Epilogue

An important aspect of the Holocaust is its impact on lives of the survivors in later years. The Holocaust left indelible marks and expressed itself in a variety of ways. It influenced greatly the survivors’ personality traits and patterns of behavior. Several examples of this impact, such as storing slices of bread under mattresses, or packing all possessions and running away in moments of danger were described in the preceding chapters.
Such shaping of human character by Holocaust experience was likewise exemplified, when my wife Milka, also a Holocaust survivor, tried to assure maximum security by planning how to divide responsibility in taking care of our children, if escape becomes ever necessary. According to her suggestion, she would take Yifat by the hand and Avishai on her arms, while I would be responsible for Dorit and Limor. There was no war at the time, but these were Milka’s thoughts in the middle of the night, that undoubtedly originated in the  Holocaust.
Likewise, my own lifelong stubbornness and persistence and my ever-present feeling that something can go wrong and must be prevented, have their origins in my involvement in the Holocaust.
When communicating with the Holocaust survivors, particularly in moments of tension, it is important to remember that their Holocaust experience had exerted profound influence on their way of thinking and became part of their characters.