"To Reclaim Large Areas of Peace in Ourselves"

“Sometimes I long for a convent cell, with the sublime wisdom of centuries set out on bookshelves all along the wall and a view across the cornfields--there must be cornfields and they must wave in the breeze--and there I would immerse myself in the wisdom of the ages and in myself. Then I might perhaps find peace and clarity. But that would be no great feat. It is right here, in this very place, in the here and the now, that I must find them. ”

These are the words of Etty Hillseum, written in Amsterdam, likely in the house that is now a monument to her creativity, spirit and memory. 

I visited it during my brief visit here this week.

Etty was deported among the Jews of Holland and killed in Auschwitz on November 30th 1943 at the age of 29. 

Another innocent victim of Genocide in a mad bad world. 

What’s incredible about her words that remained behind, like those of that other famous Dutch Jewish woman - Anne Frank - is her deep faith in humanity and in God - even in the middle of the horror.  

As we journey on below the bible belt and read through the book of Her Wisdom - Etty’s words of wisdom resonate for me.

On a brief visit to Amsterdam for screenings of the Sabbath Queen film that traces my story I wanted to pay homage to her legacy in front of the last address she had here, now marked by a tile on the street - part of the stumbling stones art project. 

Earlier this week I quoted her words as commentary on the verse from Proverbs: 

דְּאָגָ֣ה בְלֶב־אִ֣ישׁ יַשְׁחֶ֑נָּה וְדָבָ֖ר ט֣וֹב יְשַׂמְּחֶֽנָּה׃

If there is anxiety in someone’s mind, let them quash it, And turn it into joy with a good word.

Pro. 12:5

I want to end with one more famous quote from her - timeless and so timely for right now in the middle of this horrific war that keeps claiming so many innocent lives and so much hopeful creativity: 

“Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.”

Rest in peace and power, Etty.

May your memory bring blessings. 

I’m excited to get back to NYC for a week of Sabbath Queen screenings. If you are in the NYC area - please come check out the film at IFC downtown - Link here. 

More screenings around the world coming soon to a screen near you. Link attached to this video. Sabbath Queen - the film

Thank you for joining me below the bible belt. 

Wishing us all Shabbat Shalom and kinder days everywhere. 

Sabbath Queen Says: Pause for Peace.