Still tears

Holocaust and Heroism Day, 2022

I love Jewish people all over the world. I get teary when I meet a person who turns out to be Jewish. I hug him or her. This person is not a stranger—he or she is a brother or sister. We share a history of the extermination experience. We share the genes of survival. Together, we hold onto life and self-respect.

I understand when Jewish people keep quiet, not talking about the shameful cruelties perpetuated upon them by other humans, so as to not shake the souls of their descendants. I understand their will to be whole – and that silence can also be a message, loud as a shout.

Jewish people know what it’s like to feel fear, which is the blood that turns color, eyes that open seven times. Jewish people know what might happen to a person just because he or she is a Jew.

Most Georgian Jews survived the Nazi invasion because two generals blocked the German forces; but Georgian Jews still knew what was happening, experienced fear and grief, lost brothers and sisters.

I love Jewish people all over the world. Anyone who does not, has no place on our earth.

The exposed cock
And the shout
Will not be deleted
but I
That I did not go up in flames in time
Fly to space