My journey through the history and stories of an Italian intervention during the Holocaust
This is a question that I ask all the time, as do so many others? Why? Why so much hatred – killings – for what reason?
The killing today at the Holocaust Museum makes me ask why? We constantly see what happens when “hate and ignorance dominate” as David Marwell of the Museum of Jewish Heritage said. We also need to see what happens when hate does not dominate, when caring for others dominates.
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After years of research and emotional journeys to Italy, I was ready to tell the lost story of good amidst evil in a war-torn Italy. A story of Italian concentration camps, families torn apart and re-united. A story of survival and goodness in a World War II Italy and miraculous discoveries in the New York City area over six decades later. "It Happened in Italy" is newly published and I can't wait to tell the story.
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July 2, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Gloria Johnson
Dear Elizabeth, In late May, I attended my 60th reunion at Smith College; we are college mates! It was a wonderful weekend, but the best part was finding your book. I was so intrigued with all of your amazing stories, I couldn’t put it down. Now that I have, I would like to tell you how impressed I am with your “determinizaione” to share with the world the experiences of the many Holocaust survivors in your book. I am telling everybody about your great work.
I am of Italian origin with no Jewish relatives I know about. However, having grown up in New York, I had may Jewish friends; even at Smith. I spent my junior year in Firenze and have never gotten over the wonderful experience. I love to speak Italian (when I can) and had the good fortune to marry a man who adored Italian opera, the literature and particularly the beautiful language.
Again, I thorougly enjoyed your book and the way you presented it.
Tanti auguri – Gloria Johnson
July 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm
elizabethbettina
Hi!
Thank you so much for writing to me. I also spent my Junior Year in Firenze! When I was there – I never heard of this little known story of goodness amidst evil.
This truly was an unexpected journey – and stories keep coming my way. Other Jews who survived in Italy have contacted me – thanking me for writing “their” story and
for getting it right – 100%. I am glad you liked the way I presented the story. It is exactly how it happened.
I also live in New York. We should get together one day.
Ciao!
Elizabeth