochelle Wishing you the compliments of the season
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Dear Michael,
Would there were more Sugiharas and fewer tyrants. Thank you and a Happy New Year to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Tannille,
According to many survivors’ testimonies, the Japanese people were kind to the Jewish refugees. Seems a contradiction since Japan was Germany’s ally. Indeed Chiune Sugihara was a righteous man.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a shame the Japanese of that era, as a collective, didn’t offer the same kindness to their neighbours. It’s these contradictions that make history fascinating.
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Happy New Year, Rochelle!
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Happy New Year, Reena.
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Truly a hero. Did a great service.
Festive greetings to you & your family.
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Dear Anita,
He was a true hero. Thank you and a good new year to you and yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good people must always be remembered
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Dear Sadje,
Agreed. Good people deserve to be remembered. 🙂 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed, very true.
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Against the palette of great evil, great goodness shines. What a somber truth that both exist in humanity but a deserving tribute to a hero I did not hear of before! Thank you!
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Dear Clare,
Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle,
it takes a brave person to stand up to evil regimes and the world wrong. They should all be given recognition on every New Years Eve, to remind us there is good in this world.
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DearJames,
Obviously, Chiune and his wife Yukiko had that kind of courage. Over 6000 people and their descendents are grateful. 😀 thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We so often think of the Japanese as “the enemy” in that war and a racist view painted them in such evil colors back then, it is always heart warming to see stories like that of Mr. Sugihara and know real goodness does not have national borders. Nice story.
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Dear Trent,
It just shows that humankind is made up of good and bad. Thank you for your lovely commenbt. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What courage it took for him to stand against his rulers. Thanks for sharing this. I will watch the video later today.
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Dear Linda,
I hope you enjoyed the video. I loved hearing his wife’s perspective. Hope your new year is a good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’d forgotten about the video. Just finished watching it, and was so touched by the story. How many hundreds of lives he helped save! And yes, I, too, was moved by his wife’s memory of that time.
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LInda, there were many videos to choose from but that one touched me the most because of her memories. Glad you watched.
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A true hero indeed! Amen! Raising a glass to ALL the heroes, both known and unknown who grace our lives!
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Dear Bear,
Just for the record, I did wish him a happy birthday yesterday. 😉 Happy New Year.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such bravery, we really need more people like him and his wife. A wonderful story, Rochelle. Happy New Year!
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Dear Gabi,
So many stories like this. No doubt there were heroes who’ve never been recognized. Thank you. Happy New Year to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very happy birthday to Chiune Sugihara. So grateful for him. Happy (Gregorian) New Year friend.🥂🍾🥳
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Dear Andrea,
I did wish him a happy birthday yesterday. Happy New year to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for sharing about the hero who was willing to face death to help those in desperate need. From the upcoming January 1 and for every one thereafter I plan on drinking a toast to Mr. Sugihara.
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Dear Lisa,
I did, indeed, remember him on his birthday. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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❤ Shalom
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Wow. He was indeed, a hero. A great story of a great man. Thanks for the link.
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You’re welcome, m’luv. Thank you for reading and commenting. ❤
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A truly inspiring story, Rochelle. Men like Mr Sugihara keep civilisation alive.
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Thank you so much, Penny.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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I love the story.
I love the quotes.
I love that it seems the perfect time to remember such a kind and determined character in history.
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Dear Chioma,
Thank you for your sweet comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I watched the video and immediately regretted it. I’m playing. This is a poignant reminder that like Schindler not all Germans were evil hatemongers or even complicit in the horrors inflicted by the Nazis. Despite the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Rape of Nanking, not all Japanese people were monsters during WWII. Sometimes, we can dig deep within ourselves beyond our allegiances, and find the humanity that binds us all. It takes tremendous courage to put oneself out there like so many true heroes did at a time when the world desperately needed such heroes. Thank you for sharing Mr. Sugihara’s story.
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Dear Nobbin,
He was known as the Japanese Schindler by some. I was touched by his courage and conviction. I couldn’t not write his story. Glad you watched. Thank you.
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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But of course.
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😀 Happy New Year, Dawn.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I expect many still toast him on January the first. What a wonderful man.
Thank you for another year of inspiring prompts, I’m looking forward to seeing what you provide us with in the year to come.
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Dear Keith,
I hope people remember him. Thank you for being a part of FF this past year. Here’s to another. Cheers. L’chaim. Shalom,
Rochelle
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this reminds of president manuel quezon who welcomed over 1,200 jewish refugees into his country in the late 1930s while most countries closed their doors to them. he could have bring tens of thousands more if the u.s. government didn’t interfere.
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Dear Paridal,
According to Wikipedia it was more like 30,000. Sounds like another worth looking into.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, brave kind people need to be remembered a happy and peaceful new year to you ❤
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Dear Angela,
Yes, bravery should be remembered. Thank you.
Shalom and a happy New Year,
Rochelle
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❤
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That’s a wonderful story, Rochelle, and what a courageous person, especially considering his government was so aligned with the Nazis. I learn new things from you every week. Have a great new year.
-David
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Dear David,
I share em as I leaern of them. 😉 Thank you. A wonderful New Year to you, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We need more people like him even today!
Happy New Year!
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I agree, Nadia. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a good man. Happy New Year anyway!
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Happy new year, Rochelle! ❤️
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Happy New Year to you, Fleur.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Thank you, Liz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy New Year, Rochelle! 👀 forward to more great historical storytelling from your pen this year!
Shalom,
Dora
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Thank you, Dora. We’ll see what the year brings.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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What an amazing story! Thank you, Rochelle, for sharing it so well.
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Dear Patricia,
Always my pleasure to share stories as I learn them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a remarkable man. He was a hero–the Good Samaritan of his time. It took a lot of courage and compassion for what he did. I liked that he saw not helping people who desperately needed this help as disobeying God. I believe it was God who sent those people to him.
Thanks for sharing Mr. Sugihara’s story. It’s a reminder that there are decent people who will help those in need, regardless of their race, religion or nationality.
Shalom,
Adele
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What a brave brave man. A toast to him is a nice idea. Happy new year, Rochelle
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