Diving through memories
IDF submarine divers' course cadets take time out from arduous training to meet with Holocaust survivors and commemorate their experiences. 'We have been through tough course but hearing what survivors went through we realize it was nothing in comparison,' says one cadet
Between exhausting training exercises and complicated qualification courses, a group of submariners devoted long hours to documenting the stories of Holocaust survivors.
Hundreds of guests filled the Haifa naval base on Sunday to watch the graduation of the prestigious IDF submarine divers' course. Sitting in the audience were 10 excited and proud guests who weren't related to any of the new graduates.
The guests, 10 Holocaust survivors and residents of Haifa have become an integral part of the course. They spent long hours with the cadets in order to document their experiences in the ghettos, the concentration camps and the death camps.
The unique project is the result of an initiative launched by Navy commanders and led by the Submarine divers' course commander. The corps decided that along with training to control the advanced submarines, the cadets would carry out an important task for society – commemoration of the memories of Holocaust survivors.
"Through the project, ten cadets were paired with ten survivors in order to document their stories so that they could be passed on to future generations," Sharon Wolf, the Deputy Director of Amcha's Haifa branch, who guided the project stated.
"In spite of the stress they were under, the cadets functioned in an exemplary manner."
The documentation process which included written and photographed material was completed over the past few days. In the few free hours they had the cadets created a special booklet and CD that include the stories they collected.
"They are our new grandchildren," explained Sarah Meirovitz, 70, a Holocaust survivor from Romania as she excitedly talked about 'her' cadet. "I'm so proud to be seeing him graduate the course. He heard about my story and was very touched."
M. the cadet who recorded Sarah's memories couldn't stop thanking her for coming to his graduation yesterday. "At first we were apprehensive over meeting the survivors. We didn't know how they would react and we weren't sure they would want to tell us what they had been through," he explained.
"But Sarah and her friends were very welcoming. We felt it was important to them to include us. It was heartwarming."
It was very important to M to introduce Sarah to his family. "We have been through a tough course, but after hearing what the survivors went through, we realize that it was nothing in comparison."
"I was 11 when we escaped from the Nazis in Hungary," stated Haim Sorek, 77, a Holocaust survivor stated. "I told the cadet everything that I experienced there. I'm sure we will keep I touch in the future."
In light of the success of the venture, naval commanders and the Amcha organization are planning to continue with the joint project in upcoming courses as well.
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