Simon Wiesenthal z"l & Me - 1987
As a teenager, I corresponded with Simon Wiesenthal for some time after reading his autobiography The Murderers Among Us. I finally got a chance to meet him during a family vacation to Europe when I was fifteen years-old. The above picture was taken in his office in Vienna in 1987.
23 Comments:
That is cool and now I am trying to imagine what you look like today.
EXACTLY what I was going to say!
Jack and Z: At 32, I have lost a good deal of my hair and now I have a big red beard and mustache.
What a great picture! Welcome to the red-bearded 32 year old club....
MCAryeh: Yes, it is a great club..others who had red beards included Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk and King David.
he reminds me of my grandfather and his brother, just a little shorter, Simon that is, not ASJ.
BD"H
I see you were a pretty civic minded boy! We're about the same age, but in 1987 I doubt I had spent much time thinking about Mr. Wiesenthal O"H...
BTW, now that I've been thinking about him, I vaguely remember seeing an old B&W film titled "The Boys from Berlin" at my grandmother's house many years ago - was that supposed to be about Mr. Wiesenthal?
Chabakuk Elisha: I think you are thinking about the Boys from Brazil.
See here:
http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=62359
Indeed! Thanks for the link.
I have flecks of red and blonde in my beard but for the most part it is really dark.
Thanks for the additional description, it is nice to have a visual.
Not only did you get to meet this wonderful man, but you also corresponded with him for some time? Wow, ASJ. I am in awe! Mr. Wiesenthal has always been a personal hero of my own.
On a side note, I am so stunned by your own photo because you look not at all as I expected....you look so Irish to me!! LOL.
MCAryeh, you are a red-head, too? My hair is coal black, but every now and then I find a bright red one and wonder where it came from. (Sure beats grey, though)!!
Stacey: Yes, I have about 15 to 20 letters from him. At one point I even asked him if I could become his "junior Nazi hunter". To this he responded that I was still young and should continue reading and educating myself about the Holocaust.
What a treasure trove you have in those letters. How awesome that this man took the time to correspond with you. I have always admired him, but he just jumped up another notch. Wow.
Stacey - I am a red-head, with a reddish-blonde beard. Both my parents have black hair, though...
ASJ, how long did you correspond with him?
MCAryeh: We corresponded for two years.
Dear ASJ,
Have you read his The Sunflower?
Alan
I have goosebumps. I thionk you should do a weekly post of "Letters from Simon", and share. Would you be up for that?
Alan: Yes, I have read all his books.
Tamara: It is certainly a good idea, however the letters are now at my parents home. I will have to be sure to get them next time I visit.
The picture and the story behind it are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.
My pleasure. Thank you for your comment Yehupitz.
That is an extremely cool picture. It's obvious that you were intense even back then.
I still think you look either Irish or Aryan.
Definitely post the letters.
Psycho Toddler: Yes, I was the only teenager in my city who only read books on the Holocaust. It was all I read from the ages 13 to 16. During the time I also corresponded with a few other survivors as well.
I will be sure to dig out the letters.
B"H
SJ was a fine looking lad back then, and I can testify to all who want to know that he's a finer-looking young man today, with a neshoma that shines so bright that his eyes can illuminate a dark room. This post was poignant and moving, and shows the dedication of SJ to his people. "Kayn yirbu!" Warm regards and a ksiva vechasima tova from beautiful Eretz Yisroel.
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