Zum Andenken! - Brief Article

Judaism, Wntr, 2002 by Felice Kahn Zisken

Der Lieber Oma,

Zum Andenken!

Fanny n. Natan

April 1939

Your lilting handwriting

on back a black-and-white photograph

of you and your beloved son.

Zum Andenken!

In Washington Heights you are a presence

explored with unchildlike caution.

In an old photograph, you are young

warm eyes, wavy hair

red, your cousin Inge says.

Oma brushes my hair

strokes of love and longing

for me, for you.

When your beloved

older brother Artur

was killed by the Nazis

you were sent abroad to recuperate

worked in Harrogate as a governess.

until you returned home,

married Harry, gave birth to Natan.

We visit a Seder plate at the Israel Museum

in Jerusalem, your tombstone.

Maker: Alois Worle

Munich, Germany 1934

Copper, brass, engraved glass.

"In memory of Fanny Weinberg

nee Kahn (born October 1913 in Gemunden am Main)

and her son Natan (born December 1935 in Wurzburg am Main)

who were deported from Frankfurt am Main

to a concentration camp in Lodz on November 11, 1941."

Fanny, your niece's son is named Natan

after your Natan

God gave and God took back

And God gave.

Zum Andenken!

FELICE KAHN ZISKEN, a translator and poet, made aliya from New York to Jerusalem in January 1971.