When we got off the busses we arrived at what was the largest cemetery I have ever seen. When Evan said it was Jewish I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Lavish tombstones as far as the eye could see. Graves packed together, clearly showing the age and extreme use of this space. One of the first things I noticed upon arrival was a retaining wall built out of old, broken headstones, which Evan explained were either destroyed, repurposed, or desecrated during the Shoah. This explanation perfectly set up what came next. Often we think of a cemetery as a place of Maved (death). However, in tradition, we call them Beit Chayim (house of life). As Jews we are taught not to mourn death but rather to celebrate life.
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| A Look at a Standard Tomb in the Beit Chayim |
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| Wall of Broken Tombs |
Moving on from Life to Death. we next visited the remnants of the Warsaw Ghetto. They took all the jews (30% of population) and placed them into a tiny piece of land (2.7% of the city). Only 73 of the 1800 streets on Warsaw belonged to the ghetto. The only way people stayed alive was through acts of Iberlieben (righteous acts during the Shoah). Most often of these was smuggling. 80% of all food smuggled into the Ghetto came through the Ghetto, which was very important when the Jews were only rationed 184 calories/day. The nazis scientifically determined this number to keep people on the cusp of death, in order to extract as much work as possible from them.
From April to MAy of 1943 there was an event known as the Warsaw Uprising. A number of jews managed to smuggle weapons and held off the Nazis for as long as possible. In a month a bunch of hungry, half dead people were able to do more than the entire polish army did against the Nazis. Many people died as a result of this, however it was a significant motivator for the jews will to live.
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| Last Remaining Wall of Warsaw Ghetto. Only about 8 ft. High |
My question for you is, is the warsaw uprising an act of Iberlieben, or was it just a pure act of armed resistance.
Personally, I do think that the Warsaw uprising was an act of Iberliban. They did not have to rise up but they consciously decided to resist the power of the Nazis in the area of the ghetto. They also knew that their was no way that they could actually win the uprising, but they decided to try anyway. This uprising was a big deal because it took over a month to put the uprising down.
ReplyDeleteI believe the warsaw uprising was an act of Iberlieben. They assumed they would die, one way or another, but they chose to do everything in their power to prevent this from happening. They believed an uprising could potentially lengthen their lives so they took a leap of faith and rebelled. It was an armed resistance, but the reason behind their action makes it more of an act of Iberlieben, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe uprising in Warsaw was most definitely an act of Iberlieben. Those who chose to stand up to the Nazi power made a brave decision with the intent of protecting and cherishing the lives of those the Nazis threatened each day. Although knowing they may be killed in the act, they all knew they were bound to die regardless. Thus, fighting back against the injustice done to their people aids the future generations who are victim to acts of anti semitism and hate.
ReplyDeleteI would consider the uprising in Warsaw is an act of Iberlieben. Those who rose against the Nazis and tried to make a difference something considered to be very special. They rose because they wanted to fight for everyone who were not capable of fighting. I consider the people who rose true hero's and an act of Iberlieben because it was a small act of resistance for survival.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely consider the uprising of Warsaw to be an act of Iberleben. These people aimed to prevent the Nazis from killing even more people. Things had already gotten so bad so another act of resistance could not have been too bad. These people aimed to prevent even more Nazis from killing the Jews. The fact that they had the will to go against a force that they knew was stronger was very brave.
ReplyDeleteThe Warsaw ghetto uprising was definitely an act of iberleben. Although all of the people who took part of the uprising died, the Jews decided they would rather fight and die for their cause than to let the Nazis kill them. These Jews resisted the Nazis by forcing them to kill them like soldiers and warriors rather than like sheep to the slaughter.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that was Warsaw ghetto uprising was an act of Iberleben. The living conditions in the ghetto were getting so bad that Jews started dying off quicker, and something had to be done. The Jews who participated in the uprising knew that the attacks on the Natzis would sacrifice their lives, but they were willing to give up their lives in order to help save the other Jews living in the ghetto.
ReplyDeleteI would consider the Warsaw ghetoo uprising a definite act of Iberleben. In dire or difficult situations, I find that the outcome is just as or perhaps even less important as the actions we choose to take in those moments. Fighting back was not an act of suicide, although some may say that was the direct outcome. Uprising was an act of spiritual survival, of mental strength along with physical. It was proof that the Jewish people were standing up for the atrocities being done, and showing future generations the power of bravery and survival.
ReplyDeleteThe Warsaw Uprising was definitely an act of Iberleben. Although Iberleben is often an act of survival, it is also acts of resistance. The Jews reclaimed their power by fighting the Nazis, and died on their own terms in a huge act of defiance. The Nazis expected fearful, submissive Jews, but the found strong, defiant Jews who were willing to resist until the very end.
ReplyDeleteI think that any selfless act against the Nazis in order to save lives is an act of Iberleben. I also think that even if something doesn't succeed, if the intent is good, then the act itself is for the greater good and should be viewed as a good thing. The amount of people who deny the horrors of the holocaust because "Jews didn't stand up for themselves" can be proven wrong with this exact act of Iberleben.
ReplyDeleteI would consider the Warsaw uprising as an act of Iberleben. These people went against the Nazis to try and save lives, that's crazy selfless. These Jews were acting with courage and strength against the Nazis. Even though they didn't manage to survive the idea of what they were trying to accomplish is what counts.
ReplyDeleteThe actions people took to get weapons, risking their lives for the greater cause was an act of Iberleben. However, I do agree with Evan that the uprising as a whole, although honorable, should only be seen as an armed resistance.
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