Tonight and tomorrow we observe Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. A few weeks ago I listened to a moving podcast, The Suitcase by the Door, via American Public Media. APM interviewed Dr. David Wahl, a child of Holocaust survivors. Wahl's parents had some unusual habits, like requiring everyone in the family to own a single pair of well-kept shoes, and keeping a packed suitcase by the door. Only as an adult did he realize that other survivors had similar eccentricities. The ones who had to endure forced marches knew they were more likely to survive if they took good care of their shoes and feet. The packed suitcase was self-explanatory. Wahl recalled how, as a child, he asked his … [Read more...]