As I watch the horrific scenes of families leaving loved ones including, husbands, partners and sons behind as they load themselves on trains I shutter with fear. My Dad was a History teacher and always shared the importance of understanding our past before we can change our future. As a child, I never truly appreciated his total dedication to history and thought he needed to get with "modern times". I now understand the urgency of his message. History does repeat itself and we are witnessing this real time.
My maternal grandmother and her parents left Ukraine to emigrate to the United States during the times of the pogroms sometime between 1912-1920. I recently came across this photograph from their immigration papers.
Other relatives on all sides of the family and members of their communities met their fates and either boarded on trains to a more horrific fate or also made their way to freedom. As a child, I always believed this was history and not something I would see again during my lifetime.
How can the images and darkness we see created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine be real? How can this happen after the lessons learned after the eras of Stalin, WWI, and WWII? How can someone recklessly want to destroy the world as we know it for his own narrative. It is with pride that I watch the brave Ukrainians standing up to defend their country and freedom.
Growing up in the United States we never felt the damage done during the wars of the 20th century. Most European peoples bore witness to the destruction of their families and homes and it is commendable to see the stepping up of help for the refugees escaping Ukraine. We all need to do our share.
As the producer of a Temple production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2015, I related to the history and message of my ancestors leaving a fictional Anatevka and coming to the New World. This show has always been taught to symbolize the journey to freedom for displaced communities. It was powerful to me since I would reflect on the journey my grandparents took.
I have a different feeling now, knowing this was my ancestral home I am saddened every time I turn on the news. I feel a deep connection to Ukraine and hope to visit it someday when there is hopefully a peaceful end to this war.
WCVB Boston has put together a list of organization donation sites to help Ukraine. Click here. History does repeat itself. We hear of movements to whitewash history in our own country. We need to face our past to know how to better our future. If we do not understand what happened from horrific actions, how can we progress to make the world a better place. We need to learn from our past. Our contemporaries are forcibly taking this fearful journey which no idea where their next train stop will be. Imagine having to leave the home and family you love behind you.
Wendy is a Realtor and Freelance writer residing on Cape Cod. She enjoys networking and writing to connect her ideas and curiosities with people she meets. Her first book, Coffee Connections: Finding Common Ground Through My Daily Brew was published last fall. She welcomes your comments.