The Greatest Project

My wife and I met a Holocaust survivor; Susy, at our temple in Northern California. She and her husband Bob have been married for 50 years. He was in the army in World War II, and was the first soldier that Susy came into contact with (after surviving one of the longest death marches in Poland). She says she knew, upon making eye contact with him, that they would get married and have a family together.

Her story is almost as amazing as she is. Her radiance is wholly unmatched by ANYBODY I have ever met, at any age, and she is well into her 80’s. When I first got a chance to speak with her after Shabbat services I was so enchanted by her I asked if I could write her story for her family. I told her I was a writer, and that it would be an honor to immortalize her tale for generations of her family to come. She was hesitant but thanked me for the offer. I understood her apprehension. This was a personal story that would transport her back into a time of pure hell. I could not blame her. She did not want to re-live that horror.

A few weeks later her husband Bob approached me, and said they found some old tapes; ¼” analog tapes from 1981 that he and Susy had recorded her stories on. Susy sat down with a few drinks and Bob fired away the questions, as she kept her composure as best she could while telling these horrid tales. He asked me if I could do anything with them and I said of course, that we should do an analog to digital transfer in my studio as soon as possible, as the tapes will be corroding soon. I offered to make CDs with manually tracked ID points, mastering (noise clean up, leveling, etc.) and that Alexandra could do some wonderful artwork. They were excited to say the least. I took the tapes home to begin the process. We were told not to play the tapes for ANYBODY. Only Alexandra and I could listen. We agreed of course, and there I was: In the studio, listening, working, and just letting the magnitude of the story take hold.

That has been an experience beyond words for me. For all the music production work I’ve been involved in, this actually felt like the greatest project for which I had the honor to take on. Though I was merely trying to preserve (and improve – sonically) a story told by somebody else I know, this will live on for years in their family. Their children will be able to hear it long after Susy has left this earth. What a gift to be able to share the experience.

I have been pondering all the ridiculous things I stress about, the silliness that finds me arguing with Alexandra occasionally, and the crap that I consider important. I realize what Susy went through to have a life, and how joyful she is. What right do I have to get down on myself when times get rough? Really, look at what this woman, and MILLIONS of others lived through. I am fortunate to be strong in my faith, and it has brought my own consciousness and marriage to a wholly different level, beyond anything I could have imagined previously.

I do not preach that which serves me to others, but I wish it upon all my friends and family: Embrace your heritage, live it, and remember those who lived before you so that you may have the chance to carry the torch, and keep the flame burning. I am thankful to call her my friend.