What do you imagine some of the survivors’ fears were after liberation? The phrase “Return to Life” is often used in connection with the period immediately following liberation. What do you think were the first things the survivors needed in order to “Return to Life”? Do you think the phrase “Return to Life” accurately captures the Jewish experience at this time? Explain your thinking.
I think that some of the fears that the survivors encountered were antisemitism and the trauma that they have faced. This could have prevented the survivors from going back to their home after the war another reason they might not have gone back could have been because the pain and memories were too deep. I think that the first thing that the survivors need to “Return to Life” is their peace of mind. Survivors could attain peace of mind by talking to someone about their problems or even by just trying to let go of the past and relax. Also survivors can attain their peace of mind by finding their friends or relatives that have also survived the war because that would help them be able to move on and also to be more comfortable because they would have company. I would say this because during the war so much was going on that it was so unbearably scary and the survivors were probably very disturbed by it and it would never leave their mind. So if they were to have peace of mind then they would be able to carry on with everyday life and activities.
I agree with you that once the Jewish were liberated all they could think about was what happened to them and the people they loved. For the phrase "Return to Life" your are right that they need peace to return to life, but after all they have been through in the Holocaust it would be hard or impossible for them to forget the incident. They need more than peace in mind because they lived years terrified, hungry, and worried. I agree that the phrase "Return to Life" accurately describes the Jewish life during the time. These were terrifying moments for them.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very hard for the survivors to "Return to Life" because after going through all of that it affects the way they are and think. People don't forget about the stuff that happened to them quickly. It will be on there mind for years to come if not forever. This type of thing really traumatizes you. For example, soldiers after war are affected badly because they can't trust anyone. They see everything as a threat. Their mind can't get rid of what they've been through. So basically a person after the Holocaust can't just "Return to life", they have to be able to trust people again because it is hard getting those disastrous things out of your head.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said and your type of definition for the phrase "Return to life". They have been through so much pain and all the memories they will have that they won't be able to forget. They won't be able to "Return to life", with everything they will remember. All the scars they have forever will be there to remind them of the horrible Holocaust. When people ask them about their marks on their skin all they will think about is of that time period and how much they wished they didn't. So, they just won't be able to "Return to life", they will have such a different life than what they had before the Holocaust. It's just so horrible to be remembered about that, and how people will be talking about it every time a Jew passes. They will have to be able to get their life back together which will be hard. They won't be able to trust people so easily with out them thinking their going to hurt them like the Nazis did.
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