Shoah survivor Sam Rafowitz was recently honored by the City of Saint Paul
By MIA RAFOWITZ
On May 9, the City of Saint Paul’s Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity partnered with World Without Genocide to host a Holocaust remembrance event, which featured Holocaust survivor Sam Rafowitz.
During the event, the documentary titled Sam Rafowitz: Remaking a Life was shown. This film is the story of Sam, my zayde (grandfather), and his experiences as he labored in five Nazi concentration camps and survived a death march at the innocent age of 15.
First Person
Viewing this film inspires a mix of deep emotions within me. I feel pride where I see horror. I attempt empathy only to be reminded of how blessed I am to fail at understanding. I am uplifted and torn down as my thoughts take perpetual somersaults.
No matter how many times I watch, the same parts make me cry; the same parts force me to question the world we live in, my faith and beliefs, and all of humanity.
And then, the story of Zayde finding his sister comes onto the screen — the story of a man who had been through one of the most horrific genocides in history and yet still had hope.
After his liberation, my zayde traveled on foot through Europe searching for his sister, for his Helen. Each time I hear the story of their reunion, I am reminded of the good in people. That passion, determination and love are characteristics that cannot be exterminated; the spirit of my zayde, my family and of the Jewish people will remain luminescent through time.
At the end of the film, there is a clip of my zayde walking with me across the train tracks at Auschwitz. This is how his film ends, with our arms around each other walking into the distance. It is a most beautiful “F— you” to the Nazis.
It is the future of the Jewish people being guided by the strength from the past. It is a symbol of perseverance, hope and strength. More simply, though, it is a grandfather walking with his granddaughter. And this is a joy that I do not take for granted.
May 9 will forever be a day that I honor and celebrate with my family and with future generations to come. It is a reminder that no matter how much time passes, future generations will never forget and will do all that we can to prevent something like this from happening again.
As I grow into a young woman, the only thing I can promise is that I will forever carry Zayde’s story with me. It is a part of who I am. Each time he speaks, I am moved in a new way that reminds me why I carry my faith so proudly.
When he spoke at the film screening on May 9, my feelings were no different.
As his eyes laid shut and his voice rose up, Sam Rafowitz courageously began to speak to the city of St. Paul about his amazing survival during the Holocaust and his journey to the United States. His presence in the room demanded attention as he was honored and received a plaque declaring May 9 “Sam Rafowitz Day” by the City of Saint Paul.
My zayde has taught me so much with his inspirational words over the years. But what he may not realize is that everything I have learned was from him saying nothing at all.
From the look in his eyes when he is around his loved ones, to the pride as he stands tall and swings a golf club at 89 years old, it is the positive spirit and loving charm radiating out of my zayde that is his true essence.
I am so lucky because, for me, every day is Sam Rafowitz Day. He is the reason for my being, the inspiration for my passionate spirit and the soul of my family. Now, thanks to the City of Saint Paul, May 9 will forever be known as Sam Rafowitz Day.
(American Jewish World, 7.4.14)
