By Marion Silver
I cannot abandon my father and mother
We are destined to have the same fate
Darling, have strength
Please do what you can to survive
Maybe, one day, we will meet again.
Such are the lines penned by Holocaust survivor, Molly Applebaum, who was hidden in a small wooden box with her cousin in a barn in Poland. She now calls the Baycrest Centre in Toronto her home. Social worker Dr. Paula David spearheaded a project that encouraged Baycrest residents to lay bare their long-buried memories of the horrors they endured during the Holocaust. Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango is an adaptation of their poems detailing the unimaginable abuses experienced by women and children. The lush melodies of the tango, beloved by Jews in Poland before World War II, provided the backdrop to the poignant poems and reminiscences of these Holocaust survivors. Performed by the Payadora Tango Ensemble in the intimate setting of the 4th Stage at the National Arts Centre, the heartfelt performance by these powerful musicians and vocalists bore witness to their respect and admiration for these masterful poets.
