THE STORY OF SALOMEA
"My precious ones! Before I leave this world, I would like to leave you a few lines. If you ever receive this letter, know that I and everyone here are no longer alive. Our end is near. We feel it, we know it. We, like the already executed innocent, defenseless Jews, are condemned to death. The small remaining group from the mass murders will follow soon. It is horrifying but true. Unfortunately, there is no escape from this gruesome death for us."
This was written by the Jewish pianist Salomea Ochs Luft in 1943, shortly before her deportation, to her family in Israel, knowing she would not survive Nazi captivity. Salomea lived in the Tarnopol ghetto after being evicted from her home. She had already witnessed the murder of her mother, husband, and other family members by the Nazis and awaited her own death. Facing her imminent end, Salomea wrote a plea to her relatives in Israel and to anyone who would read her 12-page letter in the future:
"My dear ones! David lies in the Jewish cemetery, my mother was deported to Belzec, and I do not know where I will be buried. If you come after the war, you will learn from acquaintances where the camp transports were executed. It is not easy to say goodbye forever, but we go laughing to our death. Farewell, and if you can, take a REVENGE!"
The concept of revenge evokes many associations. What does it really mean? Can the atrocities of the Third Reich be avenged? How should we respond to such a call for revenge today?
Nur Ben Shalom, Salomea Ochs Luft's grandnephew, grappled with these questions. At six years old, he first read her letter. Like his great-aunt, Nur is a musician, playing the clarinet. Born to the family members addressed in Salomea's letter, Nur grew up in Israel, surrounded by Holocaust survivors and constantly confronted with stories and testimonies from the Nazi era. Salomea's call for revenge haunted him throughout his life. As a musician, he felt a special connection to the musical stories of the Holocaust and sought answers within them. He concluded that there is no correct answer to the call for revenge. The revenge Salomea sought cannot be granted today. Nur realized that his response is to let the silenced voices be heard again. As a musician, he sees his role in making the music that moved Jews facing death known, transforming revenge into a means of keeping their voices alive.
MUSIC AND VOICES OF JEWS
Like Salomea, many Jewish musicians were violently stripped of their art or, worse, their lives during the Nazi era. There are numerous examples, including Shmuel Blasz, Pnina Gottlieb's daughter, and Ida Pinkert.
The "Lebensmelodien" - Melodies of Life - aim to revive the works and stories of these individuals. Nur Ben Shalom founded "Lebensmelodien" after moving to Germany 15 years ago, wanting to present a different aspect of remembrance. The "Lebensmelodien" seek to end the silence imposed by the Nazis' murder and deportation of countless Jewish musicians, giving them a voice again. Behind every murdered Jew is a story, dreams, wishes, and unique talents.
We aim to remember these individual stories. Music supported and accompanied Jews during the Nazi era. The melodies range from sad to joyful—helping some survive, helping others bid farewell. Even if we cannot meet them personally, they live on in the melodies. Today, there is no better way to connect with these people and their life stories than by listening to, sharing, and preserving their melodies and stories.
IN THE HEART OF BERLIN
On April 19, 2019, a special Good Friday service was held at the Apostel-Paulus Church in Schöneberg, Berlin. This Good Friday coincided with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The service commemorated the death of Jesus and the Jews in the Holocaust ghettos, centering around Salomea Ochs Luft's letter. It was the first time the "Lebensmelodien" were performed in this format before an audience.
Berlin-Schöneberg was a hub of Jewish life in Germany before World War II. With the Nazi takeover and the persecution and murder of Jews in Europe, this changed drastically. The "Lebensmelodien" aim to bring these stories and melodies back to Europe, Germany, and Berlin. We are grateful for the support of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg Protestant Church District. Superintendent Michael Raddatz has been a supporter from the beginning, recognizing that the "Lebensmelodien" bring back not only the stories of the dehumanized victims but also preserve "friendship, courage, dignity, and resistance."
Music creates a connection between Holocaust victims and today's audiences who hear, play, and share these melodies and stories. Each story is a piece of a larger puzzle, providing a glimpse into a culture and understanding of what once was. The "Lebensmelodien" restore what was taken from Jewish people during the Holocaust.
By telling and sharing these melodies and stories, we bring something new into the world—something that was once present but forcibly forgotten. In this way, everyone can become part of the "Lebensmelodien," ensuring they continue to live on. These melodies and stories become part of our collective memory, aiding in the fight against antisemitism.
In this way, everyone can take "revenge" on the Nazis by remembering these individuals. Though Salomea, Shmuel, and Ida were unjustly murdered, their works and stories live on in us. Today, the "Lebensmelodien" are played by people from various backgrounds and places: from Germany, France, Israel, the Czech Republic, Argentina, and Italy; by schoolchildren to retirees; in schools, churches, synagogues, Muslim centers, theaters, concert halls, and town halls. This diversity defines the "Lebensmelodien"—they transcend any one place or person, as we all are part of them. We all become witnesses to these melodies and stories, carrying them forward and keeping them alive.