About a month ago, I read Alter Wiener's book, "From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography." It was compelling, horrific, terribly saddening, heartfelt, honest, angering and inspiring. I was so touched by his story that I found his website and emailed him a letter just like 88,000 other people have. I had to share my love and gratitude. I had to try to warm his heart.
Here is the letter:
"It is with great respect, admiration, care, honor and love that I am writing to you. Please accept my absolute deepest sympathies for the heinous events that you witnessed and endured in the Holocaust. I am deeply saddened, outraged, inspired and in awe of your story. I cannot even fathom how one can have so much strength to overcome such atrocities. You, sir, are an absolute force to be reckoned with. Your strength to keep hoping and putting one foot in front of another is remarkable. I do not know how you survived such cruelty but I am incredibly glad that you did. Thank you for not giving up. I am so sorry that you had to open old wounds. However, I thank you for your strength to trudge through pain and grief so that you could tell your story. Thank you for being vulnerable enough to give me a look into your past.
We are all humans and should be treated equally. You, my Brother in humankind, are deeply cared for and should have been treated as such. I cannot even begin to comprehend how those abominations could occur and how the world could turn a blind eye to it. I am deeply sorry for their silence, indifference, apathy and carelessness. I am sorry that it took so many years of wickedness and weighty suffering for you and so many countless others to be rescued. You should have spent every moment of each day breathing in life, liberty, justice and happiness. You were made to love and to be loved. You were designed to be adventurous and to live in freedom. Instead, you were brutally subjected to every horror a human could possibly face. Instead, you had to breathe in the ashes of those were senselessly and mercilessly murdered. Words cannot even begin to express the indignation and utter despair I feel when I contemplate what you went through. It amazes me that humanity is capable of such profound and ruthless evil. I know that the Holocaust has robbed you of so many irreplaceable things and I wish I could console that terrible pain that you still carry. I wish I could make every single one of your pains and struggles disappear. I wish I could relieve you of all of horrendous memories and the weight of grief that you are forced to endure. Oh, how I wish I could rewind the clock and give you a life that is worthy of your wildest dreams. Oh, how I wish I could give you your family back. I wish I could give you the schooling you wanted, your dream job, etc. I am again so sorry that so many things have been robbed from you. As much as I can wish that some kind words will take it all away; I know that they sadly won’t. Obviously, the magnitude of what you went through will never be fixed with some sentimentality; even if it is well intended. However, I do hope that even so my words will help you in some way even if it is small. I just want to validate you and say that it is not okay. It will never be okay.
As much as I want to wish your pain away, I do have to say that I have learned this: when we long for life without difficulties, we must remember that oaks grow in contrary winds and diamonds are made under extreme pressure. Mr. Wiener, you are absolutely precious. Even though I am a complete stranger to you, I can see your tremendous value. I can see your might, intelligence, love for humanity, kindness, hope and talent. I hope that you know and believe deep down that you are an incredible treasure. I respect you so much and I am completely on your side. In beginning of your story, I was rooting for you and now I will never stop. I want you to know that despite the fact that you missed out on your schooling, you are very intelligent. You are quite astonishing and definitely an exquisite blessing. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been to be liberated and be left to wander. I know that you doubted yourself for years. Alter, you have a tremendous purpose. From your story, you have impacted me profoundly and have made me a better person. I am forever proud of you. Your life has never been and never will be in vain.
You are a legend. Not just because of what has happened to you but because of how you also chose to respond to it. I was absolutely humbled and astonished when I read how you didn’t seek to take revenge after you were liberated. Your kindness to a Nazi Officer made me in absolute awe. It was definitely eye opening and a beautiful example of how to love other people well. Even in the face of adversity, you kept hope and you continued to love. Oh, what Grace! Thanks be to God for your heart. I pray from the bottom of my heart and the depth of my soul that you will be blessed exceedingly and abundantly more than you can hope for, imagine or think of. I pray that goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
I want to honor your beloved late Father and lovely StepMother Rachel for raising a man of bravery and kindness. They did an impeccable job of instilling such wonderful morals and traits into you. May they be blessed for their hearts and their values in heaven above. Thank you for not losing sight of everything that is good, noble, lovely true and right in the face of such unspeakable horror. Thank you for clinging tightly to life, liberty, justice, love and truth. Thank you for never losing complete sight of those beautiful things even as you wandered in darkness. My heart overflows with respect, love, admiration and gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you - for everything.
Sincerely,
Dana Benz"
He was so kind with his beautiful and heartfelt response. It is amazing to me that he is not a bitter, hateful, cold-hearted man. He is so loving, caring and generous. Everything about him touches my heart so much that it makes me cry.
"Dearest Dana Benz,
Please accept my sincere and profound gratitude for posting such a long and eloquent message on my web site. Your email is indicative to me how beautiful you are. Your sensitivity and compassionate soul penetrated my heart. I have never met you and I don't have a photo of you, but you have planted in my hearth a beautiful picture of warmth and understanding. I am brief in my response to your email because my old age and health issues limit my ability to write much as I would like to.
With Love,
Alter Wiener"
I am a portrait artist and writer. I was so inspired by this man that I decided to draw his portrait and write him a poem. I knew that my words and art couldn't fix his problems or take away his pain completely, but I had to do something for HIS sake. And, no, this is not for me or for my own ego. I want my creativity to POINT TO HIM AND HIS STORY ONLY. I want it to further his own legacy. We have a responsibility to honor and love those who have gone before us. And if history isn't taught, then we are doomed to repeat it.
Here is my poem that I sincerely dedicate to Alter.
"Unfaltering Heart
Dawn had come and all was not right.
The Nazis roamed the streets, evil prowled the night.
They came in cars, and guns they held.
In his home he hid, the house became a cell.
He had no rights, no dignity, no wealth.
He hid in the shadows and clung to his health.
And he marched; not knowing his fate,
leaving all he knew behind in the ghetto.
Mothers tightly clenched fists of frightened children,
no answers for them.
No longer considered human, they were condemned.
He walked with the yellow stars in view
along familiar streets, together with thy neighbor.
And he marched; where uniformed guards
stood ready, shouting their orders.
And they were herded; like cattle,
into crowded trains, speaking silent prayers.
And they endured; the unpleasant odor
of sweat and stool, standing side to side.
Packed in tight quarters, and treated like lessors,
him and others were tortured by the relentless suppressors.
And they endured; the harsh conditions,
the death camps, cold and hunger.
At thirteen years old, he was forced to become an adult.
He had to deal with the atrocious murder of his Father
and hateful insults.
For he was a Jew, and life
as he knew it had forever changed.
He witnessed incessant oppression
and people being shot and hanged.
And they cried, as they were forced
to go to the left or to the right.
Life or death was cruelly decided in the blink of an eye
Loved ones were being ripped away from their arms
As they were forced to say heartbroken goodbyes.
He was shunned and beat, forever harassed.
They shouted, they hit, they threw him aside.
They stripped him of possession, honor and pride.
A barren landscape, riddled with death and decay.
Not a flower in sight, even on a spring day.
The death camps showed hatred with a sinister grin.
The sky shined no longer,
it reeked of sorrow and their “sin.”
Hope, bursting forth, in a German worker’s courageous act.
She secretly hid a sandwich, day after day,
and risked her life to give food with kindness and tact.
As she provided sustenance; he received hope for humanity.
They were fuel for the Nazi’s fires,
they were told every night.
They were a bird without wings, eager for flight.
Shaven and disinfected, dressed in odd clothing.
Hungry and cold, the children were mourning.
The fire crackled, the bodies burned.
A hellish heat, his stomach churned.
Everyday, atrocious acts were committed.
He still endured, even when his strength withered.
Each day was a battle, as he was starved,
labored hard and was left alone to shiver.
Oh, dearest Alter! Liberation day finally came.
The world could now know the Nazi’s shame.
In his heart, I imagine, a huge sigh of relief.
Trouble was far from over and he still had things to defeat.
On his shoulders, the weight of unspeakable fear and grief.
The Russians were vengeful
and gave him the chance to be cruel in return.
Rather, he looked into a Nazi’s eyes
and gave mercy instead of choosing to kill.
He chose to follow his Father’s commands.
“Hate hatred,” those values were forever instilled.
I am immensely sorry for how he’s been so scarred.
And, even still, he has come so far.
A name, that they tried to turn into a number.
They attempted to steal his hope and future,
but he could not be encumbered.
He will never be inferior.
He rose above his circumstances
even though they were bleary.
Oh, dearest Alter, even in the depths of darkness,
your love, compassion and kindness never did falter.
Forever cherished and highly esteemed
Your story will live on in your life and legacy."
He then responded to my portrait and poem in an email. He also talked to me on the phone and told me that HE SURVIVED CANCER WITHOUT CHEMO AS WELL. I'M BLOWN AWAY BY THIS MAN. He also told me on the phone that he could be like a Grandpa to me and that he loves me. He generously offered to let me come to Oregon to meet him in person.
There. Are. No. Words.
Here is his BEAUTIFUL response:
Dearest Dana,
I am deeply touched by your words in poetic format about my life. It is quite comprehensive and accurate. I just realize that you are a fantastic poet in addition of being a writer and artist. You are gifted and I am lucky to know you.
When I click on the attachment (with several numbers) I am getting out one portrait of me and nothing else. Did I miss something?
Thanks again Dana, I am just lost of words how to express my feelings and admiration for you.
As a token of appreciation, I sent you a gift by snail mail, please accept it. Thank you.
Gratefully yours,
Alter"
