Special offer

My Name Was Number 133909 and I Sang

By
Real Estate Agent with Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael)

St. Michael Friends of the Library is hosting a special event that you will not want to miss.

The author, Murray Brandys, will speak at the St. Michael City Center on Wednesday, May 4 at 7 PM  He has written an eloquent biography of what it was like to live through the Holocaust.  

This is the story of Murray Brandys, husband, father, uncle, son-in-law, and friend. This is the story of Moniek Brandys, a Polish immigrant of Jewish faith who traveled to the United States at a young age, who graduated with honors from high school, and who became a successful businessman. But, mostly, this is the story of No. 133909, a Holocaust survivor, captured by German soldiers at age 14 and forced into five years of Nazi labor and concentration camps, and liberated at the age of 20. This is the story that he could not share until now, the story that he felt would weigh too heavily on his family in earlier years.

 Here is part of the letter he wrote to his family. 

A NOTE TO MY CHILDREN, HOWARD AND CHERYL

Since the day I was liberated I told myself that if I ever married and had children, I would never tell my family the stories of my life in Nazi concentration camps. At the time, I believed that I should not burden my wife or my children with the horrors I had lived and witnessed. I felt sure that it might darken your lives, that perhaps sad happenings would always remind you of the stories you had been told. Besides, I believed that marriage and growing up can themselves be challenging, so why add another burden by telling you my history? I have kept that promise to myself these fifty-plus years, but it has not always been easy not to tell you more, not to reveal more of my past.

In recent years, however, I began wanting you to truly understand the Holocaust, to know my stories, to share more of my life with you. Now, Howard and Cheryl, as you have children of your own, I especially want u you to understand my life and to be able to pass on to your children the lessons of the Holocaust - how Germany, a civilized democracy, was able to turn into an evil dictatorship, The Third Reich. I want you to understand what can happen when good people do nothing, when they don't care about or allow freedom of expression, when they look away when neighbors are abused, when they place economic well-being ahead of basic human values.

Sometime soon all Holocaust survivors, including myself, will be gone. I don't want what we suffered and learned and can teach to be forgotten.

I hope you will read this memoir and understand why I kept my life story silent for so long. Please teach your children and your children's children about the Holocaust and the destruction of six million of our brethren, plus millions more. It's been said before, but these facts should never be forgotten.

Love, Dad

If you are a history buff or an activist, you will not want to miss this event. 

See you there!

 

 

 

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The information contained in this blog is believed to be true and correct and while every effort is made to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about its accuracy for any particular purpose. All information is copy written and the property of Suzanne McLaughlin.. 

For more information about real estate values in your area, give me a call or email me at 763-497-1870 or mclaughlinhomes@gmail.com  

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc.    

When you need to buy or sell in St. Michael or Albertville Minnesota, or anywhere in Wright County, Sherburne County or Anoka County or Hennepin County, give me a call! 

Comments (7)

Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

It breaks my heart to think about what the survivors of the Holocaust had to endure.  Imagine how difficult it was for that man to write that to his family...............amazing.

May 01, 2011 01:13 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Suzanne, that just sent chills down us. This is an event not to be missed. He is right, the Holocaust should never be forgotten!

May 01, 2011 01:37 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Indeed, history in general should not be forgotten! So many mistakes made again and again throughout mankind's history because they don't seem to learn the lessons!

May 01, 2011 02:38 AM
Carol Clay
Looking Glass Realty - Brevard, NC
Broker/REALTOR, Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist

I wish I was in your area so I could attend this. It is so very important that the world never forget the Holocaust. The fact that there are people who believe it never happened, and schools who are not teaching it, is unacceptable.  If you haven't seen, check out the Paper Clip Project.  http://www.oneclipatatime.org/subpage.php?pageId=505

May 01, 2011 02:51 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Wow Suzanne this will be a very powerful presentation by this man. I'm glad that he finally his sharing his story with his family and others. It should never be forgotten what happened to all those people. Breaks my heart to think of how that was allowed to happen......6 million people.

Carol #4 - is it true people think it never happened.  That is crazy. Wow I Just clicked on to this link and what an amazing school program that was - is. Be sure to check it out!

May 01, 2011 03:32 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Suzanne, any Holocaust survivor story we need to listen to. Thanks for sharing this.

May 01, 2011 06:39 AM
Don Sabinske
Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
Sabinske & Associates Inc.

Suzanne, thanks for highlighting this event.  It would be great to take your children to as well. 

May 01, 2011 07:35 AM