When my daughter was born, my mother gave me a comb that my grandmother Ella (born Esther) had given her. That comb, it turned out, had great history attached to it.
My mother first found the comb in my grandmother’s jewelry box when she was a teenager, and her questions about it were answered quickly and clinically: She had kept the lice comb with her (and hidden from guards) in a Nazi slave labor camp.
While my grandmother maintained her secrets, the comb must’ve meant the world to her to have kept it and safeguarded it all those years later, a world away from ever needing it again.
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Hi Erris,
I came upon your blog, and after reading this I realize you are my second cousin. I am your grandfather Josef niece Janice Lieberman the youngest cousin of your mother Neale
Looking at the picture of your grandmother I knew that was my aunt Ella
And the striking resemblance of my father Sam to your grandfather Joe his oldest brother.
I remember them well, as I saw them often as your mother was already living in Israel and I was a child going to their house in Brighton beach Brooklyn.
And then the mention of the town in Poland I knew that was it confirmed you are my cousins oldest daughter Erris
Do you remember meeting me, As I met you in 1976 while staying at your parents home in Ramat gam Israel.
On my way to a kibbutz in Karfar Saba and reconnecting with your mom
I was 18 then.
This is surreal….reading the story of your grandmother …. About her cherished comb and then realizing omg….I i even have a picture of you as as a child I remember you were so funny and playful.
I have not seen you or your parents since that summer in Israel 1976.
I remember meeting your sister.,and never met your brother but I heard of him.
My dad Sam your great uncle Is 93 now widowed and living in Denver via Florida due to a job transfer for my partner so dad came along
I’d love hearing back from you Erris
Jan Lieberman Angelillo
Angelillodesignstudio@gmail.com
561 251 3669
Another insightful, well written piece Erris! I very much enjoy reading your articles.
Erris, you have arrived. In very few words you have managed to share a disturbing image of another time and place. A time the world would just as soon forget, an image the blind would turn away from yet will remain an echo of history through generations. If only this generation would turn off their phones an listen to the echo.
When four generations of women are affected by a small comb, it is truly worth writing about and celebrating its significance. Bravo to a daughter who takes are family history so seriously!
Although I haven’t commented in so long wanted to let you know that I read everything that you publish. I felt very moved by this story. Much love to your family.