Comments for Arnon Ziklik

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 10, June 28th, 2010 by Tobia

Tobia — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:09:35 +0000

When you look at the picture of Arnon next to the fountain and the one next to it of his grandmother in front of the same fountain, it seems like Arnon only posed by the fountain because he was aware of the older photo. Actually, we took the photo by the fountain because the owner said it was an original fixture. Then, in Israel, when we showed the photo to Arnon’s grandmother, she ran to her bedroom and came back with her photo from the 40’s. It was so awesome to see that Arnon had stood where his grandmother had stood decades ago.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 10, June 28th, 2010 by Arnon Ziklik

Arnon Ziklik — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:05:26 +0000

Thanks Andy. As far as the hacky sacking, I figured young kids would enjoy that sort of thing. We couldn’t communicate very well, and I know these things have a tendency to make up for conversation [what do you think my friends and I did when we were young teenagers? .

As for my Grandmother’s house visit, first off, it was pretty incredible to be able to visit. It’s just one of those things you never expect to ‘complete the full circle’ so to speak, by visiting. The woman that lived there seemed like a simple person to me. I didn’t feel any animosity towards her. Just as it was terrible for my Grandmother’s family to leave a house they had been in for years, I thought that would be applicable for this woman and her family. Admittedly, her circumstances were significantly different, less ethical for lack of a better word, but after so many years, I’m sure she feels it’s her house outright.

I showed my Grandmother the pictures on our netbook when we were in Israel, about a week and a half after visiting her childhood home. She was really happy… we ended up printing some of them and framing them on her walls. She then pulled out the picture from 1944 for us, since we were both so amused that we had pictures of the same place, separated by so many years and stories.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 10, June 28th, 2010 by Andy

Andy — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:00:50 +0000

My god Arnon, that is an amazing story. I mean, the trek to find your grandmother’s childhood home is amazing in itself, but that glimmer of recognition by the current owners is, well, I don’t know how to say it. By her age she would have been an infant or not even born yet when the house came into her family’s posession, but that she seemed guilty or embarrassed or something speaks volumes. Did you feel any animosity towards her? And that fountain… It’s amazing how a simple form of concrete can connect history like that. Have you shared your photos and experience yet with your Grandmother? How did she react?

I tell you, I’m thinking of you with great admiration right now. You’re the hacky sack ambassador. Incredible.

Again, thank you so much for sharing; I hope more people read your story.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 8, June 26th, 2010 by Ryan K.

Ryan K. — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Totally unrelated, but there’s an amazing Alfa Romeo parked in Image 13.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 8, June 26th, 2010 by Arnon Ziklik

Arnon Ziklik — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:53:23 +0000

The 200 figure was for the entire country. Good eye, with the memorial, it did seem to be damaged, but I’m not aware that it was vandalism.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 8, June 26th, 2010 by Andy

Andy — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:23:51 +0000

You mean that there are only 200 Jews in that district, not the whole country, right? I hadn’t heard about the 1968 anti-semetic campaign – I’ll have to read more about it. In fact, this is the first I had ever heard about the commies doing that sort of thing after the death of Stalin (and this happened under Brezhnev!). Had the Krakow memorial been vandalized when you were there, or does it just look that way? Thanks for posting your travelogue!

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 5, June 23rd, 2010 by Krishnan(Shankar)

Krishnan(Shankar) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:38:16 +0000

Wow…just what I wanted All the details of the places to see

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 6, June 24th, 2010 by Arnon

Arnon — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:48:14 +0000

It was really hard to do this. What was even harder for me, was 2 weeks later sitting down with my Grandmother for hours as she shared her whole story with me. We had to stop on quite a few occasions to get through the whole story, but she wanted to share it, and I wanted to hear it and document it. I will eventually stitch all those pieces
together and will put her story up here on the site.

Comment on Central-Eastern Europe Trip, Day 6, June 24th, 2010 by Andy

Andy — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:20:47 +0000

You’re a lot stronger that I am, Arnon. I still have yet to visit any of the holocaust museums I’ve been near, and may never be able to. Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam was tough for me. I can barely watch footage of the camps when they were liberated without breaking down. And I’m not Israeli, nor did any of my family (that I know of) die in the holocaust. That said, I really feel the Jewish part of me tugging at my heart when I think of it. Hell, I get chocked up just reading this. I’m really glad that the other passengers gave you the time you needed.

Comment on Mid-Summer by Arnon

Arnon — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:00:11 +0000

I’m so happy, I can hardly contain myself
Definitely come over soon and have a whole bunch. We’ll have beets, too.