Sobibor. From the Russian movie. Still photo by Paul Goldfinger. 2018. Click once to enlarge image.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor. Blogfinger.net
In 2019, Russian film makers completed their movie Sobibor about a Nazi death camp that took about 200,000 lives between 1942 to 1943. It was one of a few concentration camp locations where courageous Jews planned and staged a revolt. Many escaped, but only about 50 managed to survive WWII. One who survived was Alexander Pechersky, the Jewish Soviet Captain who led the successful escape.
Escape from Sobibor from the 2019 movie. Paul Goldfinger still photograph. Click to enlarge.The movie Sobibor is one of the best about the Holocaust. It is powerful and tells a true story of a terrible massive crime against humanity. Amazon Prime.
This song , “Dona Dona,” was written by Shalom Secunda and is known in Yiddish and is generally interpreted to be about the Nazi murders of defenseless people. The metaphor is a rural one–of an innocent calf being taken to slaughter.
Here is one translation:
“Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly.”
Joan Baez had an English hit of the song back in the sixties when she was one of the protest movement leaders.
This Blogfinger post from just a few months ago takes on new meaning in view of the latest events in the Middle East.
SHALOM SECUNDA: “Dona Dona” from the album Les Musique de Chagall. Yiddish.
Throughout 3000 years of history Jews have been successful when given the opportunity to be free.
Israel brings back freedom to the Jewish people. They have learned to fly again and they won’t give that up.