“Life is beautiful”
“… life is beautiful, extremely beautiful. And when you are old you appreciate it more. When you are older you think, you remember, you care and you appreciate. You are thankful for everything. For everything”.
This is a quote from an interview with Alice Herz-Sommer conducted by “Guardian” newspaper editor Alan Rusbridger. Alice was born in Prague in 1903, so she is now 103. She is Jewish, spent two years in Terezin concentration camp (which I have visited), and lost her husband and many family members and friends In Auschwitz (which I have also visited). She still practices the piano for three hours each day and remains resolutely optimistic.
It’s Friday and maybe you’re feeling a bit weary, even down, at the end of a tough working week. Read this interview and be up-lifted.
Alice has some warm words about the English:
“… English people are so polite, and this politeness is not superficial. The English respect each other more than others. They are cheerful and helpful and I admire their humour. English humour is not laughing, it is distance. They observe life and always stay stoic. Admirable people. I love them, I love them.”
From this Englishman, a happy Hanukkah (it starts tomorrow) to my good Jewish friends and all my Jewish readers.