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Remarkable moments, those deeply significant fragments of time that are indelibly imprinted in life’s memory book, are few and far between. In November I went on a journey and encountered so many of these moments, one after another, it felt like I was in a waking dream. As I try to collect the memories to preserve and share them with you here, I feel profound gratitude.

Our journey started in Munster, Germany. My husband and I left home on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, which signaled a synchronicity that was to follow us throughout our trip. We were on our way to the staging of my husband’s dramatic musical, Imagine This, a story that takes place in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.

The show, which is loosely based on true events, tells the story of a Jewish theatre troupe at the time of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. A cast and orchestra of 100 Germans gathered to tell a difficult story that shed light on a dark part of their country’s history. Some of the people who participated were the descendants of Nazi soldiers, and they took their solemn task to heart. Seeing this show performed in German, and witnessing the actors and musicians as they told the story with such care and grace, was one of the most moving experiences of our lives.

After the show, the German cast and crew welcomed us with open arms and threw a banquet on stage in our honor. Everybody participated and brought home-cooked dishes. I looked around at the caring, kindly faces of this group and my heart was full. They worked so hard to bring this challenging story to life.

As we walked through the buffet line, looking at all of the carefully prepared dishes, I was struck by a batch of homemade Apple Rose Tarts. They were so sweet and lovely, and somehow symbolic of the beauty rising out of this event. They represented the energy of growth and change.

I was inspired to make something similar when I returned home. I followed the process described here, but added a more exotic homemade filling of dates, rosewater and cardamom. The result was very special, and vegan too (make sure you choose a dairy-free puff pastry if you want to keep it dairy free).

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and my mind keeps wandering back to this emotional day we experienced in Munster. This evening, as we light the Shabbat candles, we remember 11 million lives stolen, 6 million of them Jews. Innocent lives, murdered. We remember the past, and we actively resist the evil energy that led to this atrocity. Anti-semitism is on the rise across the world. Stay vigilant, stand strong, speak out. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

I offer these Apple Date Rose Tarts in remembrance. May we never forget.

Production photos courtesy of Stephan Drewianka, www.musical-world.de

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