Does history repeat itself? Not too often, but symbolism does. I spent my
childhood in Wiznitz (Vijnita), a small town about forty miles from
Czernowitz, where my father had his medical practice. On December 28, 1938,
King Carol II appointed Octavian Goga to form the first Goga-Cuza
government. This overtly anti-Semitic government passed many decrees during
its 44 days in power that had a profound effect on the lives of the Jewish
population of Romania. Jews constituted over 90% of the population of
Wiznitz and they were deeply shocked when a large electrically illuminated
swastika was placed on the City Hall. One day after the fall of the
Goga-Cuza government on February 10, 1938, most of the Jews of Wiznitz,
religious chasidim and misnagdim, secular zionists, communists, atheists,
etc. assembled in front of City Hall to witness the removal of the hated
symbol. The atmosphere was festive; some recited the shehechayanu prayer and
compared this day with the fall of Haman.
Today, another symbol, the Confederate Battle Flag, is coming down from its
pole at the State Capitol Grounds in Columbia, South Carolina, a state where
I lived for five years. As I watched on TV the emotional crowd attending
this historic event, my mind wandered off to the far-away little town on the
Czeremosz.....
Alfred (Fred) Schneider
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Received on 2015-07-10 08:05:48