Martin Koby - April 20, 1999
"The Internationale"
You, you mentioned again, "The Internationale." And your father sang the song, is that right? I mean...
Yeah, but I learn it first--first time I learned it was from my father.
Your father. But your father--you said your father wasn't a Communist, but he knew "The Internationale."
Yes.
It's a wonderful song.
Oh, it's a--it's--sure, it's an inspiring song, no question about it.
Do you think he believed in the principles in the song?
I don't think so, no. But it's a nice melody ???.
Well, what in the, what in the song was so moving?
To me?
To you or to him.
I don't know what was moving to him. I don't know.
But it was moving to you?
Yes.
What in the song?
From long time--I don't know exactly when, it is, no one can help us.
That's a, that's a...
God--neither God, neither the Czar, nor a hero. We have do it on our own.
On our own. Together, ???...
To--yeah.
To--but it's...
Uh, uh, us.
...to--it's being together.
Yeah.
It doesn't refer to just Jews.
It does not refer just to Jews, but we could use it.
Just for Jews. As opposed to the partisan song?
Yes. I mean, it could be--the wording could be different. I mean, it doesn't have to be the melody of "The Internationale," something like that.
Hm.
But that's--you know, that has a meaning to me. But to say you know, we are sacrificed so many Jews for the honor of God, no, no, no. That, that, that doesn't jive, it doesn't mesh um, with my feelings.
Did you ever meet anyone who said, this is why we're, we're going, we're going to die...
No.
...for Kiddush ha-Shem?
No.
No. I see.
But it's--you know, you're--all of this--all this literature you see you know, all the statements and memorials and uh, uh, people write you know, what happened. Now when they mention that name, it's terrible to me. We can only say it after.
After, after--I don't know a single...
After the event, we think we...
Not a single survivor has ever told me about people dying for Kiddush ha-Shem, not one.
I don't think...
After--I think--I mean, you go to the memorial...
Yes, that's every--that's always after society says that. Individuals don't say that. It's something to--it shows--I don't know, they don't want to show disrespect, I think, for the religious ideas.
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