|
|
March 3, 2000/26 Adar 1, 5760, Vol. 52, No.26
No escape from Sobibor
MARTY LATZ
Special to Jewish News
Dear Esther," the child begins, "listening to you changed my life."
"Dear Esther," a second child intones, "forgive me for asking, but did you love anyone in there?"
"Dear Esther," another begins, and the questions continue.
"Dear Esther" is the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company production running at the Herberger Theater Center through March 5. With Janet Arnold, AJTC's founder and producing director, as the adult Esther, and Jeanine Pacheco as young Esther, the play addresses the powerful post-Holocaust feelings experienced by Esther Terner Raab, who escaped from Sobibor, a Polish death camp, in 1943.
This play, written by Richard Rashke, author of the chilling book "Escape From Sobibor," is not just another Holocaust drama. Instead, it offers two unique perspectives: the Holocaust as viewed through the eyes of non-Jewish children and the inner struggle of an aging survivor as she recounts her experiences to them.
The play is also about the largest and most remarkable prisoner escape of World War II, as detailed in Rashke's book, which includes the report from the Nazi Security Police report to Berlin on October 15, 1943 which captures the daring escapade:
"On October 14, 1943, at about 5 p.m., a revolt of Jews in the SS camp Sobibor. ... They overpowered the guards, seized the armory, and, after an exchange of shots with the camp garrison, fled in unknown directions. Nine SS men murdered, one SS man missing, two foreign guards shot to death. Approximately 300 Jews escaped."
Esther Raab was one of them. She ran into the woods outside the camp and ultimately found her way back to a barn near her home. There, she miraculously reunited with her brother, who had escaped from the Nazis earlier.
The play addresses Esther's internal struggles. She debates the role of luck in her life and, particularly, in her escape. The older Esther begins by recognizing that "luck was very important in my life."
This sounds like a fairly uncontroversial statement. Who does not depend, at least a little, on good fortune to succeed?
On the other hand, the young Esther responds by calling the older Esther a "liar" for expressing her faith in "luck." Instead, the young Esther argues, "you refused to accept death. Smart, not luck. Instinct, not luck."
Both are correct. Neither Esther nor the rest of us can rely on luck. We should rely on hard work, determination, hope, smarts, faith and, yes, instinct.
But luck also plays a role. Sometimes that role is large; oftentimes it is small. But totally discounting its impact would be to ignore its role entirely.
The play also deals with our attitudes toward ourselves and our sense of self-respect. Esther notes, "To survive you need self-respect. Survival is an attitude. Never giving up."
I agree. Success in all aspects of life derives fundamentally from our attitude and comfort level with who we are and in what we believe. If we don't believe we can succeed, we won't. Likewise, believing in ourselves and in what we can accomplish is the first step to survive and, ultimately, to succeed.
Finally, Esther notes, "there is no escape from Sobibor." She is right. Nor should there be any escape from these memories. We don't want to escape from these memories. We want to hold onto them and to share them.
"Dear Esther" is an important play, and an important story. Jews fought back and Jews escaped. Luck, faith, hope, determination and will played critical roles as hundreds of Jews fled from the worst circumstances imaginable.
Remember this, too.
Marty Latz is a Valley attorney and negotiations consultant. Send comments to Latz@NegotiationsInstitute.com.
|
