On a Serious Note...

Note: I wrote this blog in Vienna, but did not have the chance to publish it until now

When we arrived in Vienna, we went on a tour of the city. I was so in awe of the beautiful sights and in the history of the monarchy in Austria that I forgot about the story of Vienna during the Second World War. I was brought back to reality when our tour passed by an out-dated building. Our tour guide pointed it out, and told us it used to be the  Hotel Metropole, the former Gestapo headquarters in Austria. After the war, it was demolished, but to this day it is known as the place where many people have disappeared or were deported from Austria. Her sadness as she explained the painful choices Austria made during the war to join the Reich, and the deportation and slaughter of Jews made me reflect on what it must have been to live as a Jew in Vienna. 

I began thinking about what it must have been like to be kicked out of your own home and forced into a ghetto. As a society, we value our personal possessions so much. I can’t imagine going from the house I live in now to being forced into a dirty, cramped, and meagre lifestyle.

Cracow ghetto where Schindler's List takes place

 On top of living in a crowded ghetto, Jews were forced to identify themselves in public with a Star of David. I am sure it was very painful to only be seen in one dimension; your religion.

Another painful aspect of ghetto life must have been conforming your life to the timetable and expectations of others. Curfews were imposed on the Jews, and the Nazis controlled how much you were able to eat and the clothing you were allowed. This must have been very degrading and demoralizing. I was trying to put myself in the shoes of those trapped in the ghettos, and felt I could not even begin to imagine what life would be like in the concentration and extermination camps.

From touring the city, and seeing the reality that the Jews faced during Fascism was sobering. It was comforting, however, to see the Jews of Vienna recovering. As we were arriving, the International Jewish Games were kicking off in Vienna, and there was a growing Jewish community of over 20,000. This reconciliation was inspiring to see, and gave me hope for the future. Hopefully, the Jews will continue to thrive and they can forgive the atrocities of the past. Through this reconciliation, hopefully this atrocity will never happen again.