WEBVTT 00:00.633 --> 00:03.000 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 00:03.000 --> 00:08.266 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5% ♪♪ 00:08.266 --> 00:13.566 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5% ♪♪ 00:13.566 --> 00:15.366 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% -My father was a Holocaust survivor. 00:15.366 --> 00:18.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% He had survived the same camp as Elie Wiesel. 00:18.200 --> 00:20.333 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% They were both the same age. 00:20.333 --> 00:22.966 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And when my dad was alive, and through school, 00:22.966 --> 00:24.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% I was reading "Night." 00:24.633 --> 00:27.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I was 14 years old, and I went to my dad 00:27.000 --> 00:28.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and I said, "You know, I'm just reading this book. 00:28.466 --> 00:31.333 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5% Is this the same Auschwitz because this is horrible." 00:31.333 --> 00:33.600 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75% And my father said, "Oh, no, it's a different Auschwitz." 00:33.600 --> 00:36.466 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75% So for a long time, I really thought there were two! 00:36.466 --> 00:38.200 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% You know, my father's Auschwitz 00:38.200 --> 00:39.166 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5% was a kinder, 00:39.166 --> 00:40.766 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5% gentler Auschwitz. 00:40.766 --> 00:42.466 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% There was never a moment 00:42.466 --> 00:43.700 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% where people were dying 00:43.700 --> 00:44.633 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60% in front of him. 00:47.200 --> 00:50.033 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% They killed his siblings, and they killed his parents, 00:50.033 --> 00:51.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and then from that moment on, 00:51.633 --> 00:54.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% it was a bunch of strong-willed boys, and they took over. 00:57.066 --> 00:59.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ...and they could hide it under their striped pajamas, 00:59.833 --> 01:01.400 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% as he called them. 01:01.400 --> 01:04.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% It was sort of like Robin Hood and his merry men 01:04.233 --> 01:06.766 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% meet the Nazis in my father's Auschwitz. 01:06.766 --> 01:09.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And that was the story we were given. 01:09.166 --> 01:12.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But when he was very, very sick in the hospital, 01:12.466 --> 01:14.466 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and I knew I was losing him, 01:14.466 --> 01:16.400 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% I realized that there was no going back 01:16.400 --> 01:17.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and that if I didn't make my move, 01:17.766 --> 01:19.666 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I could not return to the moment 01:19.666 --> 01:22.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% of having access to his memories. 01:22.166 --> 01:23.533 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And this time he was really tired 01:23.533 --> 01:25.133 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and he wasn't feeling well. 01:25.133 --> 01:26.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% And I said, "I need to ask you 01:26.900 --> 01:29.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% about your time there, in Auschwitz, Dad. 01:29.300 --> 01:30.366 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% It's important." 01:30.366 --> 01:32.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And I remember he looked at me, 01:32.100 --> 01:35.200 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and he had real anger in his face and in his eyes. 01:35.200 --> 01:36.866 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% He said, "You know, Debbie, 01:36.866 --> 01:38.766 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% from the time that you were a young girl, 01:38.766 --> 01:40.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% you always asked your questions. 01:40.533 --> 01:42.133 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% And I always told you -- 01:42.133 --> 01:44.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% 'We got food, we got bread, we divided it up, 01:44.300 --> 01:46.400 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% we didn't suffer. It was fine.' 01:46.400 --> 01:50.066 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And you keep bothering me and asking me the question. 01:50.066 --> 01:52.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And I keep telling you, like as if I'm in a room, 01:52.866 --> 01:55.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% 'Stop knocking on the door. Go away. 01:55.600 --> 01:57.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I do not want to let you in this room.' 01:57.633 --> 01:59.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And yet you keep coming back saying, 'Let me in.'" 01:59.733 --> 02:04.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And he said, "So I'll ask you one more time to go away." 02:04.366 --> 02:07.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And he said, "If you knock again, I'll let you in. 02:07.500 --> 02:09.333 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% But if I let you in this room..." 02:15.266 --> 02:17.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% And I said, "Yes, I do, Dad." 02:17.933 --> 02:19.066 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% And he was crying, 02:19.066 --> 02:21.433 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% and I remember he had covers on his body, 02:21.433 --> 02:23.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% because he was really skinny and very, very weak. 02:23.800 --> 02:25.266 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And he kicked all the covers off, 02:25.266 --> 02:26.600 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% as if he was kicking down a door. 02:26.600 --> 02:29.333 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And he said, "Fine. Come in then. 02:29.333 --> 02:31.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Come in to a room that you can never leave. 02:31.000 --> 02:33.066 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% Come in." 02:33.066 --> 02:35.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% And then I said, "Can I ask you my questions?" 02:35.233 --> 02:37.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% He said, "You're in the room. You can ask anything." 02:37.833 --> 02:40.966 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And I asked him everything that I ever wanted to ask. 02:40.966 --> 02:43.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I asked him to tell me the real story. 02:43.300 --> 02:46.233 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% And he did. 02:46.233 --> 02:52.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It was painful and scary and sickening. 02:52.866 --> 02:56.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% I felt a part of me had died. 02:56.533 --> 03:02.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And he's right, once you're in that room, you can't get out. 03:02.033 --> 03:03.766 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% It's always with you. 03:03.766 --> 03:11.133 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 03:11.133 --> 03:18.500 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 03:18.500 --> 03:25.866 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:00:00.533 --> 01:00:02.900 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:00:02.900 --> 01:00:08.166 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:00:08.166 --> 01:00:13.466 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:00:13.466 --> 01:00:15.266 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% -My father was a Holocaust survivor. 01:00:15.266 --> 01:00:18.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% He had survived the same camp as Elie Wiesel. 01:00:18.100 --> 01:00:20.233 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% They were both the same age. 01:00:20.233 --> 01:00:22.866 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And when my dad was alive, and through school, 01:00:22.866 --> 01:00:24.533 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% I was reading "Night." 01:00:24.533 --> 01:00:26.900 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I was 14 years old, and I went to my dad 01:00:26.900 --> 01:00:28.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and I said, "You know, I'm just reading this book. 01:00:28.366 --> 01:00:31.233 align:left position:17.5% line:5% size:72.5% Is this the same Auschwitz because this is horrible." 01:00:31.233 --> 01:00:33.500 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75% And my father said, "Oh, no, it's a different Auschwitz." 01:00:33.500 --> 01:00:36.366 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75% So for a long time, I really thought there were two! 01:00:36.366 --> 01:00:38.100 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80% You know, my father's Auschwitz 01:00:38.100 --> 01:00:39.066 align:left position:32.5% line:5% size:57.5% was a kinder, 01:00:39.066 --> 01:00:40.666 align:left position:27.5% line:5% size:62.5% gentler Auschwitz. 01:00:40.666 --> 01:00:42.366 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% There was never a moment 01:00:42.366 --> 01:00:43.600 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% where people were dying 01:00:43.600 --> 01:00:44.533 align:left position:30% line:5% size:60% in front of him. 01:00:47.100 --> 01:00:49.933 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70% They killed his siblings, and they killed his parents, 01:00:49.933 --> 01:00:51.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% and then from that moment on, 01:00:51.533 --> 01:00:54.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% it was a bunch of strong-willed boys, and they took over. 01:00:56.966 --> 01:00:59.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% ...and they could hide it under their striped pajamas, 01:00:59.733 --> 01:01:01.300 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% as he called them. 01:01:01.300 --> 01:01:04.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% It was sort of like Robin Hood and his merry men 01:01:04.133 --> 01:01:06.666 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% meet the Nazis in my father's Auschwitz. 01:01:06.666 --> 01:01:09.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And that was the story we were given. 01:01:09.066 --> 01:01:12.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But when he was very, very sick in the hospital, 01:01:12.366 --> 01:01:14.366 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and I knew I was losing him, 01:01:14.366 --> 01:01:16.300 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% I realized that there was no going back 01:01:16.300 --> 01:01:17.666 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and that if I didn't make my move, 01:01:17.666 --> 01:01:19.566 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I could not return to the moment 01:01:19.566 --> 01:01:22.066 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% of having access to his memories. 01:01:22.066 --> 01:01:23.433 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And this time he was really tired 01:01:23.433 --> 01:01:25.033 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and he wasn't feeling well. 01:01:25.033 --> 01:01:26.800 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% And I said, "I need to ask you 01:01:26.800 --> 01:01:29.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% about your time there, in Auschwitz, Dad. 01:01:29.200 --> 01:01:30.266 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% It's important." 01:01:30.266 --> 01:01:32.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And I remember he looked at me, 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:35.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and he had real anger in his face and in his eyes. 01:01:35.100 --> 01:01:36.766 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% He said, "You know, Debbie, 01:01:36.766 --> 01:01:38.666 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% from the time that you were a young girl, 01:01:38.666 --> 01:01:40.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% you always asked your questions. 01:01:40.433 --> 01:01:42.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% And I always told you -- 01:01:42.033 --> 01:01:44.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% 'We got food, we got bread, we divided it up, 01:01:44.200 --> 01:01:46.300 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% we didn't suffer. It was fine.' 01:01:46.300 --> 01:01:49.966 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And you keep bothering me and asking me the question. 01:01:49.966 --> 01:01:52.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And I keep telling you, like as if I'm in a room, 01:01:52.766 --> 01:01:55.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% 'Stop knocking on the door. Go away. 01:01:55.500 --> 01:01:57.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I do not want to let you in this room.' 01:01:57.533 --> 01:01:59.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And yet you keep coming back saying, 'Let me in.'" 01:01:59.633 --> 01:02:04.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And he said, "So I'll ask you one more time to go away." 01:02:04.266 --> 01:02:07.400 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And he said, "If you knock again, I'll let you in. 01:02:07.400 --> 01:02:09.233 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% But if I let you in this room..." 01:02:15.166 --> 01:02:17.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% And I said, "Yes, I do, Dad." 01:02:17.833 --> 01:02:18.966 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% And he was crying, 01:02:18.966 --> 01:02:21.333 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% and I remember he had covers on his body, 01:02:21.333 --> 01:02:23.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% because he was really skinny and very, very weak. 01:02:23.700 --> 01:02:25.166 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And he kicked all the covers off, 01:02:25.166 --> 01:02:26.500 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% as if he was kicking down a door. 01:02:26.500 --> 01:02:29.233 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% And he said, "Fine. Come in then. 01:02:29.233 --> 01:02:30.900 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Come in to a room that you can never leave. 01:02:30.900 --> 01:02:32.966 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% Come in." 01:02:32.966 --> 01:02:35.133 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% And then I said, "Can I ask you my questions?" 01:02:35.133 --> 01:02:37.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% He said, "You're in the room. You can ask anything." 01:02:37.733 --> 01:02:40.866 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And I asked him everything that I ever wanted to ask. 01:02:40.866 --> 01:02:43.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I asked him to tell me the real story. 01:02:43.200 --> 01:02:46.133 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% And he did. 01:02:46.133 --> 01:02:52.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It was painful and scary and sickening. 01:02:52.766 --> 01:02:56.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% I felt a part of me had died. 01:02:56.433 --> 01:03:01.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And he's right, once you're in that room, you can't get out. 01:03:01.933 --> 01:03:03.666 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% It's always with you. 01:03:03.666 --> 01:03:11.033 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:03:11.033 --> 01:03:18.400 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪ 01:03:18.400 --> 01:03:25.766 align:left position:47.5% line:5% size:42.5% ♪♪