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Teddy Bear

January 20, 2023 10 Comments

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Her eyes grew wide and glassy as she stared at the ceiling, clutching her bear.

Seven years old. Terrified and alone. Her parents, cousins, friends…Where had they gone? She didn’t know.

Just days ago, her family was gathered around a table, celebrating Hanukkah. She remembered asking why the other children at school didn’t celebrate with her. Now she huddled with hundreds of others in molding showers surrounded by the sounds of shouting soldiers, of metal scraping against metal, the soft hiss of gas moments before the showers came to life and a little teddy bear tumbled silently to the floor.

By Maya Baranovsky

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Goldstone says

    January 20, 2023 at 8:01 am

    A timely reminder. Well done.

    Reply
  2. Laura Besley says

    January 20, 2023 at 8:23 am

    Heart wrenching.

    Reply
  3. Cathy Cade says

    January 20, 2023 at 11:44 am

    poignant

    Reply
  4. Cathryn says

    January 20, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    Hello Maya,
    Years ago, I read a novel about the bombing of Hiroshima. The author did not dwell on the horrific loss of life, but rather on four survivors, making it a clinical story of the number of deaths, but a heart-wrenching, close-up-and-personal examination of real people’s sufferings and experiences in a very few words.
    With this exemplary work you have achieved the same emotional resonance in me.
    Kudos!

    Reply
    • Cathryn says

      January 20, 2023 at 12:05 pm

      I meant to say “making it NOT a clinical …”

      Reply
  5. Valli says

    January 20, 2023 at 4:09 pm

    Chapeau…

    Reply
  6. Adrian says

    January 20, 2023 at 4:29 pm

    AHHHHH THIS IS SO GOOD ILY MAYA

    Reply
  7. Jennifer J. says

    January 25, 2023 at 4:44 pm

    A heart-wrenching story. Well done.

    Reply
  8. Wendy M says

    January 26, 2023 at 3:38 am

    Wow, you got me with that one. So sad but beautifully written

    Reply
  9. David Topper says

    February 20, 2023 at 1:02 pm

    I will read this poem at the Kaddish portion of a Service I am leading at my Temple this coming Friday evening.

    David T.

    Reply

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