Lessons from the
Danish Resistance
Courtesy Museum of Jewish Heritage, illustration by Sveta Dorosheva
Courtesy National Archives, College Park, MD, USA
This ten minute documentary on the Danish resistance movement can also serve as inspiration to us. There are remarkable similarities to what we are experiencing now in the United States.
Under Hitler’s orders, Denmark’s Jews were to be deported on 1 October, 1943 – but in the space of a few weeks, an underground network and the country’s non-Jewish population spirited almost 8,000 people to safety via small boats across the Øresund to neutral Sweden.
Let Denmark be an example to us all…
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Batsheva
Dance Company
Founded in 1964 by Martha Graham and Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild, based in Tel Aviv, the company in 1990 transformed itself under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin. Naharin is a figure worshipped by the dance community—The New York Times called him “one of the most important choreographers in the world. Mikhail Baryshnikov said that he had “never seen such a combination of beauty, energy and skill.” Dance Magazine stated that “Naharin may be today’s most widely worshipped guru of modern dance.”
Here are a few excerpts of Batsheva dances:
Naharin's Virus
Medley of different dances
In 2014, The Heymann Brothers produced documentary entitled Mr. Gaga based on Naharin and his unique dance methods, released on the occasion of Batsheva’s 50th anniversary; the title Gaga coming from a language of movement Naharin created, based on very small movements, on nuances, and on gesture. The film is not currently available to stream but Gilli Navot, Batsheva continues to produce beautiful choreography and performances…To access their full repetoire, go to Batsheva’s archive website.
Mary Oliver
on Resilience
Today, I will let Mary Oliver speak for me, and the only thing that I will add is this: In the last 36 hours, I have seen these digital walls flooded with the most beautiful protest art. Poems, sketches, songs … and I’ve reflected on how important art has been in every single movement, every single resistance, every single attempt to dim the light of progress and prosperity. My hope for the next four years from Washington is not much. But my hope for art is great. Artists and musicians have a pivotal role in helping society make sense of the insensible; organize the chaos; disassemble the madness and then reassemble it into an explosive sculpture of color and sound and delight. I cannot wait for the art. Joy is not meant to be a crumb.
DON’T HESITATE
By Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Paintings of the Week
My friend Terrie Frisbee carrying a poster she made at a candlelight vigil for Renee Good.
Charity of the Week:
ACLU
Book of the Week
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.
