memory in the living room,
Really in the living room
"The intimacy and closeness to the youth in the living room opened my heart and gave me the feeling of comfort to tell my story for the first time ever."
We all know the "Memory in the Living Room" project; An exciting event that takes place all year round and especially close to the events of Holocaust Remembrance Day and Heroism, where we get to hear from first and second hand the special story of Holocaust survivors and their families.
As part of being an association that embraces Holocaust survivors, we also open our doors to the breathtaking life stories.
But Dina's story was different.
Dina Diga, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, lived her whole life after the war in the State of Israel.
Worked as a nurse, got married, and had children.
We knew nothing about her during the war and asked her to expose us to her story, on Memorial Day, in our living room.
At first she refused. After about a few days, her volunteer Elian announces that she agrees to tell and requests that it be in a limited forum.
And so it was: 20 teenagers arrive in the living room, sit down on the carpet. Dina sits down on the armchair and begins to tell:
"First I want to tell you something personally.
I have never told anyone the story you will hear now. I didn't tell my husband, I didn't tell my children, I didn't tell my girlfriends. Life led me to keep my life story deep in my heart. The intimacy you create here, the silence, the listening, the very fact that you arrived at a young age just to listen to me - moves me to tears and makes me feel comfortable for the first time."
We were moved to tears, the closeness, the huge hug that came after she finished speaking. The atmosphere present in the living room was unique, breathtaking. We won together the moment she chose to reveal us, precisely the 20 boys who came, into her heart.
Out of respect for the amazing Dina, we have chosen not to reveal her story publicly.
A year later, Dina chose to tell her story in a more public way, after realizing how important it was for her that the world knew about her life.
This time more than 70 came. They couldn't resist.
No eye was left dry.
This is our privilege and we appreciate it, thank you.
one picture is worth a thousand words
