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MIRACLE STORIES OF THE HOLOCAUST I Kept My Promise to Mama - Even in Auschwitz By Mirish Kiszner Gershon and Shimon held on to each other as they endured the worst of human cruelty. They never forgot their mother's parting words, and indeed they managed to stay together and to care for each other through the inferno of Treblinka and the evils of Bergen- Belsen. Then they arrived in Auschwitz. Mengele, may his name be blotted out, stood at the platform in his impeccable suit and shiny boots, casually swinging his finger to the right and to the left. For each person assigned to "Life," an S.S. guard would hurry to affix a red stamp on the forehead. Those fated for the gas chambers were not stamped. The long line of suffering prisoners meandered slowly ahead. Broken, beaten and humiliated, but with a powerful desire to live, Gershon dragged his brother along. His heart pumped wildly. His dear brother Shimon, so scrawny and sickly, appeared half dead. He could hardly hold himself up. Would Shimon make it past the discerning gaze of this Angel of Death? In a moment, all of Gershon's doubts vanished as the Nazi nonchalantly flicked his finger to the left…and then, before he could even think, it was his turn. His mind numb, Gershon did not quite grasp that he had been slated to the right -- to life. Like a shadow, he languidly followed his brother to the left side, before an S.S. guard shoved him to the right and brutally stamped his forehead with that red, tell-tale mark that separated him from his brother. Tears welled up inside him, blocking his vision. He had promised his mother. They had been through so much together, caring for each other’s wounds, splitting their morsels of food, and miraculously they had never been separated. How could he break his promise now? Slowly, a plan began to take shape in Gershon's mind -- a dubious, daring plan, but it was a plan nonetheless -- built on unquenchable hope, inspired by a long-ago promise. With a prayer in his soul and heart pummelling within his chest, Gershon hurried over to where his brother was standing. Fervently he kissed his brother's forehead. And then he kissed it again. Shimon stared blankly, apathetically, as his brother showered him with wet, sloppy kisses. Gershon appeared as though he was not aware of anything else going on around him. Like a man possessed, he kissed and kissed. But from the corner of his eyes, Gershon remained on the lookout. When he was sure that the Nazi's weren't watching, he quickly pressed his forehead with the red mark granting him the right to live against Shimon's forehead. Satisfied, he backed up to inspect his handiwork. A red stamp now appeared on his brother's forehead. Wasting no time, he dragged his brother to the right, and not a moment too soon. God was with him on that day. "Both of us survived the war, Mr. Bochner; we were spared. No one else in our entire town survived." He fell into a reflective silence. Shlomo Bochner, mesmerized by the story, remained motionless in his seat. "Many years have passed since then. My brother is gone and I am already an old man. But I have no children. "I sent you the money because I owe a debt of gratitude to God. I survived the war. I survived together with my brother! I want to help a couple who does not have children. I want the couple to experience the joy of having children." 4 September 2016 23 rd Ordinary Sunday A Medical Mission of Hope The late humourist and columnist Erma Bombeck supported the work of Esperança, an organization she described as “a handful of dreamers who thought they could run a boat up and down the Amazon dispensing medicine, love and life itself.” Actually Esperança (meaning hope) was founded in the 1970s by the late Franciscan priest-physician Luke Tupper. Father Tupper believed that medicine should be a holy profession, and that “each person we encounter should be treated with dignity and respect.” Esperança still attracts medical professionals and other volunteers to do immunizations, surgery and other medical and dental procedures on countless individuals in South America, Central America, Africa, and the United States. Their reward? The satisfaction of serving their brothers and sisters in need. Physicians…pray to the Lord that He grant them success in diagnosis and in healing. Sirach 38:12,13 May there always be physicians who imitate You, Divine Healer. Monday, 5 September Who God Is Looking For One of the songs on Matt Maher’s album Saints and Sinners is called Firelight, and it was inspired by Mother Teresa’s long struggle with darkness. The singer-songwriter was surprised that this was treated as a scandal by many news outlets. He said, “I [wondered], ‘What did you expect?’ This brave woman goes to the poorest place on the planet and literally goes to help people die with dignity. I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t struggle with finding the presence of God.” Instead of turning people away from the faith, Maher believes Mother Teresa’s witness in this sense should actually draw more people to the Church: “That struggle that [Mother Teresa] had, to me, I feel like we could do a whole ad campaign for vocations around it and say, ‘This is who God’s looking for. God’s looking for people who don’t have all the answers. God’s looking for people who are willing to admit their own frailty.’ But once again, I think that sometimes we’re afraid of people seeing fully who we are. Yet God uses all of it for His glory.” You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again. Psalm 71:20 Help me to admit my own fears and weaknesses, Jesus. Tuesday, 6 September Itzhak Perlman’s Best Teacher During her life, violin teacher Dorothy DeLay’s students considered her the best teacher in the world. She was also their counsellor and friend. Probably the most famous of her former students is Itzhak Perlman. But DeLay did more than teach him how to play his chosen instrument; she helped build his self-confidence after polio had left him with severe disabilities. Thirty years later, Perlman said of her, “She believed in me. There was a time when my parents and Miss DeLay were the only people in the world who believed I could have a career. The fact that I was disabled…People looked at me with distorted vision. And she never did. She was able to see.” To see and bring out the best in others is one of the most precious gifts one person can ever give another. Open your eyes—and praise the good you see around you. Bear one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 Giver of every talent and ability, help teachers and parents to encourage young people’s gifts.
