And in January, on Holocaust Awareness Day, the BBC learned about my father’s book and interviewed me to share his story with the UK public. Perhaps one day The Long Night will be turned into a movie. Until then, the translation of my father’s memoirs will – hopefully – make his story known to as wide an audience as possible.
I firmly believe that if the powers of our time – whether on grassroots levels, in educational institutions, within households, in synagogues, mosques, and churches, in think-tanks, among the international policymaking bodies, and in the upper echelons of governments worldwide – invest in education to counter hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism, a changing of the tide is achievable.
Last week, as we celebrated the festival of freedom and liberation, I thought about the beauty of bringing the family together to retell our collective story. Perhaps this is how my father appreciated what he lived to see – a happy family thriving together, exactly what he lost during that long night.
The process of translating the details of what my father went through made me realize the importance of opening up the conversation, retelling our story to our next generation, and educating toward tolerance and understanding.
One can only hope that my father’s legacy of kind acts and belief in humanity will continue on.
