In search for a better world

Some years back Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks and I met in unobvious ways. Quasi unexpectedly. Perhaps this encounter had been in mente Dei* all the time; from my side, it couldn't have been a greater experience, a richer blending of mind and soul, considering we are two so different beings. Different because of nationality, religion, formal education, tastes, and age. Regardless, I feel a kinship with her, a kindred spirit that all differences are leveled and all barriers inexistent.

*[this is Latin for in God's mind and we use it commonly, here in the West]

Bat-Zion is the daughter of Holocaust survivors from a country of the former USSR block. Like many millions Jews, and other unlucky souls, across Europe, they were deported and destined to a grim end. Their destiny was not to be what the Nazi torturers had in store. They escaped the final solution and found freedom in Israel. Bat-Zion parents' story is touching in its desperation and beauty – yes, because a love that thrives from, and survives, such horrors is beautiful – but we won't tell it here, for this is Bat-Zion's space, Bat-Zion candid portrait.

Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks is an amazingly beautiful woman, intelligent, charming, poised, determined, and charismatic, with clear ideas and a mission to accomplish. I'm not playing violins, or a whole orchestra here. I'm presenting truths that many, in many nations around the world, can bear witness to.

When I met her Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks was her name. In some time, as you read through, you might think it is going to change; and yet, it may not!

This introduction is short and to the point. In the interview, Bat-Zion is going to show some aperçus of herself and her life. How she developed into the special human being she is today; why she lived in different countries; what she learned and why; what determined some of her choices; what were some of those choices. I'm certain you'll find it exciting and inspiring to peruse, to promenade your hearts and minds, through glimpses of Bat-Zion's life. The life of a Jewess, citizen of the world, cosmopolite, lady of quality, and almost a delightful tomboy, an ardent activist for the right of free expression and existence of Israel, and a Zionist in the pure sense of the word.

Please, note that the questions are not following any chronological or logical order; they're rather independent of each other [mostly, and willfully so] – a random play with time and destiny.

Has Israel ever disappointed you?

Yes, it has. It happened when I applied to Tel Aviv University in 1972. My first choice was English Literature, second Philosophy and Classical Studies. I was certain I would be accepted to my first choice as I ranked high in my Bagrut (Matriculation examination) and had just completed a semester of studying English in a Private school in the UK. Despite of this, I was accepted to my second choice. I was obviously saddened because I did not see the practicality of obtaining a degree in Philosophy. But things changed in October 1973, a few days before University was to commence, when the Yom Kippur War broke out. Years later, when I enquired as to the reasons for denying me my first choice, I was told that universities were receiving a certain stipend for each new immigrant to Israel that attended them. Naturally, many South African or American Jews were likely to choose English studies as a university discipline and the University would prefer them because they brought in the financial support it needed. [Yes, Israel is NOT perfect L]

That was not in my question J for only the Lord is perfect! But if that was the only time of disappointment, your country sounds exceptional. Wish I could say the same of my own!

What happened to you when the Yom Kippur war broke out?

When the Yom Kippur broke out, I volunteered to teach at an elementary school in my town, the same I attended as a youth growing up there. Some teachers were drafted and I felt it was my duty to give my share for my country. When I stood before those kids and felt my heart melting realizing I had been looking for my treasured vocation in the wrong places. At that time, the school had a group of young ladies from a nearby Teachers' college visiting us as part of their program. I approached their teacher and a week later I was enrolled in that college. So in a way, it was a paving stone.

How did [the] Yom Kippur [war] influence your life and to which magnitude?

You mean the Yom Kippur War? It was certainly a big, loud wake up call. I lost many, many dear friends in that war. I remember going over the list of casualties and stopping at every name I recognized. I stopped too many times! It was then I made up my mind to live life to the fullest. Too many young lives, lives that could have made a difference in the lives of many others, were cut short during that war. I was determined not to waste mine!

Would it have been a problem, had you not been as beautiful as you are?

First of all, thanks for the compliment. Second, if it has anything to do with the first question then I hope beauty has got nothing to do with it. I hope that Tel Aviv will accept me merely for my talent and achievements and hopefully for the potential I hold for the future.

I was not hinting towards your acceptance to academia, not at all. Just interested in the role of beauty [and brain] in your life, your perception...

With all modesty, Mariana, I have always been told that I am pretty. At some stage (1972) I was a runner-up to Miss Israel but only made the last 10 runners up. I never used my looks to get me anywhere in life. I always appreciated it much, much more when people complimented me on my intellect and potential as that was a very important part of my upbringing (my grandfather had a PhD from Oxford University before WWI) Sometimes I felt that my looks were even a hindrance for me.

I believe pretty is an understatement, because, as anyone can see, Bat-Zion is very beautiful, but we'll get back to that later, perhaps.

On a different note, who is an interesting interviewee for you?

Actually, that's someone who can stimulate and challenge the mind of the interviewer to the point where the interviewer has to reshuffle and reword, if not partially rethink, his originally planned line of questioning.

Which is the role of the intellect in making/giving an interesting interview?

And an interesting interview? Well, to be on the watch out, always keep one step ahead of the interviewer and anticipate his/her questions!

What more could you add?

Of course, I almost forgot to mention the utilization and manipulation of KNOWLEDGE - in a positive way, I wish to underline – to optimize what one can and wants to say and to reveal about the self or what one wants to elicit and find out from the other.

These are interesting and enlightening views. Thank you.

Moving on in our discovery of Bat-Zion - I'd like to ask you this: What does belonging [and its implications] mean to a person of so many facets, interests and talents as you?

Belonging has always been important to me. Luckily, I was raised with a strong sense of Jewish identity. This was certainly a pillar of strength that has kept me going through some of my darkest hours. It served as my drive to succeed as I felt that I could never fail those I represented; those I carried the beacon for – all those millions who had died, particularly in the 20^th century horrific and systemic annihilation of our people, in the perpetration of hatred carried out by the Nazi, and their heinous allies, in the Holocaust. All this I do, carrying forward Israel/Jewish collective history as bequeathed to me, an Israeli, with the most wonderful of traditions, a tradition that celebrates the life and achievements of the Jewish nation, its people and civilization for many, many millennia.

*We should never forget that Judaism is the basis of Western Judeo-Christian tradition. As a Christian I feel deeply indebted, and attached, to the Ancient Testament – whose great and mystical teachings are the pillars of wisdom upon which the millennial history of our civilization rest – and the Commandments that are, and should be today as they were yesterday, the guidelines and core for moral and ethic conduct in the life of good and godly [you understand I do not mean Theocratic!] societies.

Would you share and reveal, to illustrate this sense of belonging, any episode entailing some of your life darkest moments?

I believe I shared with you a story about the time I attended UCSD where I earned an undergraduate degree. I once had lunch with another student, a Catholic girl who asked me "Why are you so ambitious? What drives you to succeed?" To that I responded "Being Jewish." "In what way?" asked my friend.

I then went on to compare her family, a Catholic family living in America to mine, a Jewish one that had almost been annihilated some 60 years earlier.

"Suppose," I started, your father and my father were the same age. And suppose your father and my father both had 6 siblings each. Your father and his family were raised in America, land of plenty by antonomasia, while my father and his family were raised in Europe on the eve of the darkest hour of Jewish [and European] history.

As a result of these tragic and horrendous events, my father is the sole survivor of his entire family. Your father and his siblings instead, lived normal lives, married and had children that went on to carry your family tradition, and your Roman Catholicism, into the future. My father had only my brother and myself to carry on the family line and our Jewish heritage.

My mission, a wonderful mission that I love dearly and have taken on with much dedication, is to make up for that deficiency [and loss]. It means working harder, devoting a great deal of time and abnegation to a responsibility, an honour, a privilege no longer shared with many, yet in need of the same attention and to be passed on as any other universally spiritual, millennial and mainstream culture/ethnicity, religion and tradition.

***[My note] There were so few Jews left in the world, after the millions killed in Nazi concentration camps, the masses eliminated in various pogroms in Eastern Europe, and the massacres in and eviction from muslim countries.

Have you ever had a dream man in mind?

No. I try to look at men on an individual basis and not according to a certain pre-conceived image.

Can there be a link between dreams: dream man/dream land?

Of course there can. However, that has not been the case with me.

Can you define regret?

How can you define something you rarely experienced or felt?

I understand. Can you explain how have the Munich '72 Olympics tragic events, if ever, affected you directly?

I had just completed my service in the army then. If anything, it only made me more defiant, determined and reinforced my desire to continue the mission of the founding fathers of the Olympic games: To do whatever is in my power to create opportunities in fields such a sports, culture, music and art, fields that will bring people together and bring over the great divides that separate human beings of all creeds, colours and cultures.

*What happened at Munich '72 was a barbarous, heinous attack – as typical of terrorist hatred targeted at Israel for the last 60+ years. Even having, or trying to keep, an open mind, we cannot deny that the premeditated murder of the Jewish Olympic team in Munich was a most tragic and traumatic episode post WWII, again singling out Jewish identities in the world, in a place and during an event that stands for and promotes peace and brotherhood among the peoples of the world.

This abject episode also showed the world (which apparently has not yet registered it in its collective memory to this day) that islamic terrorism could not and cannot care less of where and how it kills – it is everywhere and anywhere. There is no logical, sane or justifiable reason for this kind of killing: except naked, raw hatred and complete disregard for human life and humane values.

What is your concept of faithfulness? Not in marriage, of course.

I believe in adhering to promises made and sticking to them as long as possible for better or for worse.

Is that how you can perhaps choose to elaborate your different nationalities and loyalties?

My first citizenship is Israeli. I was born there. When I decided to become an American citizen, it was more for the purpose of showing gratitude and loyalty to the country that opened itself for me and gave me every possible opportunity to realize my potential. The New Zealand citizenship was one that just occurred. It turned out to be the best one because of the neutrality of the country and the way that the rest of the world perceives it to be: Peaceful. It was, I feel, the safest passport to travel on. The British citizenship was Brian's gift to me as a thank you for my loyalty as a friend and as he said, the least he can do to reciprocate for the fact that I dropped everything to come and be with him at his difficult time. However, I never took out a British passport.

You are an Arts Graduate. How do you see that knowledge/experience influencing your life and lifestyle?

Greatly! In addition to the English language being my gateway to the world, I feel that English literature or literature in general has awarded me with an opportunity to read works of Art/literature that I never would have on my own. For instance, what are the chances of me ever picking up a copy of Macbeth or Beowulf and reading it on my own just for pleasure? Also the skills of analysis, criticism, and search for symbolism as well as that of writing that such a discipline equipped me with, have been priceless.

Could you present the salient points in your career path?

Sure. I got my teaching certificate in Israel and left for the US for further studies. I wanted a Masters degree in a practical field. I got my Texas High School Teachers' certification to teach Hebrew as a foreign language and English as a Second language. Later on, partaking in a Body sculpting competition resulted in me becoming a personal trainer and a Life coach. Along the way I also earned a massage practitioner certificate.

Why have you made such career choices, and why in that order?

I simply chose by the dictates of life. No special order, just what life put in front of me, offered me. I merely accepted and welcomed it each time J

I feel your life is amazing. Can you believe and understand why I believe that?

Yes, because I feel the same many times. I find myself wondering, how could so many experiences, crossing paths with some very interesting people, living in several places and travel the world happen to one person. The question that always pops up is "Do I bring this about on my life or is life bringing this about on me?" I will probably leave this world not knowing the answer.

Where is your heart taking you next?

Back to Israel, hopefully with Ury, the man I share/have most in common than with any other man in my past.

Editor's Note: Ms. Mariana Costa Weldon has kindly agreed to write for Weekly Blitz on various issues in future. We welcome Ms. Mariana to Weekly Blitz family.

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In search for a better world

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