Hear son of 'Defiance' hero speak in St. Louis

When you cannot defend freedom through peaceful means, you have to use arms to fight Nazism, dictatorship, chauvinism.

Marek Edelman

A bit over a year ago, I wrote about the death of Marek Edelman, last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.  Reading about his strength and courage in fighting the Nazis inspired my life membership in Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership--a group dedicated to not allowing Americans to forget the horrible dangers of a people submitting to forcible citizen disarmament.

Now, St. Louis is to be visited by the son of another hero of armed Jewish defiance of Nazi evil.  From the St. Louis Jewish Light:

Chabad's Jewish Living & Learning Series presents a special evening with Zvi Bielski, the son of Zus Bielski, hero of the movie "Defiance." Zvi Bielski will share his family's story at the Jewish Community Center's Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For those who have not yet seen "Defiance," it is easily one of the most powerfully inspirational movies I have ever seen, although the book, by Nechama Tec, on which the movie is based, provides a much more detailed account, without the Hollywood romanticism.  From Sultan Knish:

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Defiance, based on the Oxford Press book, Defiance, the Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec. For those who have the time, I would recommend the book over the movie, as the former is a real history of events, and the latter is a fictionalized Hollywood adaptation of them.

Actually, there is, perhaps, an even more compelling reason to eschew the movie for the book.  Had I been aware of Daniel Craig's affinity for forcible citizen disarmament at the time, I would not have rented the movie.

Still, unfortunate choice of actor aside, the story told, of over 1,200 Jews saving themselves from the Nazis, on the strength of little more than their courage, wits, and iron will, is one that deserves more recognition, particularly in the gun rights advocacy community.

"Without a rifle you are nothing, worthless, you are waiting for death, any minute, any second."

Aron Bielski

"My father sent my mother a revolver as a gift, which for her was the symbol of what any young girl wants in a marriage, this was for her the means to stay alive, to kill herself or to die fighting."

Assaela Bielski

By the way, the St. Louis Jewish Light also has an interview with Zvi Bielski, well worth the quick read.  He recommends another book, "Bielski Brothers," by Peter Duffy, with which I'd been unfamiliar--my reading list grows faster than I read.  In that inverview, Mr. Bielski, who served in the Israeli Defense Forces, related an account that, as a fellow former paratrooper, I cannot help but pass on:

I once tried to impress him with a video of me jumping out of an airplane. After he saw me jump on the film and land safely I asked him for a response, hoping I had impressed him. He took a hit on his cigar and with a smile said, "Well, you had a parachute, didn't you?"

Paratroopers--we can't get no respect.

More details on Zvi Bielski's appearance in St. Louis next week:

The entire St. Louis community is invited to hear this powerful tale of courage in the face of horror from the son of one of the heroic individuals who lived it. The History Channel version of the story along with other footage will be shown. Refreshments will be served. The suggested donation is $10 and sponsorships of the event are $180. This event is a project of Chabad of Greater St. Louis in cooperation with the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center.  For more information call Chabad at 314-725-0400 or visit showmechabad.com/defiance.

See also:

• To honor Marek Edelman, help put teeth in 'never again'
  
• What would YOU say to 'No Guns for Jews'?
  
• How do YOU feel about 'No guns for Jews'?