IMPOSTER SYNDROME: “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.” Social Psychologist, Dr. Amy Cuddy When people refer to me as an author, I generally respond with something like, ” Well… Gee.. thanks, but I’m not a real writer.” Or maybe, “No. I’m not really. I just have a lot of stories […]
Read MoreMost people are aware of the events surrounding the Holocaust as well as the horrific situation in which many Jews found themselves during and after. In this post, I’d like to share a few things that are lesser-known, as well as some documents from my family during that period. My grandfather, Paul Lichtenthal was called […]
Read MoreLast night, on the CBS show 60 Minutes, they ran a story about the “Ritchie Boys,” a secret US Intelligence group. This group of German-speaking Jews was responsible for uncovering more than half the combat intelligence on the Western Front during World War II. As reported in the story, their mission was to use their […]
Read MoreToday, Wednesday January 27 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the past, I have written about my grandfather’s concentration camp experience. I also told the story of his father, my great-grandfather Sigmund Lichtenthal, and shared how the events during the Holocaust destroyed his lifelong business. Many people are keenly aware of the outcome of the Holocaust […]
Read MoreToday would have been my mother’s 88th birthday. Doris Lichtenthal Falcone was born on March 5, 1932. She passed away on December 2, 2011, a few months before her 80th birthday. Mom always wanted to come to America. “For the jazz,” she always told me. In honor of her birthday, I would like to share […]
Read MoreI have begun work on my newest project: the story of my great-grandfather’s quest for reparations following the loss of his businesses to the Nazis in 1938 Vienna, Austria. Despite signs all around them, Sigmund Lichtenthal and his wife, the former Rosa Berger did not deem the situation dire enough to leave Vienna. My research […]
Read MoreDid you miss me? Or at least my weekly posts? I returned last week from our fabulous Grand Circle “Great Rivers of Europe” trip cruising from Amsterdam to Vienna, Austria. If you follow me on Facebook, you were able to keep up with our daily activities. If not, and you’re interested, I’m on Facebook as […]
Read MoreToday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The lives of my mother and her family were changed forever one day in March 1938. On that day, the Nazis appropriated my great-grandfather’s business. As he (Sigmund Lichtenthal) explained in a letter written years later, “The firm, Lital, came to a natural end when Austria was occupied by […]
Read MoreIn May of 1938, my family changed forever. I realize that we were blessed that no one in my mother’s immediate family was murdered. We fared so much better than millions of others. I get that. While ours is not a story of horrifying proportions, it still is worthy of being told. It should never […]
Read MoreSigmund Lichtenthal was my maternal great-grandfather. While I don’t remember him at all, I have definitely formed an impression of his personality. My mom used to tell me that Sigmund’s business card identified him as an “expert” – no mention of what he was an “expert in, however. I figured she was exaggerating. After all, who would have […]
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Who We Are and How We Got This Way 