Dear Pope Francis,
I am writing to you from Ithaca NY (USA) on The Italian National Day.
It is with much pleasure I do so, and great admiration for your understanding of the human spirit and what might unite us all, at most instances.
I am the daughter of sole survivors of the Holocaust from Lodz Poland. My mother joined tens of thousands of other survivors and made their way to Palestine, by way of illegal passage through Europe. They reached Italy ( Milano, Rivoli DP camp, Selvino, Genova, Bogliasco, Bocca Di Magra) and finally boarded a ship hoping to reach Palestine. Together with 1414 survivors they were intercepted by the British and incarcerated in Cyprus where I was born.
In 2012 I took a journey in the foot steps of my parents after the war, and visited all the places they stopped for shorter and longer stays.
I called this journey “Cargo Of Hope” .
One of the places I visited which ended up haunting me was Sciesopoli in Selvino.
In the last 2 years, together with a few Italian friends and colleagues, we came to an understand that something has to be done regarding the neglect and apathy which we observed in Sciesopoli, while feeling the sacredness of the site.
I have been dreaming days and nights about this place, it’s role after the war, and it’s meaning and message these days and for what it might represent in the future.
On May 25 th a new Mayor , Diego Betocchi was elected in Selvino. He is a young man of 26 years old. And together Paolo Carrara and Simona Murero were elected with him.
They are our partners in a project we initiated more then a year ago, in which we are trying to preserve the memory of Sciesopoli, to honor the citizens of Selvino, to tell the story of the children survivors who gained back their stolen childhood, “new families” and mostly hope in this sacred place.
We have come a long way since we started our mission.
In particular we introduced to the Italian community the life and legacy of a chapter in their history which they know very little about, and of which they can be proud.
This chapter in history transcends religion and nationality, and confirms the human rights and dignity, and above all -hope!
In our Jewish tradition we cling tightly to the ideal of Le’Dor Va’Dor – from generation to generation, and our commitment to Tikkun Olam – repairing of the world!
It is in this spirit that I write to you asking for your holy blessings , for your compassion and courage to be transmitted to these new, young mayoral leaders of Selvino.
We hope that they will continue in the project of preserving the story of 800 children survivors of the Holocaust, their rescuers (among them Prof. Luigi Gorini), their counselors and the people of Selvino, who opened their hearts and stretched their arms to help and rehabilitate them. Our wish for this place to become a memorial hall as well as an educational center for tolerance, social services, and Peace.
With utmost respect for your guidance and blessings,
Miriam Bisk
Ithaca, NY
The response of Pope Francis through his apostolic nuncio, Carlo Maria Viganò, 12/09/2014
