Shlomo Katz
A miracle in the middle of the deepest darkness
I listen to a classical radio station while driving car as well as at home. I heard about pieces of music that listeners wanted to trace. We were told about a then 27-year-old old Jewish cantor Shlomo Katz from Romania was ordered to sing in a concentration camp in 1942 while his fellow Jewish were ordered to dig their own graves.
The commander got so moved that he let him escape so that he survived. The lamenting song was called “El male rahamim”. He recorded the song in 1950 five years after the war. I am so glad I happened to hear this. I pulled the car to a parking place to listen and to write this story. The old song is found also on YouTube. He immigrated to New York after the war.
The picture was given to me by my Romanian blogging friend Paul Militaru
Paul Militaru/ Red leaves
I have always wondered how I would cope with a situation like that being forced to die as a young person or see your family members die. I treasure people who will go into a resistance against evil powers and governments who would let things like that happen.
Categories: Character, Historical issues, Holocaust, WWII
From one Heart to Another 
I knew this story, but it was nice to have a reminder that even the most evil among us can be touched by beauty – and that miracles sometimes happen when they are. The survival of Shlomo Katz is truly a miracle.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!
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Such a powerful prayer that reminds us all of the darkness of the past. If only mankind would learn.
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So true. Imagine having to flee or be captured and to sing for his friends and family even before they died
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Having courage every day is difficult thing to accomplish, but those who spent time in the camps know the struggle all too well. I’ll need to listen to the song.
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Those who survived had an important story to tell. I read Primo Levi’s books on that subject. Unfortunately he couldn’t cope with the memories and committed suicide. Thank you for commenting so faithfully
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You are a pleasure to visit, Maria.
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What a blessing I got thank you and it goes to you too
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Maria, this is a heartbreakingly beautiful post.
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Thank you so much Bernadette
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My dad was a survivor. Very rarely talked about his experience, and understandably so. It also affects the second and third generation in ways you wouldn’t think. I’m always interested in stories about the Holocaust. Interestingly, I knew a girl whose grandfather had been a camp guard, and the similarities in our upbringing were astounding.
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So interesting that one at “the other side” also had suffered. But of course one of the reasons is that they couln’t talk about the horrors or the shame. I wrote about Primo Levi. His books are very special https://mariaholm.blog/2015/05/18/thoughts-on-reading-primo-levis-books-on-being-a-kz-prisoner/
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Yes. I read him when I was doing my Masters, as I was looking at the transition between the Weimar Republic and Nazism with a view to literature and art plus looking at the works of Klaus Mann. Another favorite is Arnost Lustig’s Lovely Green Eyes. And Martin Amis’ Time’s Arrow.
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So good to get inspiration thank you. It’s such a hard subject to read about so a well written book helps to be able to digest it
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Very true. I go through phases where I immerse myself in the subject, and then I have to stay away from it. But it’s important to talk about.
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Very similar for me. I am reading “The Big Lie” by Dinesh D’Souza about the ugly things the Nazies
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* learnt from the American Democratic Party regarding segregation laws against the black Americans
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I need to read that book. Will send you an email soon.
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I am looking forward to that, thank you so much
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