Tears or simply admiration?

Its Holocaust day in Israel. Today the 18th of April and the day after I gave birth to my Anthony 65 years ago. He who, left us far too soon!

One of the most inspirational people whom entered my life was my late beloved friend Lucy. In German pronounced Lutzi!

We met on Moshav Habonim in 1956. She and her husband Charlie Mandelstam who was the Work Manager and whom years later became the first Golf Pro in Israel, were our “adoptive family. They had two daughters at the time, later Gili their son was born and we became his God Parents. We had two little boys so the kids too became close.

On this day when once again all the horrors of the Nazi period are brought to the fore it is Lucy whom I think about.

To say that I was privileged to know her is an understatement. I was only about two years younger than her, I had grown up in London during the years of World War Two and my experiences had been pretty grim, but nothing compared to hers.

Not only was she beautiful in looks and nature she was also extremely cultured. Even I who grew up in London fortunately with a great education and access to theatre and more did not have her “style” which was so Viennese, so fine!

On the Moshav they would say that she was the only chavera(female member) who ironed her tee shirts. She was elegance to a T!

I knew her story.

So, at this time of the year when for the past 24 hours we have viewed scenes on our TV screens, of unspeakable horror also on radio, testimony after testimony of survivors. Yes like me, survivors in their 80s and 90s!

I miss her so much.