March 20, 2012
I had the opportunity to see a great movie today, In Darkness. The movies talks place in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. Jews in Warsaw were rounded up by the Germans and sent to the Warsaw Ghetto. The ghetto was a small area in Warsaw, surrounded by a brick wall the Germans built to keep the Jews away from the rest of the city’s non-Jewish population. This story is about a group of Jews who escape into the sewers below the ghetto when the Germans come to raid the neighborhoods and kills any remaining Jews. The group that escape to the sewer lies in the waste of the city for 14 months with the help of Poldek, a sewer cleaner. He works in the sewers under Warsaw everyday. He can walk the sewers with out getting lost or getting caught. Poldek takes them food and clothes, and keeps them safe from the Germans who know there are Jews hiding in the sewage system but do not know where. The story of their amazing will to live in the sewers in the filth, the waste, and the stench is a testament to the human will to survive in the most adverse conditions. With the threat of being caught and shot or taken to a concentration camp looming over their heads, their faith never waivers. The alliance between Poldek, who is a Roman Catholic, and “his Jews” is witness to the human spirit in trying times, and the coming together of two very different religions for the sake of survival. In times like these it doesn’t matter if you are waiting for Jesus to come for the first time, or the second time. The important thing is that you are waiting for you savior.
I grew up with the influence of my father’s Polish family. My grandfather came to America in 1907. My grandmother came to American in 1910. They met at Coney Island, fell in love, and were married. From that union, ten children were born. My father was their first child. My Polish family was very close to and loyal to one another. Their roots deep within the soil of the Roman Catholic faith. I was baptized, had my confirmation, and had my first Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Up until now, I must admit, I didn’t think much of all those traditions by which the Polish raise their children and live their lives. As I watched the movie, In Darkness, there was a scene where Poldek’s daughter is given her First Holy Communion. As German soldiers walked the city streets of Warsaw with rifles, Jews were rounded up for the ghetto, work groups, or concentration camps, food was being rationed, people lived in poverty, cold weather conditions kept the city in a deep freeze, and the hope that the end of the war would come quickly in doubt, Polish families dressed in their Sunday best to celebrate the First Holy Communion of their children. I understood, then, what it meant to my parents when I had my First Holy Communion. I realized the importance of a person’s language, culture, religion, and family. Wow. How proud I feel now.
Last night, I was awakened from a peaceful sleep by loud thunder and bright lightening. Hard rain fell. The strong wind blew the trees and shrubs in my backyard from side to side almost bending them to the ground. My babies were tucked next to me as tightly as they could, hiding under the blankets. The loud noises frightened them. I was surrounded by four cats and a little black dog, all seeking protections from noises of the storm. Times like these are among my favorites. I realize that all the toys in the world cannot make up for the love and attention my babies need. Pets are God’s special ambassadors. They love us and accept us for the love and attention we give them. In turn, they give us so much more.
