Heroes

What is a hero? A hero is defined as a brave or noble person, but this definition is not accurate after reading Arnold Geier’s book Heroes of the Holocaust. This book deals with the true heroes of one the most repulsive and disgusting times in world history. The compilation of stories in this book are not so much about the survivors who tell the stories, but about the heroes who risked their lives and well being to come to the aid of others so these stories could be told. There are heroes such as Mr. Warszawski who sold his competitor’s merchandise so the family could stay alive or Mr. DeJong who searched for days for his missing daughter. There are even the stories of German soldiers, who must not have believed in the atrocities surrounding them, and found ways to feed, clothe, or find better work in a labor camp. And finally there is the story of German SS officer Menke who recalled childhood memories to save a couple and pushed aside an implanted hatred for Jews. Throughout the whole book, the stories would not have been able to be told unless these heroes emerged and because of these heroes, we are reading these stories today.

Simple acts of Kindness and four heros:

Israel Orzech tells a story of pain, struggle, and simple acts of kindness. Orzech story begins as he is summoned to a “special roll call” for all sick inmates of labor camp Markstaett. During the roll call, he was one of about 50 inmates who were considered too ill to continue working; his fate, the Kosel extermination camp. While in a large room awaiting his fate the following morning, a man by the name Baruch Meister (the “elder of the jews” as appointed by the Germans.) visited the prisnors and said his goodbyes. As he stoped at Israel’s bed he asked; “Do you want to go to Kosel?” (Geier 133) Israel answered and the next morning reported to Meister after roll call. Israel was given and extra food card by the elder which would enable him to receive an extra ration for an additional two months (Geier 133). Normally would not seem like a heroic act, but I belive this act is important because “the elder of the Jews” put his life at risk for the sake of another. One might ask, how was his live at risk? First, Meister pulled a “selected” Jew out of a death selection, a German officer would never allow a Jew to undermind him and Meister gave Iseral an extra ration card, another act that would be untolerated by the Germans.

Word Count: 441