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7 January 1921 | A Czech Jew, Pavel Friedmann, was born in Prague.
Pavel was deported to Auschwitz from Theresienstadt ghetto on 29 September 1944. He did not survive.
In Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942 he wrote a poem "Butterfly". Read it below.
Forty years ago, I played the role of Pavel in a high school production of the play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” taking its title from the book of poems (including this one) secretly written by the children at Theresienstadt.
Above the gates to Theresienstadt were the words “Work makes us free.” In this book of poems, Raja Englanderova expresses to the contrary, “Goodbye makes us free.”
Freedom is difficult to take for granted when goodbye is not a choice.