“Moon Landscape” connects the dream of one Jewish boy who is a symbol of the talent lost in the Holocaust, to the journey of one Jewish astronaut, who is a symbol of our revival. (Quote from Jewish education website)
We talked a little in class about Petr and Ilan Ramon (the first Israeli astronaut). I have been so moved by different stories I have discovered about their connection. Below are a few quotes and the picture. Please feel free to comment on this topic.
"Being the first Israeli astronaut -- I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis," Ramon said. Referring to his mother and grandmother, who both survived imprisonment in Auschwitz, he added, "I'm the son of a Holocaust survivor -- I carry on the suffering of the Holocaust generation, and I'm kind of proof that despite all the horror they went through, we're going forward."
"Speaking to the New York-based American Society for Yad Vashem from the Houston, Texas Space Centre where he was in training, Ilan Ramon said, "I feel that my journey fulfills the dream of Petr Ginz 58 years on. A dream that is ultimate proof of the greatness of the soul of a boy imprisoned within the ghetto walls, the walls of which could not conquer his spirit. Ginz's drawings, stored at Yad Vashem, are a testimony to the triumph of the spirit."
I wanted to commemorate the spirit of both these great souls, Ilan and Petr, by repainting young Petr's landscape in such a way as to show both of them, side by side, looking on the Earth from the vantage point of the dream they shared...as I like to think they now are. You can see the results of my efforts below.
The next time you look at the stars, think of them. They died so that one day, our children may turn to look at the distant Earth and see the pain and strife of this life in it's proper perspective. "
Barry Munden, Feb.1, 2003
Lit Terms 2
5 years ago
7 comments:
I think that it is extreamly cool that Ilan Ramon took it opon himself to kind of carry on the legacy of Petr Ginz and those who survived the holocaust by taking up belongings and things of that sort up with him. It was almost like he was taking Petr up into space and kind of making his dream come true. I'm sure that panting affected him very profoundly and probally attributed a great amount to Ilan wanting to be an astronaut. The whole story is very intresting and I'd like to learn more about their connection.
It's awful that Illan Ramon died on the shuttle to space, I do think that. His heart was good and his soul was beautiful; and he carried the sorrows of his heritage on his journey into an otherworld. Indeed, I do believe his demise was a tragic, yet incredible thing.
He took with him a work by Petr Ginz whose dream and aspirations were located in a far off galaxy and encumbered in the stars. That child defied the crushing turmoil of the Nazis by continuing to be a helpless little dreamer, which is something so rare and resplendent in a person. I cannot help but admire his memory, awe-struck, because the oppression endeavored did not descend his reveries back to this mundane, imperfect earth. And years later, Illan Ramon took with him a small piece of Petr on his trek to space. That mission did not conclude as many would have hoped or wished; tears were spilled fresh from the eyes of a newborn generation. Yet, Petr conquered still. For years his spirit has continued to live through his poetry and his art, and finally, a special piece of him made it inside a spaceship and was shredded among the stars.
To me, this shows that death, while a morbid and saddening, inevitable act of life, is nonetheless a gift, and a beautiful one at that.
I found it very fascinating how one man took it upon himself to carry out the dream of someone he didn't even really know. I find it very honorable to carry on what Petr Ginz could not. The explosion of the shuttle made it all the more sad because it would have made you think the dream would have been lost but in reality it made it grow stronger because now more people know about it.
Ashley P.
I think that Ramon taking Petr Ginz's drawing into space was a unique way to honor the Jewish culture. I think that it shows that even though Petr Ginz died in the holocaust his story and life was not forgotten. I also think it is horrible that the drawing is now burned due to the tragic accident when space shuttle exploded. I think it was neat to read about Petr Ginz's life in salvage pages, and then get to see a visual of some of his work that was talked about.
_____ TREvor
By taking Petr's drawing into space Ilan Ramon carried on Petr's dream. Sadly, both of these stories ended in tragedy. Yet, both of them are honored in the picture drawn by Barry Munden. I think the picture is a beautiful one that captures both Petr and Ilan's dream.
I think that is extremely amazing that Ilan Ramon took it upon himself to help Petr Ginz's dreams come true. Petr was finally able to live out his dream to fly to space. I think that it is a tragedy that Ilan Ramon died on the shuttle to space, but in a way they are both flying through space now.
-Nick Hape
Petr Ginz may have died in the Holocaust, but his legacy lives on thanks to Ilan Ramon. By taking his painting up into space, Ilan Ramon made sure that his memory, as well as the memory of every other person who was in the Holocaust, would live on. It is truly sad that Ilan and Petr Ginz's painting never made it, but at least the world knows. It is sweet that Ilan Ramon wanted to take part of his heritage with him. It says he's not ashamed that his family was in the Holocaust, but proud they survived. And he wanted to make sure the world would never forget. That they would always remember the Holocaust, and all the people who were murdered in it.
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