Instructor Forum Response for The Boy on the Wooden Box
Instructor Forum Response 3:
For the week 3 forum focusing on The Boy on the Wooden Box forums often take a moment to talk about how Leon resonated to readers and how though his young life was unimaginably horrible at times there was much to draw from the story to reflect on and to apply to our world today.
Many note how by Leon serving as a face to this story and moment in history and in a sense being “personally” known to us we developed that deeper connection to him and to these events. Thus we had an individual face and specific family through which to view the horrors of WWII in a more intimate and immediate light.
I often find students commenting on how this book takes us further into a Jewish’s family’s experience than what we had experienced before. It is often the case that a memoir can take us closer in to a historical event that impacted so many in a way that historical textbooks might not be able to do. All stories have their own individuality and importance. Yes, there are similarities between this memoir and others like it, but the difference here is Leon: his particular story, his particular lived experience.
It has been common to respond to questions about moments of sacrifice and the importance of memoir. Many focus on how difficult it was to define one moment of sacrifice and the importance of keeping history (or attempting to keep history) from repeating itself through knowledge and awareness.
One of my former students brought up an important point about why each story matters,
"I think this is one of the most important things about memoir, it shows us that these things are more than film or story, but real documented tragedy. Not only that, but it reminds us that no matter how much you hear about abuse or murder or violence, that does not take the significance away from any one person's story. It is still essential. There may be many books and memoirs about the Holocaust, but I think we should try our best not to be bored, for this person went through such tragedy. Many others went through it and documented it as well, but each individual's suffering happened, and must be recognized if we are to hopefully never see a repeat of this."--
One semester recently I had several students reflecting on this notion of whether or not we define someone as heroic simply because they are doing what is morally right as in the case of Schindler helping aid his Jewish workers. This was a particularly insightful and tricky question. Certainly we often praise those who behave in the best interests of others at risk of their own personal safety and expense. And many would argue that Schindler did put himself at risk and often. Yet the larger question looms: is behaving with humanity in the midst of great inhumanity heroic?
My first reaction is to think that naturally there is a still strong degree of heroism there and judging by collected forum posts praising Schindler I believe many agree. But I was also impressed to find a handful of readers not focusing just on Schindler as a hero or Leon’s father, but also Leon himself as heroic by his resilience and determination to survive and to attempt to protect his family through the sharing of food..etc.
Looking back to Schindler and his actions many readers have paused wondering if we as a society struggle precisely because we view these actions as heroic, or sacrificial, when perhaps we should simply view them as necessary, as the only option or recourse. Can evil exist in a world where coming forward in defense of others no matter the cost is not heroic, but commonplace?
This is not a question our class aims to answer; indeed it is nearly an impossible question full of hypotheticals. But I am always glad when it is being asked, and reflected on.
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I am giving folks a bevy of examples here. They all raise excellent points. Each student's work here reflects one of their weekly posts. Let's look at these example posts:
The Boy on the Wooden Box
How much does memoir matter, or help to shape our perspectives?
From Arian:
I loved reading this book. Memoirs enlighten me on how people get through tough situations and what they were thinking during the time of the incident and after. How it affected them and formed who they are today. I have heard snippets of experiences from concentration camps and watched documentaries on TV concerning the war and peoples trials but The Boy on the Wooden Box took me somewhere I’ve never been. There was so much detail concerning the progression of the change in Leib’s families lives, I’ve never heard an account quite like this one. The way the book was laid out really allowed me to connect with Leib as a person; I’m amazed he was able to live a fairly normal life after experiencing what he did.
I found one of the attributes of this story was the subtle way it warned against prejudice. In the beginning of the book Leib describes how there were already ideas and actions in which Jews were treated poorly. In one example a Christian Pole is making a reference to general chaotic events by stating, “It was like a Jewish congregation” (17) a degrading comparison. An example I found particularly disturbing, Leib notes, “I was pushing my luck walking down the streets in my usual carefree way during Holy week… That was the time our Christian neighbors treated us differently, as if we Jews suddenly were their enemies. …They pelted me with stones and called me names that were cruel and harmful” (17-18). What amazed me was the fact that this behavior was occurring prior to the Nazis propaganda. I love how he tied it in at the end of the book with the racism seen in America towards blacks. Leon (as he’s now known) takes a bus ride and sits in the back, the driver reacts “You can’t sit there… The back seats are for Negroes.” (191). Leon goes on to say, “The context was very different, but nonetheless it almost made my head explode. Why would something like this exist in America” (191). He mentions how the Nazis had implemented similar law upon the Jews. This comparison is frightening how Americas thinking at the time was, in a sense, so close to the Jewish condemnation. It makes me wonder how far off we could’ve been from a similar genocide if given the right cocktail of leadership and streamed imaginary, were we really that different when we had slaves? Those citizens that did not participate in the abuse but ignored the sights around them, would we do the same in their place? I can’t even imagine, from a readers perspective it doesn’t seem possible, but so many regular citizens did just that. Leib notes, “A streetcar stopped, and passengers boarded, oblivious to our presence. They showed absolutely no interest in who we were, where we were going, or why” (111). This occurs as the prisoners are walking through town to another work camp, starved and beaten. The account truly makes me question what type of a person I would be in a similar situation.
I feel that early on Leon creates connections for us where we see ourselves in the towns people (including himself) in the story by starting at the beginning, before the war. The lives and people make sense then; the parallels are easy to see. This is why I think memoirs are important, they make us see the connections and realities in our own lives, and they force us to face the atrocities of man. Like the German Dr. Neu in the end of the book, his wife says to Leib as he’s recounting his experiences, “We didn’t know” with which the Dr responds, “Don’t say that” (180).We too can’t claim we didn’t know and hopefully this changes how we act, prevents us from recreating similar mistakes.
From Kaylee:
I've read quite a few memoirs from Jewish World War II survivors. Even though the atrocities they face become (unfortunately) predictable, the unique experiences and reflections from each individual offer new understandings and perceptions on history. I think memoirs are an integral part of preserving and learning from the past.
What I found most unique about Leyson's story was his youth and innocence. He still had a youthful optimism that frequently hindered the ability to understand the malice of others and foresee the consequences of his actions. The first example of this is when his teacher calls him a name, and he thinks in reference to his father. "Only later did I learn that the teacher didn't know my father at all and that the name Mosiek, 'Little Moses,' was an insult reserved for any Jewish boy, regardless of his father's name. Then I felt foolish for being so gullible" (39-40). His optimism didn't allow him to gather the hurtfulness that was intended by his teacher. Another example of this is when his father gets arrested and he questions people regarding his whereabouts. "Because both my brother and I could speak German and because the full villainy of the Germans was not yet evident, we brazenly questioned every German we thought might know something. Only now do I realize what we did was quite simply crazy" (58). His innocence drove him to act of his emotions, boldly asking for information without any regard for the possible threat to his safety.
And of course when war began, he couldn't quite comprehend all the horrors that were possible - "I began to feel more nervous excitement than fear during all the preparations and the making of emergency plans" (44). Another aspect I found really unique was how he described the onset of war through the juxtaposition of childish "before and afters." One would come to expect war to bring hunger and chaos and fear, but as Leyson was a child, the most prominent changes for him revolved around how his adventures were impeded. Obviously he began to lose his non-Jewish friends as the hatred towards Jews grew, but my favorite example of this was his favorite game of stealing rides on the street cars, and how that eventually became impossible: "Soon there would be no chance to play my game at all because Jews were prohibited from using any public transportation" (52). And how it was mentioned later as "I was no longer the happy-go-lucky, adventurous boy who gleefully looked forward to snatching a ride on a streetcar" (64). Similarly, Leyson's reaction to being banned from school illustrated his youth. "When I first hear of this new restriction, I felt a brief sense of freedom. What ten-year-old wouldn't enjoy a few days off from school? But the feeling didn't last long. I quickly realized the vast difference between choosing not to go to school for a day or two and being forbidden to ever attend" (60).
Recounting a war in a history class does not offer insights such as Leyson's. Sitting in history class, you can learn the details and statistics about the war, but you can only imagine the experiences of those who lived through it. This allows us to distance ourselves from the atrocities that occurred. It's easy to recognize that what happened was horrible, but there's still a disconnect. Memoirs allow us to experience things more personally. They are a first person-person account of places and happenings we will never get to see first-hand. But through the author's eyes we can. And this allows us to relate and form more defined feelings on war.
Leyson's youthfulness is easy to relate to. Everyone was once a child and many people have children as well. And, for some people, the events that occur become more tragic when they happen to a child. These strong feelings can influence our actions in the future. Such compelling stories also encourage preservation, as there is not only history to be learned, but lessons of humanity. There is an inevitable sense of disgust to say that six millions Jews died the Holocaust, but for many that figure is intangible because nothing can connect them to the lives that were lost. Memoirs put names and faces to those lives, which forces us to feel something and truly face the realities of what horrors humans can commit. Memoirs ensure that no truth is lost.
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What moments of sacrifice, or moments of heroism, most adsorbed and stunned you?
From Esther
I don’t think that many readers would pick out these passages, but to me, they did speak of sacrifice and heroism: “They shoved my father up against the wall…they beat them with their bare fists, slammed him to the floor, and choked him…I saw the shock and shame in my father’s eyes as he lay helpless in front of his wife and children…Several weeks later, for no apparent reason, my father was released from prison…he had lost something even more precious: his dignity as a human being…If he couldn’t stand up to the Nazis, how could I?”(p. 55,56, 62,63). Now, as I said, this seems like a terrible passage to point to as a moment of heroism and sacrifice, but it is to me. As Leyson says, it was a huge blow to his father’s pride to be beaten in front of his family, it was a sacrifice for him to not fight back in order to protect his family. Now, one might argue that he didn’t have a choice, but I think that there was humility in his actions. If his pride was not held in check for his love of his family, the situation could have been much worse. Also, Leyson’s father showed his heroism and sacrifice when he consistently went to work and brought home most of the meager food that he did receive for his family (p.74).
Leyson later displays the same selflessness when he too saves the food that he earns “It never occurred to me to eat this unexpected treasure all by myself,” (p.88) he writes. I believe that when something tragic comes upon an individual or a family, they prove who they are…what they’re made of, what they believe. Especially in a situation where survival is at stake, selfishness will come out if it exists. Leyson’s mother later does the same thing for her son, giving up the last bit of food she has, when she was dying of starvation (p.118).
Honestly, I think their survival in itself speaks to their heroism and sacrifice.
From Hannah:
I cannot imagine being forced into the Ghetto like they were but what stood out to me even more was when they were taken out of the Ghetto to be transferred to the Plaszow camp. "I was dumbfounded to see that life seemed just as it had been before I entered the ghetto...They seemed so normal, so happy. Had they not known what we had been suffering just a few blocks away?...They showed absolutely no interest in who we were, where we were going, or why. That our misery, confinement, and pain were irrelevant to their lives was simply incomprehensible." (111) That passage shocked me. All the while reading the book I was seeing Leyson's life in the ghetto, like him I had no idea that things were normal on the outside of the camp. I knew they couldn't have been as bad but I just figured if the Jews were being treated so badly conditions outside the ghetto couldn't have been great either. The last thing though that I can't get out of mind after reading this book is how in the world did they survive at all? Just thinking about how little they got to eat, without considering the other terrible conditions that were forced on them I can't believe anyone even made it out alive. It's astounding to me what humans can go through and put each other through.
Brandie talks about how this account lined up with other events she had read about connected with the Holocaust. Then she relates a story that was so horrific, I had not heard anything quite so graphically horrible before:
“A lot of Leyson's narratives and description matched up to other things I had read about and studied regarding the holocaust when I was in middle school and high school. So, no, not a whole lot of what he was remembering and describing was surprising to me. I remember in middle school, I was assigned to read the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, (which is also a memoir) and in the book, Wiesel recalled being witness to Nazis tossing Jewish babies into the air over a large pit and shooting them with machine guns as if they were skeet. I read that 6-ish years ago, and still I haven't come across anything more repulsive pertaining to the holocaust.
Also, there is an interesting documentary on Netflix titled Auschwitz, which I think also really aligned with the tellings of Leyson. They discuss (and even show some pictures) of the dehumanizing actions on the Jews by the Nazis.”
Connected to Brandie’s response we have Meri’s second post and this important and unsettling question she poses:
“I have to say, before reading this book I didn’t know too much about the Holocaust, just the basics. We had a very short segment on it in Middle School. The entire was horrible and ruthless but I don’t want to believe the Nazi’s would do that to harmless babies yet I know they did. That is awful. I do wonder though what exactly it is that doesn’t surprise us about these actions. Is it that we can’t possibly relate or understand what they went through, therefore it’s almost as if reading fiction? Do we subconsciously refuse to accept the words we are reading as actual truth or have we been so desensitized by this such cruelty that it no longer has as much power to shock or disgust or disgust us? And if the latter is true and we are no longer as affected by these images, have we really come as far from the time of the Holocaust as we think?..............
……There are so many moments of sacrifice and heroism sprinkled throughout this book that it’s hard to narrow them down to the ones that made the most impact. In my opinion, every second a Jew or someone like Schindler lived was a moment of sacrifice and a moment of heroism. One particular scene from the beginning stayed with me, though. It was when Leon’s father was attacked by the Nazi’s in front of his family and taken away. Almost all of us can relate to that inherent urge to protect our own. We can say what we say about our families but we dare anyone else to. At that time, it was seen as a father’s duty to protect the family and provide for them, what we often refer to as being “the man of the house.” But in that moment when the Nazi’s forced their way into the Leyson’s home, the bravest and most heroic act Leon’s father could do for them was to not resist his beating. Even though Leon could see in his eyes how much it shamed him to be made weak in front of his wife and his children, and how humiliating it was for him to allow himself to be struck in his own home by cruel intruders, he accepted this treatment to protect his family. No one knows what the Nazi’s would have done had he fought back, or who they would have targeted next. I think this was one of the most heroic moments in the book, it is the very definition of what it means to protect your family at all costs. It takes an incredible strength to allow yourself to be weak, especially in front of those who are counting on you. Leon’s father showed more bravery in that account then some men show in a lifetime.”
Now let’s look at some strong commentary analyzing Schindler and his actions. Starting off I love this excerpted (not the full post) concluding point of Jessica’s about Schindler:
“…..I thought it was also heartwarming reading in the end of the book that Schindler held a valuable relationship with the families that he had helped, “Up until his death, Schindler kept in touch with some of his former workers. Our gratitude meant a great deal to him. He thought of us, the Schindlerjurden, the Schindler Jews, the children he never had” (197). I like that you said, “I went into the book expecting a mentally exhausting read but Leon's anecdotes about Oskar Shindler really gave me a continual glimpse of hope for the well being of Leon's family.” I believe that having this outlook on the book will make the readings more enjoyable. Instead of focusing on the awful experiences the Jews had to go through (which, is still important), we should focus on the amazing person Schindler was to help out some of his workers, and we should also focus on the amazing life that Leon made for himself, and his family, once he got to America.”
From Kelsea:
“Throughout the book, I made note of several instances where someone showed Leon some sort of sacrifice or heroism. I think the first example of sacrifice wasn't done purely out of kindness, but sort of from hopelessness. On page 107, when Mr. Luftig left his treasured pipes behind after the relocation, he also left behind a gift of his thermos for young Leyson. I think this small act of kindness gave him a small sense of hope in the doom that was impending. When the Leyson family was sent to a concentration camp, Leyson found his mother (page 118), she gives him a "walnut-sized piece of bread. It was all my mother had to give me, the best she could do." I think this was an selfless act of heroism. When all Mrs. Leyson had was a piece of bread, she chose to give it to her younger son because he was malnourished and loved him more than she loved himself. This was such a selfless act, I couldn't help but wonder if my mother would have done the same for me.
When it comes to Schindler, he was probably the biggest hero of the story. On pages 127-128, the story explains that Schindler fought for a second branch of his company (Emalia) to be build near a camp. The book states "in the spring on 1944, my father and David moved there." Leyson was chosen as well, but then something came up (Leyson's name randomly was crossed off the list of Jews who were being allowed to transfer to Emalia) and he almost wasn't able to move there. On page 129, Leyson refers to the people working for Schindler as "Schindler's Jews." Leyson goes and confronts a Nazi officer, and argues "my mother is on the list" and "my father and brother are already there" (130). For some reason, this officer pities him and allows him to go with his mother. Leyson notes "people like him could do whatever they wanted, show mercy or opposite" (131).
Pages 140-141 talk about Leyson's personal and family experiences with Schindler, and how Schindler would ask about how many products he had made that day, and assure Leyson's father "it will be alright, Moshe" (141). He also talks about how Schindler would "accidentally" leave presents behind for his father, which he would trade for food with other workers. "Such small acts may seem insignificant given the scale of evil in those years, but in fact, they were anything but. Schindler dared to rebel against the law of the land, which was to torture and exterminate Jews...By treating us with respect, Schindler was resisting the Nazi racist ideology" (141).”
From Amanda (second post):
“You pointed out that you felt Schindler was a hero because he didn’t just look at the Jews as factory workers and that he had a drive to save them. I think everything Schindler did was a representation that proves your statement. There is no question Schindler was a hero. It’s amazing how much one man could do for so many. The moment of heroism that stuck out the most in my mind was at the end of the book when Schindler stayed back to tell the Jews that they were free. This act also demonstrates he didn’t think of the Jews just as factory workers. He knew that the Soviet armies were coming and that he had little time to get away but it was still important to him to make sure the Jews knew that they had made it and that they were finally free. Free from starvation, abuse, death, etc. Leyson said, “He could not bring himself to leave without saying goodbye and gathered his Jews together one last time” (163). Schindler said, “You are free” (163). Not only did he stay back to say goodbye and speak to them one last time he wanted to make sure that they had a chance of survival without him there so he brought back items from an abandoned Nazi warehouse that they could use to barter with. I think this stuck out to me because he showed so much compassion and care for the Jews at this moment. Just like so many time before, he again sacrificed his own safety to help the Jews.
The other moment of sacrifice and heroism that stuck out to me was when Tsalig made the choice to stay with Miriam rather than save his own life. Schindler had recognized him as Moshe’s son and told him he would get him off of the train. Leyson said, “That is the kind of young man he was. He wouldn’t desert his girlfriend even when it would have secured his own safety” (96). While reading this I imagined myself in his position. Tsalig had to have wanted to live as the will to survive is human nature. This story makes you understand this as the Jews, no matter what they went through, had the will to live. Tsalig’s love for Miriam wouldn’t allow him to do anything other than stay with her so that she would feel safer and more comfortable with him by her side. Tsalig gave his life, the ultimate sacrifice, to make Miriam feel just a bit safer and also so that she didn’t have to be alone.”
Shawn has a rich textually detailed response and recounted this important but often overlooked scene. This is such a crucial moment to highlight because it focuses on denial and willful ignorance/outright lying:
“Another less obvious moment of heroism that really struck me was one Leon experienced with Dr. Neu who was a German man helping him catch up on the years of education that he missed. Leon says "One time, when I was telling him a story, his wife overheard us. "We didn't know," she muttered. He gave her a piercing look and said, "Don't say that.""(180) That moment was particularly stunning to me because Dr. Neu was a German that may or may not have supported Hitler's party but instead of agreeing with his wife he scorns her for saying it. To me the phrase "We just didn't know" is an almost defensive response to unknowingly aiding a ruthless dictator when a more appropriate response might be "How else can I help?" or even silence as Leon shares his heart wrenching stories from the holocaust.”
Let’s read this point of Tara’s applying the lessons of this book to our worldview today:
“I agree with your thoughts about this memoir being a shock, especially since it was being told by a child. I agree that the world would have a very hard time staying together and helping each other out if something like this happened again. Unfortunately, I believe I world is headed in this direction. If only everyone could read this novel and feel the compassion necessary to not repeat past mistakes. Not to bring up a political debate, but I strongly believe that if Donald Trump is elected as president and is allowed to build his Trump wall at the Mexican border, then the United States will be making the first move in a very racist war similar to this one. I think if we alienate any one group and say "these people are wrong, they are taking our jobs, and they're dirty and THEY are the reason our country is in debt," then we are just repeating words similar to those that the Nazis spoke about Jews. I am very worried for the future of our nation, and I certainly hope that you are wrong in saying that we would all turn on each other. We should use this novel to shape our thoughts and opinions, and we should realize that no race or religion is the single cause of any debt or disasters.
When you said "We can simply go through a drive through and receive food anytime we want. Life has become so easy for us now." I think this struck home for me. We do take for-granted all of the things we have so easily accessible here to us in the US. We aren't thankful for our clean water, or the food in our fridge because we have never been without. The Leyson family went from having very little and working very hard to move up in the world, to having nothing, to storing pieces of bread when they could find them in order to not starve to death. I don't think a lot of the spoiled-rotten Americans (children and adults alike) would be able to handle situations like this. People would go mad, there would be people going crazy and shooting up stores and families, killing themselves and each other just because they wouldn't be able to make sense of the insanity occurring with a war. I truly don't think many Americans would survive if there was another great war; many of us are too lazy to even fight.
I think this book is more than just art, it is a snapshot of a child's view of a war cast against him. It isn't just like a painting of Mona Lisa or Kid Cudi's newest hit; this book captures the fear and anxiety of a child who was thrown into a war and was trying to make sense of it. This book shows us what will happen to children, to families, and to elders if something like this even happened again. In a way, this book is a warning to not go down the same path. Not all art warns you about something so depressing and life-changing as the Holocaust.”
And let’s look at Kathryn’s fleshed out second response too:
Karlee, I really like that you highlight the story of Tsalig as one of the most remarkable moments of heroism in the book. This scene also stood out to me for a few reasons. First, Tsalig was very young himself, and being taken away in the manner described in the book that you highlighted above must have required a significant amount of courage. His family had to remain heroic as well. Leyson reflects, "We should have been better prepared. We should have had a hiding place and practiced to be ready for just such a situation" (95). The family had to remain together and stay strong despite the fact that one of their own had been taken away. Leyson reflects that he would never forget that scene, even seventy years later (95).
Not only did the family have to stay strong in order to remain together after having lost another son, but as you outlined above, Tsalig, they later found out, was extremely courageous in a tough situation. When it was found that Schindler had actually seen Tsalig and offered to take him off the train, Tsalig remained for Miriam. I was truly moved by this act of heroism. As you said, they were not young enough to be so naive as to not understand the implications of what being on the train would mean. Tsalig, and many other survivors and victims of the holocaust displayed profound heroism when they decided to risk the gas chambers in order to remain with loved ones. This has always moved me when thinking of survivors' stories. That people could go through such atrocious acts, and still be able to support each other during those times is moving. Leyson says of his brother, "That is the kind of young man he was. He wouldn't desert his girlfriend even when it would have secured his own safety" (96). I think the displays of love and companionship in the records of survivors stories are always the most moving. Thank you for highlighting this story, as from other records that we have of the Holocaust we know was not the only example of its kind.
From Karlee:
Of the many moments of heroism and moments of sacrifice detailed in The Boy on the Wooden Box, there were several which stuck out powerfully. Despite the fact that schooling has made me, and probably the general population of the United States, aware of the Holocaust, I was at a loss to truly understand the deep emotions that were brought to service as a result of this book. I was also stunned at some situations and occurrences throughout this book which seemed nothing less than inhumane. To begin, two moments of heroism caught my attention and portrayed heroism at its finest; showing valor, fearlessness and bravery in the face of pure evil: the first moment was with Leon himself and the second with his brother Tsalig. In terms of moments of sacrifice, I wish to relate that "idea" to the entire book itself. I believe the Holocaust was nothing short of sacrifice, leading my opinion to honor those associated to the Holocaust as a whole, through the book, and what was truly given during that atrocious time in history.
To begin with Leon at the age of only ten, his character seems that of an “old soul” rather than the naïve and mischievous ten-year old boys I am accustomed to. When this particular incident occurs, we had just been told of his father being beaten down to the dirt and taken to prison, simply for not giving the Gestapos the key to their upstairs neighbor’s apartment. Frantic to find their father to stay alive as a family, Leon boldly approaches a member of the Gestapo in the street, whom he recognized as one who had beaten his father just weeks earlier, “I don’t know what possessed be, but I chased after him and begged him to tell me where he had taken my father. (61)” Leon knew plainly that he was a Jew and that was all the knowledge needed for a man of the Gestapo to shoot him dead, yet Lean chased after him. He didn’t walk slowly and second guess his actions, Leon chased. They always say that the worst of times bring out either the best or the worst in oneself; this incident was proof of that truism. Leon’s true character is that of bravery, integrity, and devotedness. This brings me to the next moment of heroism showing similar character: Leon’s brother Tsalig.
Tsalig was at this time entirely in love with a young girl named Miriam who lived in the apartment behind their own. We learn that just barely a month had gone by for these two and their newfound adoration for each other, when Tsalig was targeted for being seventeen and not having a Blauschein, or work permit, of his own. When the German soldiers arrived and found Tsalig without his permit, they pinned his arms behind his back and shoved him through the door; Tsalig was taken somewhere he would never return back from again. As the narrative continues, we learn that Schindler saw Tsalig that day on the train “and told him that he would get him off the train, bus Tsalig was there with his girlfriend Miriam. Since no one in Miriam’s family worked for Schindler, there was nothing he could do to save her. Tsalig told Schindler that he couldn’t leave his girlfriend Miriam. (96)” Neither Tsalig nor Miriam were so naïve as to the current atrocity of what was happening around them; they knew their next stop would be the gas chambers: that is what made this moment of heroism so profound.
To illustrate a moment of sacrifice from this narrative I don’t believe I can pinpoint just one. The entire book itself clearly symbolizes the entire idea of sacrifice as a whole; from beginning to end. The Holocaust in general is a story of sacrifice, in both the figurative sense and in the literal aspect. Jews of this time sacrificed a lot more than just the idea of family, careers and a home; they sacrificed their very lives. Some died suddenly and without warning, being shot for simply no reason at all, “…he [Amon Goeth] pulled his pistol out of his holster and shot our foreman – simply shot him, at point blank range, for absolutely no reason. (126)” Some dies knowing they were headed to their death by means of the gas chambers: but I assume perhaps they didn’t bother to fight back anyways, the life was already sucked out of them. On the other side of alliances, we see Schindler sacrifice the idea of his life in order to save as many Jews as he can, no matter the cost; “He did everything in his power to protect us. (204)” This book even illustrates the sacrifices given in the future, years past the haunting times of the Holocaust, in terms of what it takes to recount and tell of these events to those who were never there. The Boy on the Wooden Box is justly a memoir of heroism and sacrifice as a whole. I couldn’t bear to know that what I was reading was non-fiction. I can only take what I have read and apply it to my life in the form of humility and honor; two principles I cannot say I have even learned yet compared to those associated with the Holocaust.
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Why are survivors’ stories so essential to our collective knowledge and understanding of history? How do stories like Leyson's help to frame the larger conscience of the world? Would you argue that memoirs like this one help not only to inform us of the past, but also, to direct the course of the future?
From Sadie:
Within the first few chapters I noticed the reoccurring theme of resilience. I actually slipped a sticky note on each of the pages were I noticed an astounding amount of courage and perseverance. As I read, It seemed as if every few pages I placed one of these notes. Now that I’ve read the book, there are so many blue tabs sticking through the sheets, which is quite astounding due to the nature of the grim era that this story occurred. One of the passages that sticks out to me the most is, “the Nazis had forced us into impossibly crowded conditions designed to bring out the worst in people. Despite everything against us, we remained determined to show respect and decency toward one another. Retaining our humanity, cherishing our heritage, we fought the depravity of the Nazis with subtle forms of resistance. Rabbis resisted by conducting services on Jewish holy days. Doctors and nurses resisted by fighting to save the lives of the ill and injured and by bringing new life into the world. Actors and musicians resisted by creating makeshift stages in hidden courtyards and performing plays and skits and holding concerts, affirming that beauty and culture could even exist in the midst of the horrible circumstances of the ghetto” (83.) The fact that these people still continued to show this type of resilience, and put their life in danger for the sole purpose of creating positivity, impressed would be an understatement. It’s incredible that people even in desperate times, still resorted back to their craft. Whether that be helping the wounded because they were a doctor prior to being placed in the ghetto, or even a musician playing once again. This passage highlights an essential quality of life, which is to find a passion. I’m sure having some sort of outlet helped individuals out in this devastating time, giving them hope for a better future.
From Jacqueline:
Sacrifice is such a complex theme in The Boy on the Wooden Box. I really liked how your attention was drawn toward the author for this topic, Laura. Many others thought of sacrifice in terms of heroism, describing Leib’s dad and Schindler. And while I do believe those two men sacrificed much for others, I also think their sacrifices where more of a choice.
I stole this idea from Karlee Wilk (thank you Karlee!)-let’s look at the definition of sacrifice: “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” Synonyms Include: surrender, giving up, and abandonment. Leyson had to surrender to his fate. In order to have even the slightest chance of survival, he had to learn to be obedient and withstand each of the horrific punishments. Once the guards were instructed to lash the men. Leib says, “we were ordered to count the lashes as we were whipped. If we were overcome by the pain and missed a number, the guards started over at number one” (121). Leyson gave up so much. As you pointed out, he was forced to give up his childhood in multiple ways. He describes once watching non-Jewish kids, saying, “They were so exuberant, so full of life, while just a few yards away from them I was exhausted and depressed, struggling to survive another day. Only the thickness of the barbed wire separated my life in hell from their lives of freedom, but we might as well have been on separate planets. I couldn’t begin to understand the injustice of it all” (124). Leyson was abandoned by his community. There were so many Germans who shared Schindler’s frustration with the government and empathy for the Jews, but so many of these Germans simply sat by. Leib feared, “That [his] misery, confinement, and pain [was] irrelevant to their lives” (111). Few Germans were brave enough to stand up for what was right, few were able to risk their lives in that way.
Even if Leyson would have chose to fight back, he would have been killed. I suppose he chose to live in misery over being killed because living with nothing was better than not living at all. I cannot imagine the internal struggle many Jews faced with this internal conflict. Was it better to succumb to the injustices or risk your life for liberty? “An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” Leyson did not choose to give up his childhood or be abandoned by his community. As a young boy, he did not choose to make the sacrifices that he made. So did Leyson really make sacrifices, or was he simply stripped of so many aspects of his life? Either way, this memoir has opened my eyes to a new perspective on the holocaust and history overall. The sacrifices so many people made baffle and astound me.
From Jacqueline, second response:
Most of what I retained from history classes about the holocaust were accounts told primarily from the point of view of Americans. The horror and gross manipulation by the Nazis often felt so distant from my own reality. Auschwitz wasn’t in my country. I have never met a holocaust survivor. The war was far over by the time I was even born. I threw the holocaust in with Slavery-an important part of our history but yet still one I wish we could erase. But Leyson’s memoir was horrific and honest and humbling. Through the constant battling, the author admits that, “actually there was no sure way to make it though a world that had gone completely insane” (101) and “…that human beings are frequently unpredictable” (142).
The heart of the memoir, chapters five through the end, was very hard to get through for me. I didn’t want to read and imagine Leyson’s father being beaten or his brother being hauled away or his own small, freezing body standing naked in a dark field. It was hard to read the progression of time as the Nazis gained more authority and began strategically removing Jews from society.
Even via American accounts, I have learned about the gas chambers. I’ve seen The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas and know Jews were segregated and removed from society. However, in many ways, I was not aware of the severity of Jews devaluation. When Leyson describes entering the ghetto, my heart sunk as he described the way he, “…could scarcely tear [his] eyes from the symbols of death that “welcomed” [them]” (77). They were living in conditions far worse than any poverty or prison I have ever seen- “…inside [their] apartment [they]…struggled to keep [their] lives and [their] dignity in the face of random killings, devastating diseases, worn-out clothing, and near starvation” (81). And the tall walls surrounding their new “community” (if you can even call it a community)…could they not even see the outdoors?! THEY ARE PEOPLE. And the random killings! One day after Leyson left the infirmary, he learned that, “…later the commandant of Plazow, SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Amon Goeth, had entered the infirmary shortly after [he] had left and shot all the patients, just shot every single one of them for no reason except that he felt like it” (119). I had no idea they were so bad. Honestly, I thought much of what was happening the Nazis were at least attempting to cover up. I guess one of the most disgusting parts is that the poor people within the camps were forced to take care of the dead bodies.
It doesn’t seem real. I think that is why I’ve never been able to fully grasp the impacts of the holocaust. Leyson made the holocaust real, he brought to life history unlike any class ever has for me. Toward the end of his memoir, Leyson tells us that many of the survivors, “…had all been through [their] private hells, and [they] were still processing what [they] had experienced. None of [them] knew what to do with the enormous burden of [their] memories” (178). I am so angry that anyone was able to justify the abuse during this time. I am so angry.
From Kathyrn:
I grouped these two parts of the forum questions together because I would argue that, yes absolutely, survivors stories shape our understanding of history and that additionally, the study of history is extremely important in shaping the future. The Boy on the Wooden Box is certainly not the only historical memoir, nor is it the only piece of historical memoir that references the holocaust that took place in Europe during World War Two. There are many survivors’ stories that add to and shape the historical records of the holocaust and other remarkable world events. These stories are essential sources used by historians to create the narrative that will live on for future generations. They are uniquely important because of their individuality.
Many of the things we learn from first hand stories like Leyson’s are not included in general history books. When Leyson begins his memoir he writes of Oskar Schindler, the subject of his memoir, “My home is that he will become part of your memory, even as I was always a part of his” (3). He understands the importance of his work in the memory of society. Leyson has passed since completing his memoir, but his unique story will be added to the collective memory of all those who read it. Perhaps they will be able to make informed decisions based on that addition to their perspective of the world and humanity. When Leyson talks of the other members of his community who lived outside of the ghettos he says, “How could they not have known? How could they not have done something to help us?” (111) Ignorance can only create misunderstanding and the repetition of mistakes. It may be that there were some Polish citizens who knew what was happening and did nothing, but the more people who are aware of an atrocity; the less likely it is to be repeated. When Leyson writes of his life in America years after the war, he recalls an incident on a bus when a driver told him he could not sit in the back because it was a colored section. He writes, “Now I discovered that there was inequality and prejudice in this country I had already come to love” (191). His memoir is his warning. History has repeated itself when it is left unchecked. His memoir is a story of survival, human capacity, and also warning.
There are many times throughout the book that Leyson references the disbelief of the Jewish communities leading up to the rise of the Nazis. He references the widespread feeling that things “would soon be over” (70). In the end, however, one of the worst genocides the world has seen took place in Europe. It may be my bias as a teacher of history, but I believe this survivors’ story, and all memories of historical events are crucial to informing us of the past, and directing the course of the future.