I was twelve years old, when I read The Diary of Anne Frank... For several days I was walking in a daze and finally went into 'Jacob's Stationary Store, near our school, bought a thick hard-bound notebook and began to write my very own dairy; addressing it to 'Anne Frank' or actually' to her spirit...
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| Anne Frank |
Anne's diary |
Shira Cohen |
Shira's diary |
I told her how much I admire her courage and writing abilities' and since I am also a Jewish girl about the same age she was, when she started to write her diary, I decided to write a dairy like she did, sharing the typical life of a twelve years old girl, who was born and raised in Israel... In my writing to Ann or rather to her spirit... I described my small dramas (which seemed very big) telling her about my family and the friends from my neighborhood and school... I wrote about my feelings of Excitements and Joy Sadness, Anger and Frustrations with 'Life's Unfairness, my dreams for the future and the new budding emotions of love, which bloomed and withered in a speed of falling stars...When I was sad and closed my eyes, it felt as if Ann was Gently drying my tears and helps me overcome my 'Growing Pains'... She was becoming my most Intimate and most comforting friend! Years later Ann would 'Travel with me', on my first European trip... Ann became my closest companion and years later, was by my side when I boarded the ship to the USA. I am going to share with you, dear readers, some of the pages in my diary,which is now an old notebook,very old, with pages which are bit yellow, like falling leaves in the Atum..X
1962
"Well here I am on the Cruise Ship"Jerusalem"! A twenty one years young women, on her first Cruise to Europe; a trip she planned and visualized for so many years! Until now I have lived on a very "Strict Diet" of 'Casual Dates', avoiding men I may fall in love with; which would prevent me from achieving my dreams... After two years in the military,wearing 'X Ka "x Kaki" Uniforms'; I am now wearing cloths with 'Rainbow Colors'! Since there is no danger of falling into the 'Marriage Trap', during such a short trip; I am ready to play! I met a few 'Interesting Young Men', with whom I dance and 'Flirt'', among them 'Marcus, who is on is returning to his home in Switzerland, after a vacation in Israel with his parents, sister and their car... Marcus has been following me everywhere on the ship and when I told him that Switzerland was one of my destinations, he offered to take a few days off to show me around! How could I resist such an opportunity? I took his Phone Number... Yours, Shira"
Germany
Besides Marcus, I met on the ship a 'Middle aged couple', returning from vacation in Israel with their car... They invited me to join them on their trip to Munich, and I was happy to except... We found out they live just a few streets away, from my mom's second cousin, with whom I was going to stay for awhile... The three of us began our long drive, from the Italian port of Genoa, stopping overnight in a small, charming hotel... I was looking through the window; taking in the magnificent European landscape, especially the Dark Green Forests I have never seen in Israel... The lush woods seemed very familiar, maybe because of the books I devoured as a child... I remember the stories about "Hansel and Gretel, the two kids who got lost in a Forest and met a 'Wicked Witch'... I must admit that when we crossed the border to Germany, I had a few moments of 'Anxiety', when a tall Border Police officer, in Uniform came to check our Passports... It made me think of the the stories I read and heard besides several few movies, about the Nazis arresting people at the Boarder, during the second world war and felt 'Uncomfortable'... My new friends Clara and Mark, told me that many of the Israelis, feel this way as they enter Germany for the first time; even though many years past by since the X Holycast..."xYou will get used to it!" They assured me. After several hours on the road, we finally arrived to my mother's cousins condominium, in a High Rise Building, in a suburb of Munich.. I thanked my new friends, exchanged phone numbers and took the elevator up to the Ninth Floor... Where my new hosts, my mothers cousin Sara and her husband Bernie lived... Yours Shira
Sara and Bernie received me with open arms and took me to see the"Most interesting places" in and around this lovely city... we dined in 'Fancy' Restaurants, visited Museums, attended Concerts and met a few of their friends... Bernie introduced me to Helmut, a pleasant polite, thirty-two years old Textile Engineer, who 'Fell in love' with me, after two dates and asked me to marry him and stay in Germany It was 'Weird' to go out with someone 'So Old' (and German...) but Helmut turned out to be an intelligent and sensitive man, with a great sense of humor, who took me out to see the city and introduced me to several of his friends ...
Sight seeing
Helmut couldn't understand, why I would not have a drink at the Night Clubs we visited...X"Israelis and alcohol don't mix!" I tried to explain."We were brought up to avoid Alcohol, except for a sip of wine on Friday night and some of the Jewish holidays and ceremonies..."Maybe the Israelis don't drink because we must be Alert at all times, in order to protect our little country in case of a War!" I said to my new friend, who seemed to accept my 'explanation' and was sipping his drink by himself, while I was enjoying lemonade, looking around and 'Taking In' the unfamiliar scene of the Night Club; where I was looking around with eyes full of excitement and wonder...
With Helmut
"Dear Anne
A few nights ago, Helmut took me to an exclusive Night Club... When the waiter was about to pour the champagne for me, I covered the glass with my hand... Helmut became a bit Annoyed, which was a surprise; so I agreed to take a Sip and had another surprise; I liked it! The two of us,were seeing each other almost every night and this was the first time I have seen him Annoyed... x״A zip of champagne Vill not kill an Uzi shooting zolder like you!״ He said in his German accent; x" You don't have to protect your country right zis minute! How can you be a 'Voman of zhe Vorld, if you never tasted Champagne?!" O.k I'll try it!״ I said... The truth was that I was ״Dying״ to find out what Champagne tastes like, but didn't want to admit it... I have read and seen several movies about this 'Nectar' (Gigi one of them) and was extremely curious, so I let Helmut 'convince' me... My first reaction when I tasted it, was that of a big disappointment!"I don't see what is the Big Deal about Champagne!" I said as I emptied my third glass "It tastes just like lemonade!" I found out the difference when we were ready to leave and I was unable to stand up or walk straight... Helmut who was 'Laughing his head off ', supported (almost lifting me) on the way to his car. When he opened the door, I took one step forward and 'Threw Up' all over the seat... I don't remember much from that moment on, except that I woke up the next morning at Sara and Bernie's place, suffering from the worst pounding Headache I have ever had!
"Dear Anne
Sara and Bernie were very amused by my reaction to the Champagne... I heard them laughing out loud, when they spoke on the phone with their friend, who came to see me in the afternoon, after I refused to answer his calls, since I was very embarrassed... I finally agreed to come out of my room, after covering my head and face with a pillow case...X "Don't be zilly!" Helmot was laughing, removing the pillow case "In Chermany, everyvon trinks too much and trows up! My car is 'vashed and clean and I vill pick you up tonight at zeven O'clock!" X He said. "Are you sure you still want to marry me after this?" X I asked him and he began to laugh:"Even more zen before libling! I can't vait to see you again pretty girl"...
Sara and Bernie owned an apartment in Italy, in a small beach. town called Milano Maritime, where they used to spend a part of their summer vacation... As much as I enjoyed myself, I realized that I was happy to leave Germany behind... I couldn't stop thinking of the evil which took place in this country and found myself looking at all the older men in the streets, wondering if they were involved in the horrors of the Nazi Regime... One day, as I was walking with Sara and Bernie in a lovely park, lined with trees and flower beds, I saw a woman,who who sitting on one of a benches, warming herself in the sun,,, I couldn't stop thinking that this might be one of those benches, which during the war had a warning; "No Jews allowed"
"Not for Jews"
up XX
Italy
Dear Anne,
"Dear Anne,
Milano Maritima is a disappointment... It is a beach town, just like many we have in Israel... After two days I began to feel bored and restless, wondering if I should leave for Switzerland earlier then I had planned...The three of us were sitting in a an Outdoor Cafe when a very pleasant looking man, approached our table and politely asked me something in Italian... Bernie, who speaks Italiamn, told me after talking for a while with the young man, that 'Luca' became curious, when he heard me talk talk to Sara in Hebrew and was wondering, which language it was..."What a great excuse!" Sara told me in Hebrew winking... Luca introduced himself as a student of economics, at the university of Bologna, who was spending his summer vacation at home. Upon hearing that I am a tourist from Israel, he asked if he may show his hospitality, by driving me around and asked if there was anything special I wanted to see "How about Venice?!" I said immediately, a bit too fast... Luca smiled at my enthusiasm and said some thing in Italian, which sounded like: "I am at your service"... "Bernie, please tell him this will truly make me very happy!" I said looking into Luca's eyes and smiling one of my most beautiful smiles, holding my hands on my heart to express my gratitude...
"Dear Anne,
Luca speaks Italian and French only, which made the conversation between us practically impossible... We drove to Venice in his small red car, trying to communicate by using the small English- Italian dictionary, he brought with him and a bit of 'Pantomime'... It took us about two hours to arrive to Venice, a city which immediately took my breath away! Luca was very respectful, a true gentleman! The two of us were walking in this enchanting city, holding hands... We didn't really need words! I was amazed at the feelings of comfort and total peace we were sharing... At times, if we wanted to communicate something important, Luca would stop one of the people who walked by, asking if they spoke English and those who did, helped us understand each other and seemed to enjoy being a part of our 'Silent Romance'...
Luca and I By a canal in Venice San Marco Square
The night after we came back, Luca receiving my 'Hosts Agreement' to take me to a party at his cousin's apartment... I couldn't wait to tell my Israeli friends about this Italian party... Most of the people were around our age and everyone was very nice and hospitable...They wanted to know more about Israel and were paying me attention and complement ('Bella, Belisema!') Dominic, one of Luca's friends who spoke English, helped us find out what we were unable to learn about each other...This 'Interlude' with Luca, has been one of the most 'Innocent Romantic Adventure, I have ever had... The two of us were holding hands and were looking into each other's eyes... Maybe when there is no barrier of language, the souls' take over the need for words... Dominic was watching us, looking with awe at what seemed to be special 'Spiritual Connection', which rarely happens in people's lifetime... (if at all) and I could tell he was jealous...
Yours, Shira
Bernie and Sara were genuinely sorry to see me leave... I once heard her telling a friend in German (which I started to understand) how happy she was about my visit and that I fill her heart with Gladness... There were tears in our eyes when we finally said goodbye, promising to keep in touch forever! Luca drove me to the Train Station, where I would take the train to Switzerland. It was very sad to say goodbye, knowing we will never meet again... He took my hand and brought it to his lips, then looked into my eyes and said in English, 'I love you.' I wiped a tear and for the first time kissed him lightly on the lips and I was watching him through the window of the moving train, standing on the platform waving to me, until he disappeared...
Yours, Shira"
Switzerland
"Dear Anne,Marcus, who evidently received the telegram about my arrival, was waiting for me at the Zurich train station... It was Friday night and he insisted I come to his parents house for the Friday Night Dinner, before I go to the small hotel I was going to stay... The house seemed to me like a small palace; There was marble everywhere, huge circular staircase, gilded mirrors on the walls and crystal chandeliers... His parents, sister and grandparents who welcomed me and were warm and kind, were trying their best to make me feel comfortable... When we set at the dining room table, his mother recited the Hebrew prayer as she lit the candles, his father blessed over the wine and Marcus said the blessing over the Chalah (the Sabbath bread) My Israeli friends and I were "Anti-Religion", which meant we did not like to be Forced in to celebrating some of the Jewish Holidays ... So I was surprised to find myself 'Moved', by the ceremony and was amazed to see that our Tradition is still 'alive', in Jewish homes all over the world...
One of
Switzerland's lakesEach morning, Marcus would pick me up at my small hotel and we would drive in his sport's car to a different destination... It was amazing to see how clean, almost manicured, Switzerland was and how lovely were the lakes and the snow capped mountains... Marcus looked at me with great pleasure, every time I expressed my joy at the sight of something new... He said that my love of life and enthusiastic curiosity, were contagious and it was making him see all the places he took for granted all over again... It was clear that Marcus was falling in love! Two days before I was going to leave, he asked me to cancel my trip and stay in Switzerland..."My family is in love with with you, just like I am!" He said. "I told them I am going to ask you to stay! How about it Shira? Please stay, get to know Switzerland and after we know each other better, I would like you to be my wife!" I told Marcus how touched I was but it was way to soon and fast, to make such an important decision... I explained that I am registered to study at the University of Texas and was obligated to teach in a Hebrew School... It was against my principles, to back out from obligations I made... I told him that I plan to spend some time on my own, so I can become more independent, before settling into married life and was surprised to see tears in his eye... "You never know what may happen in the future" I said, trying to comfort him... The truth was that I did not care for Marcus this way, not like I did for my silent Luca...
Snow-capped
mountains
After a week Marcus drove me to the train station, where I was about to take the train to Paris... When it started to move, I found myself doing what seemed to become a pattern by now: Waving goodbye at the window of a moving train, to a man I will probably never see again... I settled in my sit and looked through the window... What a pleasure it is to see the passing view and the farmers,working in the ripe yellow fields. It resembled some of Van XGogh paintings... I was looking at the neat Bales of Hay, ready to be picked up the fruit trees, swaying in the wind and the children, who were waving to the passing train... It was wonderful to sit like this, looking through the window! How soothing it was to be gently rocked by the movements of a train, listen to the lullaby of the singing wheels and trying hard to keep my eyes open, so I wouldn't miss a thing...
France
"Dear Anne,"
I am in Paris! Right now I am staying in the tiny apartment of Marcel, my uncle Chaim nephew and his only relative, who survived the Holocaust... I remember Marcel as a very thin, tall redhead teenager when he came to Israel in 1952, to meet for the first time, the only relative he was left with; my Uncle Chaim, who is married to my mother's sister Ruth... As a child, I was told that during the war, Marcel was hiding in a basement in Paris.. I began to cry after seeing my uncle and aunt weeping, hugging and begging Marcel to stay with them in Israel, but he chose to go back to Paris, because he was very attached to the French couple, who endangered their lives, by hiding him in their house from the Nazis... Now he was married now to Nicol, his a pretty Moroccan-Jewish wife and a father to their two months old baby David, who is now is now my tiny 'Roommate'...
I have never seen such a small apartment in my life! Just two and a half tini rooms, including a small kitchen! In order to take a shower, one has to put down the toilet lid and sit on it, while turning the water on... I don't know if my hosts are very poor, or this is how people live in Paris... It actually brings to mind a similar apartment, I have seen in one of the 'Film Noir' of François Truffaut, I watched together with my high school friend Yoram, after we cut classes and escaped from our high school, to watch Art movies in a small theater in Tel Aviv... Unfortunatel, my French hosts and I have a problem communicating, since they don't speak Hebrew or English and my high school French (which was never great) is kind of 'Rusty' Marcel knows some Yiddish and I remember a few words wich I learned from my parents conversations with my grandfather, who loived with us. I know a bit of German, which is similar to Yiddish, which I picked up in my childhood from the family of refugees, who shared a house with my friend Miriam's family... So with Marcel's Yiddish and French and my mixture of little French and German, we somehow managed to understand each other... The Pantomime I used as a child, when I had to communicate with our Bulgarian speaking neighbors and lately, with Luca in Italy, helped as well... Marcel and Nicol were expecting my visit, after reading uncle Chaim's letter and received me with open arms... I gave them the gifts our family sent with me, which I have been carrying throughout Europe, together with the cute blue outfits and hat, my aunt Ruth knitted for the baby... Nicol's thirteen years old brother Jacques, who speaks a little English, came to help us bridge the gaps in our conversations and was able to correct a few miss understandings we made... After a hearty laughter, Jacques reluctantly offered (rather was told) to show me the 'City of Light'... What a City!!! We went to see tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triumph, the Louvre, the Opera Building and of course the Champs Elise...
Notre Dame Me and the Arc de Triumph Eiffel Tower and me In front of the Opera Building
The Parisian men could be rather aggressive with their attention to women... One of them was persistent and annoying in particular! He was walking behind us, showering me with what seemed to be compliments in French, which Jacques refused to translate... I finally asked Jacques to tell this man to stop bothering me and go away! The kid looked at me and turned his head from side to side saying "No!" I was stunned and a bit heart: "Can you tell me why not, Jacques?" I asked a bit hurt."But I am not your 'Chevalier'! He answered... I could have boxed his ears if I was not laughing so hard...
Yours, Shira",
Dear Anne,
I am on the train, sitting in a small compartment for six, on my way to La Havre,where I am about to embark on one of the largest and fanciest cruise ships in the world; The S.S France, which will take me to the next part of my trip: The United States of America! Marcel Nicol and I, became very sentimental when we said goodbye at the train station "Gare de Lyon"... Even my thirteen years old "Reluctant Chevalier"Jacques, seemed a bit sad... During the days the two of us ran around Paris, I used to annoy him, the way older sister would, by singing again and again the first line of the only French children's song I knew: ♫ "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, Dorme vous, Dorme voue?" He would yell at me in French to stop and cover his ears with his hands, when I wouldn't... I believe that in spite of my teasing (or maybe because of it) Jacques developed a 'Prepubescent' crush on me... When I was about to leave Paris, my new friends stood with me at the train station and we departed with hugs and kisses on both cheeks (the French way...) I boarded the train, looking through the window at my new family, which was a bunch of strangers, just a few days before and felt like crying... When the train began to move, they were waving goodby, shouting something in French... I was waving back feeling a deep sadness... I have known these people just one week, we could barely communicate properly, but I truly learned to love them! When Nicol lifted up my little 'Roommate' David and was holding his tiny hand to wave good By, I found myself crying...
It was time to turn my attention to the five people, I shared my compartment with and was using my 'fertile imagination' to weave a story... Stimulated by movies, I have seen about World War II, I imaginined myself sitting in one of the trains, during that period of time... "Maybe the old lady across from me, is one of Agatha Christie's heroins, who is going on a Secret Mission, behind enemy lines... The man besides x her, wearing a grey Fedora hat and a faded khaki raincoat ("A dead give away") must be a double agent... I moved my eyes to look at the other passengers in the cabin and and saw a mother and her teenage daughter was wearing a Mini Skirt... Seeing the skirt, brought me back from 1940 to the reality of 1962... I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Nicol sent me on my way with a long bread called 'Baguette',stuffed with all kind of goodie There was also a paper bag, with fresh fruit and delicious Moroccan pastry, which she baked herself... I offered the pastry to my traveling companions... The only one who said 'No' ,was the 'Double Agent', who probably feared the food was poisoned. The soft rocking movements of the train and the rhythmic sound of it's wheels, made my eyelids heavy, in spite of all my efforts to stay awake, so I don't miss the Magnificent View of the French country side;the big trees, cultivated fields, big Frute trees, blue lakes and silvery rivers... So much water! It made me feel compassion for Israel, my beloved country and our 'poor Jordan River' which seemed now, like a sad little stream... I felt sad to leave Europe behind, but became excited again, as I visualized myself, boarding the French Ship 'La France' and crossing the Atlantic Ocean on my way to the USA ...
Yours, Shira
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