Comments on: The Top of the Wall http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:45:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: George Heller http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-46616 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:25 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-46616 Dear Mr. Lermontov: Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful comments. We only had a few minutes to talk at the Day of Learning last Sunday (4/13/2008). You did a truly excellent job finding my Common Ties story “The Top of the Wall.” I have a brief response about hatred, at: http://www.hellers.ws/borrowed-time/hatred-response.pdf A brief, but more complete story of my Holocaust experience, at: http://hellers.ws/borrowed-time/passover-1945.shtml And two stories written by the American soldiers who liberated me from the Gunskirchen Concentration Camp, at: http://www.gusen.org/dok/gk/gk01x.htm http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Gunskirchen.html Dear Mr. Lermontov:

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful comments. We only had a few minutes to talk at the Day of Learning last Sunday (4/13/2008). You did a truly excellent job finding my Common Ties story “The Top of the Wall.” I have a brief response about hatred, at:

http://www.hellers.ws/borrowed-time/hatred-response.pdf

A brief, but more complete story of my Holocaust experience, at:

http://hellers.ws/borrowed-time/passover-1945.shtml

And two stories written by the American soldiers who liberated me from the Gunskirchen Concentration Camp, at:

http://www.gusen.org/dok/gk/gk01x.htm

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Gunskirchen.html

]]> by: Adnan Lermontov http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-46591 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:12:01 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-46591 Dear Mr. George G. Heller, How are you sir? I met you on 04/13/2008, at the “Day of Learning” event in San Francisco. We talked about your experience for few minutes, and I soon realized that you wanted to tell your story to as many young people as you can; you’ve radiated that urgency. And I must tell you that you’ve not wasted your time with me, I listened to you, and I promise to tell your story to others as well. At one point I said, “I’m from Bangladesh, and though there are no Jews, still some hates Jews. Hating without knowing someone is unbelievable, but I’ve witnessed it”. You responded by saying, “there are some bad people everywhere; and I’ve been to places where I was the only Jew. I’ve survived some of the worst camp. Please read about my experience online, just type in The Top of the Wall”. You also emphasized on the importance of judging the individual, and not the entire group. I just finished reading about your experience; and it is painful, but necessary to read about it, in order to learn. You story would certainly help me to be a better person. Thank you Adnan Lermontov adnan.lermontov@yahoo.com Dear Mr. George G. Heller,
How are you sir?

I met you on 04/13/2008, at the “Day of Learning” event in San Francisco. We talked about your experience for few minutes, and I soon realized that you wanted to tell your story to as many young people as you can; you’ve radiated that urgency. And I must tell you that you’ve not wasted your time with me, I listened to you, and I promise to tell your story to others as well.

At one point I said, “I’m from Bangladesh, and though there are no Jews, still some hates Jews. Hating without knowing someone is unbelievable, but I’ve witnessed it”.
You responded by saying, “there are some bad people everywhere; and I’ve been to places where I was the only Jew. I’ve survived some of the worst camp. Please read about my experience online, just type in The Top of the Wall”.
You also emphasized on the importance of judging the individual, and not the entire group.

I just finished reading about your experience; and it is painful, but necessary to read about it, in order to learn.

You story would certainly help me to be a better person.

Thank you
Adnan Lermontov

adnan.lermontov@yahoo.com

]]> by: Phyllis Wolf http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-41419 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:32:38 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-41419 Am very touched and warmed by the great spirit that you both display. Life goes on whether or not we decide to participate to the fullest. Thank you for your stories. Am very touched and warmed by the great spirit that you both display. Life goes on whether or not we decide to participate to the fullest. Thank you for your stories.

]]> by: Eva W. Maiden http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-40508 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:53:21 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-40508 Dear George, Thank you for pointing me to your wonderful birthday photo and moving story. I have passed this along to several people who will appreciate it. My daughter-in-law works at the Y where you climb, and my granddaughter comes with her. They have met you in the climbing area, and admire your prowess! I wish you and Iby all the best in the New Year. Eva Dear George,
Thank you for pointing me to your wonderful birthday photo and moving story. I have passed this along to several people who will appreciate it.
My daughter-in-law works at the Y where you climb, and my granddaughter comes with her. They have met you in the climbing area, and admire your prowess!
I wish you and Iby all the best in the New Year.
Eva

]]> by: George Heller http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-38215 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:47:22 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-38215 Thank you, Hadas, for the email, and good wishes. email: ggheller@alum.mit.edu love Iby and George Thank you, Hadas, for the email, and good wishes. email: ggheller@alum.mit.edu
love Iby and George

]]> by: Hadas Rin http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-38117 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:24:54 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-38117 Dear Iby and George, Perhaps you will want to watch this 1944 broadcast from Nazi Germany of the first Jewish service towards the end of the war. I hope that this Thanksgiving holiday has found you healthy with much gratitude on the table, as have I. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZihm6VlYjo (Please send me your email address, as I appear to have only an old one on juno.) Much love, Hadas Dear Iby and George,

Perhaps you will want to watch this 1944 broadcast from Nazi Germany of the first Jewish service towards the end of the war.

I hope that this Thanksgiving holiday has found you healthy with much gratitude on the table, as have I.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZihm6VlYjo
(Please send me your email address, as I appear to have only an old one on juno.)
Much love,

Hadas

]]> by: Roz & Bob Clinton http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-34301 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:18:18 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-34301 Dear George, We have known you and Iby for over 12 years and never heard of your Fight-for-Life experiences. It is an honor to know you, thanks for sharing. Your faith, hope and strength is inspirational to us all. It is wonderful to hear you are still at it. Keep on climbing! Our love and best wishes to you, Iby and family. Roz and Bob Dear George,
We have known you and Iby for over 12 years and never heard of your Fight-for-Life experiences. It is an honor to know you, thanks for sharing. Your faith, hope and strength is inspirational to us all. It is wonderful to hear you are still at it. Keep on climbing! Our love and best wishes to you, Iby and family.
Roz and Bob

]]> by: Penelope James http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-32239 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:57:49 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-32239 This was an incredible story and an example of hope and courage. I bet there are many others but also, as someone said, it's said to learn that so many who made it through to liberation, subsequently died. Thanks for sharing. This was an incredible story and an example of hope and courage. I bet there are many others but also, as someone said, it’s said to learn that so many who made it through to liberation, subsequently died. Thanks for sharing.

]]> by: Mark Rickards http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-30119 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:01:21 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-30119 Your stories are an inspiration to all mankind. You bring meaning to "possitive thinking brings possitve results". I will remember you throughout my life and share your stories with my children so they can also benifit and learn about courage, love and the power of possitive thinking. I am proud to be related to you. Love, Mark Your stories are an inspiration to all mankind. You bring meaning to “possitive thinking brings possitve results”. I will remember you throughout my life and share your stories with my children so they can also benifit and learn about courage, love and the power of possitive thinking. I am proud to be related to you.
Love,
Mark

]]> by: Marcy Hoban http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-29899 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:06:17 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/08/03/the-top-of-the-wall/#comment-29899 George, I promised you that I would respond to your inspiring Top of the Wall article. You are an inspiration to all...... I consider myself so very fortunate to have crossed paths and become close friends with your family. We think the world of Steve, Debbie, Becca, Shari and Ilana, and Iby and you too!!!! It's always wonderful to celebrate with you. Love, Marcy George,
I promised you that I would respond to your inspiring Top of the Wall article. You are an inspiration to all…… I consider myself so very fortunate to have crossed paths and become close friends with your family. We think the world of Steve, Debbie, Becca, Shari and Ilana, and Iby and you too!!!! It’s always wonderful to celebrate with you.
Love,
Marcy

]]>