Off the Shelf: Davidson brings Holocaust tale of survival to Somerville

By Doug Holder

   On Nov. 13, at 7PM, Susie Davidson  will read  at the “Somerville News
Writers Festival.”  In her introduction to her book: “I Refused to Die:
Stories of Boston Area Holocaust Survivors and Soldiers Who Liberated the
Concentration Camps of World War ll,” Susie Davidson writes: “ The darkest
chapter in Modern Jewish began long before and extends far beyond late
April, 1945 in the minds of those who lived through the horrors of the Nazi
Holocaust. For these survivors, the pain has never changed, diminished,
never ended. Endured long ago, yet forever feeling like yesterday, it
defines their existence like a gray shroud of gloom that indelibly drapes
every waking moment.” (17)   In this book the words of the Holocaust
survivors and their liberators capture the horror, despair, and the
salvation of those who survived this nefarious time in history.  In a
project three years in the making and partially funded by the Mass. Cultural
Council, Davidson has compiled a collection of testimony, poetry, and essays
of Boston-area Holocaust survivors and liberators that should be in the
classroom, as well as in the home. Hillel Newman, Consul of Israel to New
England wrote of Davidson: “In writing this book Susie Davidson advances the
eternal message of the most significant event in Jewish history. In doing
so, she is fulfilling a most important service to the entire community.”

Doug Holder: What was the germ of the idea for this project?

Susie Davidson: Well, I have written for the ‘Jewish Advocate,” for many
years now, so I have met some of the survivors. I was always very impressed
by them. Here were people who experienced things that are even hard to
imagine. Yet they were out there contributing.
They were living their lives. They were not self-centered and wallowing in
misery. They were doing the best they could and making contributions to our
society. They are teachers, educators, scientists, and engineers, etc…They
rebuilt their lives. I found that so amazing. In June 2002 I went to the
groundbreaking ceremony of the Liberator’s monument in downtown Boston at
the N.E. Holocaust Memorial. It was a very nice ceremony, with the mayor and
other leaders. Al Rosen, a World War ll vet got up and made a speech that
inspired me to write “I Refused to Die…”

  There are Holocausts going on in our current times, such as: Somalia,
Sudan, etc… It seems that it just doesn’t end. It is a horrible state of
human affairs. We all have to do what we can to stem this tide.

DH: Do you view this book as a formal educational text as well?

SD: I’ve included many supplements inside the book with WW ll material. My
aim is to market this as a secondary school text. I think you don’t want the
kids too young when they read about this. It is important however to place
that seed of “awareness” in them.

DH: Was it difficult to get the survivors to relive these horrific memories?

SD: Some people were ready to go. Others I had to convince gently. You don’t
want to exploit their experience, but their story must be told. There is
nothing like a first hand witness to counteract Holocaust denial. The
general awareness must be encouraged. This is not a group of people who are
applying to do this.  I didn’t pry but I would strongly suggest. I knew
these stories would mean a lot to many people.

DH: You must have had a number of emotional outbursts during the course of
your interviews.

SD: Sure…in both myself and with them. Almost all of them cried; both men
and women. Some cry everyday still. I tried to be stoic, but when I
proofread I would cry. These are things that you could not believe one man
could do to another man.
  This is true of the liberating soldiers as well as the survivors. A few of
the soldiers in my book bared their lives around their experience.

DH: Can you tell me about the Black regiment that liberated the camps?
SD: There was an all Black regiment that liberated the camps. In the book
there is a poem by Sonia Weitz. She was liberated by a Blackman. She had
never seen a black face before. It turns out that the 761st Battalion was an
all Black regiment. This regiment included many noted people like Jackie
Robinson–the baseball player. They had the highest casualty rate among
similar units in World War ll. They were on the frontlines for three full
weeks at a time.

DH:  Was there a lot of guilt around the folks who did survive. Did they ask
“Why me?’

SD: Sure. Why was I spared, while my family members perished in front of me?
A lot of it was dumb luck. Crazy things would happen at the last minute that
would save them. This is something that you can’t get over quickly. They had
to use their heads constantly to fight against the odds. Every minute was a
struggle to stay alive. One survivor, Meyer Hack, took a string inside his
prison uniform and pulled it every morning to bring blood to his face. This
way he would not have to face the gas chamber.

DH: Did you find yourself taking on the role of a therapist to these
survivors?

SD: Who am I to take that role with people that I respect so much. I think
they were grateful someone was doing this. I suppose this was a catharsis of
sorts.

DH: You included the work of a lot of local poets in this book. What does
poetry add to this compendium?

SD: A poem often takes a third person perspective. You are taking on a
persona when you are writing. So you become a sort-of first hand witness.
With the images and metaphors that are used; it brings it all home in a very
sharp way.

DH: What are your ambitions for this book?

SD: Right now I am doing a lot of readings. I will be doing a large reading
at the Boston Public Library in Nov, as well as reading at The Somerville
News Writers Festival, Nov. 13. I have been on Channel 2’s “Greater
Boston,” show with Emily Rooney. My main objective is to get the information
out there.
DH: If there is one message you would want to convey with this book what
would it be?

SD: Wherever you see racism or bigotry stand up and say something. We really
need to be more active and make the world a better place.