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PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THIS?
Thirteen-year-old Pieter woke up to silence. Had everyone died? Clawing at fleabites, he waited for the camp guards to come with their clubs. Hunger gnawed at his empty stomach.
Beside him, Heinrich sat up. “What’s happening?”
Pieter rushed to the front gate, followed by his friends Heinrich and Vlad.
A Russian soldier on the other side of the gate, shot off the padlock. “Doctors, food and medication will be coming soon.”
That night, for the first time in a year, Pieter, freshly showered and fed, embraced the joy of freedom while fighting off grief and nightmares in a soft bed.
*******************
The following song would later unofficially become Israel’s National anthem in 1948 and officially in 2004. Hatikvah means “The Hope.”




And yet still the barbarity goes on
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Too true, Neil. Too true. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Successive generations of politicians have to keep on learning the same lesson, time and time again. Good one, Rochelle. As always.
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Dear Sandra,
And yet we learn nothing. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think we need to give women a chance at ruling the world. I’m sick of the same old same old endless patriarchal warring going on under the idol of lust for power.
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Dear Lisa,
I wonder if women were given the chance if we would really do better. Sigh. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’m CERTAIN they would. Yes, they have being human working against them, but they also don’t want to see their children die and would be so much less likely to choose war as an answer to anything other than the current greed for power that we live in nowadays.
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p.s. Shalom,
Lisa (sorry forgot that part.)
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🤣😊
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An atrocity that should never be repeated in the history of the world. Let us Never Forget!
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Dear Violet,
Yet, it is repeated and we stand on the verge of forgetting as the last few survivors are left to tell their stories. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I sometimes wonder why some Holocaust survivors kept their faith while others came to hate or deny the Almighty.
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Dear James,
I wonder that, too. It’s amazing to me that anyone came out with their faith intact.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t know what the world has learned, but I’ve been forever altered by the stories, songs, movies, books about the Holocaust. I often think about the strength of people to survive such hardship and on the other hand that people could inflict such suffering on their fellow human beings. It is sobering.
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That last comment was C.Graith. lol…
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Dear Clare,
I don’t understand such baseless hatred and cruelty. The things people have survived and risen above is both mind-boggling and heart breaking. Thank you for identifying yourself. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Only people scarred by the horrors of war and evil minds are ever released by soldiers. May it never be repeated.
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Amen. Thank you, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it’s an sad that some folks don’t believe that the holocaust ever happened. 😦
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Dear Plaridel,
Doesn’t it just boggle your mind how people can buy that lie? They probably believe the earth is flat, too. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh
Thankfully these few survived. A sweet moment after a world of horror and pain. You always write these do deftly.
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*so
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Dear Laurie,
This is based on an actual account. Amazing to me that people survived and even rose above. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is one of those endless stories of our time, do not let it continue.
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Dear James,
If only we could stop it from continuing. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can’t imagine the joy, guilt (for still being alive) and sorrow of the people set free from the camps!
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Hello! Rochelle! it’s me! I’m not anonymous. Lish
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Dear Lish,
Thank you for identifying yourself. 😉 It is amazing what people can survive and rise above, isn’t it? And equally appalling to see what humans are capable of. Glad to see you back on the squares this week, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good writing, Rochelle. Shalom!
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Thank you, A.M.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sad story, told so well as always. May we never forget those horrors!
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Dear Brenda,
Sadly as the last few survivors leave this earth, it’s easier to forget and deny. SMH. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Proof that all that are evil today were not evil then… and yet the circle continues and the saviors become the killers. I’m with Lisa, time to change who is in charge. (Not that there aren’t evil women out there.)
Once again, you have brought history alive in your beautiful way.
Shalom and lotsa liberating love,
Dale
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There is is! When you click not spam, it goes back into your comment section 😉
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That’s what I thought, but it took its sweet time getting there.
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Dear Dale,
NOW I can reply to your lovely comment. Evil abounds. The disease dances merrily on. I feel like but a whisper in a whirlwind. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom and lotsa historical hugs,
Rochelle
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You just keep on whispering, because we hear it and each one expands the other.
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What have we learned indeed? Only that humans will always find new and inventive ways to cause each other pain. I agree with Lisa, let the women take charge for a while. It’s got to be worth a try.
Jen
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Dear Jen,
I’m not sure we’ve learned anything as I fear history could be repeating itself. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Methinks I’m being held in Spam jail… wanna check before I come up with another smart comment? 🙂
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Got it. 😎
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I saw no comment and a like and said to myself… One does not go without the other!!
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So…no? Was there not a comment from me in your spam? I just want to make sure I’m not losing my mind…
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Gak! I found it in spam. When I clicked “not spam” it disappeared completely. What gives? It was a great comment. Sorry I haven’t been in a place where I could check it. Sorry. Colour me perplexed.
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Dang!!ets see if I can come up with something close to as good. 😉
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Never forget, we all said. Learn from the past. And where are we now? Never in my wildest nightmares would I have believed that there are people who deny… Argh. I don’t understand this world. Scotty, beam me up.
(Expertly written, pain and hope in 100 words).
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The wilders nightmares must be a Freudian slip, and I’m not even Dutch. I meant of course wildest nightmares.
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Dear Gabi,
Wilders is now wildest. 😉 It’s amazing and appalling how quickly people can forget and even deny. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, to all of the above.
What a world, what a world.
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Dear Dawn,
What a world, indeed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As atrocious as the Holocaust was, it’s equally amazing that people survived and went on to live full, productive lives. I have no doubt they are/were forever haunted by memories and nightmares, but they are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
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Dear Nobbin,
I don wonder how some can survive and rise above trauma, while others are forever damaged. Thank you for reading and leaving a thoughtful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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