April 19, 2016

The Warsaw Ghetto: Uprising

April 19, 1943, the eve of Passover, seventy-three years ago, today, the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto rose up against the Nazi regime. Though it wouldn't last a month, and most were killed, the rest deported to be killed later, it was a crucial moment in Jewish history. After learning that the Ghetto was to be "liquidated" on orders from SS chief Heinrich Himmler, the Jewish populace did what they could to liberate themselves.

Approximately 7000 Jews were killed in the month long fighting, another 7000 were immediately transferred to Treblinka for immediate death.

The Germans deported almost all of the remaining Jews, approximately 42,000, to the Lublin/Majdanek concentration camp, and to the Poniatowa, Trawniki, Budzyn, and Krasnik forced-labor camps. With the exception of a few thousand forced laborers at Budzyn and Krasnik, German SS and police units later murdered almost all of the Warsaw Jews deported to Lublin/Majdanek, Poniatowa, and Trawniki in November 1943 in “Operation Harvest Festival” (Unternehmen Erntefest(see below)). (source)

Remembering Archivist and Warsaw Ghetto Survivor Rose Klepfisz

The archivist Rose Klepfisz died in her apartment in the Bronx on March 23rd at the age of 102. She is survived by her daughter, Irena Klepfisz, a writer and professor at Barnard College, as well as by relatives in Australia and admirers in Bundist circles and in the field of Jewish Studies around the world. She is predeceased by her husband Michal Klepfisz, who died fighting in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Rose Klepfisz was born on July 22nd 1914 in Warsaw as Shoshana Perczykow. At the insistence of her older sisters, she attended Polish public schools rather than private Jewish schools. The perfect Polish that she learned in school would greatly aid her during WWII. The death of her father, a clockmaker, when she was 12 forced her to leave school prematurely as her family needed the money her sewing could bring. A lifelong lover of literature she continued her studies by taking night classes at a local library. During her teenage years, she was an active member of the Zionist movement Hashomer Hatzair’s youth group and learned to plant tobacco in preparation for a new life in British-Mandate Palestine.

Her politics would change, however, after she met her husband Michal Klepfisz during a skiing trip. Michal spotted her from a distance and chased her down a hill. The two dated for four years before marrying in July of 1937. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Paris and soon moved into the home of Michal’s parents, the Bundist activists and teachers Miriam and Jakob Klepfisz. The Klepfiszes were more well-off than Rose’s family and she enjoyed the relative luxuries that their home provided such as a bathtub. In the years before WWII Michal worked as a chemical engineer and was rising in the ranks of the Bund, helping to run the movement’s sports club Morgenstern.

Rose Klepfisz was already pregnant when she was confined to the Warsaw Ghetto alongside nearly half a million of her fellow Jews. She gave birth to her daughter Irena on April 17th, 1941, her husband’s 28th birthday. The young family continued living with Michal’s parents and older sister until they were all lined up in a courtyard during a selection. At the last possible moment, Michal recognized a Jewish policeman he knew and managed to create a diversion, sneaking himself, his wife and his daughter out of harm’s way. The couple soon learned that Michal’s parents had been brought to the umschlagplatz, from which they were put on a transport to Treblinka and murdered.


more...

April 4, 2016

It has been two years...two long years, but I did it. Today is my 2 year Smokefree Anniversary!

I smoked for almost 30 years. By the time I quit, I was smoking at least two packs a day, sometimes, 2.5 packs. It was not easy for me at all, but eventually, more time passed and the cravings became less extreme. Sure, there are some days I want to punch someone in the throat just to have a couple of puffs, but usually it passes quickly. I also still have dreams where I am smoking, but they are more rare now; usually, when I am really stressed.

I have noticed a number of things since I quit, the first was I can now laugh, a good belly laugh, without breaking out into a coughing fit. I don't cough throughout the day, except when my damn allergies kick in full gear. My sense of smell is extremely heightened, which can be good sometimes and other times...ewwww . I could always smell quite well, even as a smoker, but when I quit, I could really smell things! I don't get winded when I am working or playing. My clothes don't smell!! My breath doesn't curdle wallpaper, except when I eat certain foods, which I can now taste! I also don't use as much salt as I used to use. Then there is the money I have saved...I have been putting what I would have spent on cigarettes into a savings account and used it to buy holiday gifts; made for some very expensive gifts!

I am not going to preach. I am not going to chastise. I am not going to lord my quitting over others. I will simply say, if I can do it, anyone can! If you are ready to quit, do it YOUR way! Make it YOUR experience! Celebrate your wins, and move past any setbacks. You can do it! I DID!


TWO SMOKEFREE YEARS!



ETA: Thanks for all the "Kudos!", it is really appreciated. I am really glad others who have quit are also sharing.

ETA: Again, THANKS for all the positive comments! What a thread! Also, thank you to all the other former/ex-smokers for coming forward as an example to me and to others. If you are trying to quit, just read this thread. So many "quitters" have been that way for YEARS and YEARS! You can do it too! Look at all the people just waiting to cheer you on!