Holocaust Museum at Skokie

I have read many books on stories around holocaust survivors but the impact of going through Holocaust museum was still chilling.

Not that there are actual graphic depictions of the atrocities that were inflicted on Jews on exhibit, there is nothing like that, but the real stories of the survivors is gripping. You walk through the series of cubicles in the main exhibition hall. Each cubicle has exhibits of pictures of people and their activities during that period on the walls, some artifacts, some personal belonging like a purse, or a shoe, or a clothing and the videos of the survivors, who painfully tell their personal stories. The story unfolds as you walk from one cubicle to another. You walk through time, starting with World War 1, through rise of Nazis, the propaganda they used to portray Jews as the ones who bought down the German society, the disinformation they used making the world believe that they were taking Jews to safety when actually they were taking them to Ghettos, the train journey to gas chambers and the growth of the Nazi’s ‘final solution’

I was deeply pained to learn about the plight of young children who once lived a happy and normal lives, but were suddenly pull away from the comforts of a family life and were subjected to starvation and deprivation.

How could people be so cruel and indifferent to human sufferings? How could people have so much hatred and prejudice?

I sat in each cubicle (there was a bench to sit on in some cubicles) to watch videos of survivors. The videos gave the actual narration of the survivors who were children then (during that period). One of the survivors was the youngest in the group of 200 women, and she spoke about how everybody tried to protect her and shared their ration of food with her to keep her strong, giving her the best from the little that they had. In another video, survivor spoke of the stench and stink in the railway compartment, in which they were transported to concentration camps. A chill passed through my spine as I saw the miniature models of gas chambers and the actual railway car, that is restored and was on exhibit inside the museum. I saw some people entering the car to witness the pain (I could not) I was transported to another world and at times, I could feel as though it was in the middle of the war.

My mood lightened up when I went downstairs to the Educational hall, which was interactive with games and quiz, educating children on how to be kind and tolerant. Through this initiative, it fosters the promotion of human rights and the elimination of genocide.

‘Never again’ is the strong message you bring back home as you walk through the bookstall and out to the real world.

I spend more than three hours inside the museum but was not able to see all of it. Didn’t spend much time, watching each photograph minutely in the art gallery, nor did I wait to see the movie about genocide, nor did I enter the railway car, nor did I spend any time in the coffee shop. I wish I had.

I came out to wait for car to fetch me, it was still sunny and warm outside, a gentleman came up to me and offered me to come back inside the museum and wait in the the AC rooms. It was only two minutes wait, I did not go back in, but his kindness lingered on…….

if you are in Chicago, do go and have a lookie….

9603 Woods Dr

Skokie, IL 60077

b/t Golf Rd & Old Orchard Rd

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In and Around Navy Pier In Chicago

Back home in India, we don’t go out in the afternoons because it’s sunny, and too warm to go out. We would rather sit in AC rooms than roam on the streets, but here, in America, summer is a blessing in disguise. Enjoyed only for three months in a year, its an happy occasion  something to enjoy with friends and relatives, There is cheerfulness everywhere, the roads are filled with people dressed in vibrant, warm colors, cotton shirts, short pants, and comfortable foot ware. Everybody is in holiday mood.

Navy Pier is the place where we see people spend the whole day involved in  various activities. Originally designed for shipping and recreational purpose, now there are various entertainments and exposition facilities.

Cousin said that there is air and water show along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach serving as show center.  It would feature a wide variety of military and civilian aerial demonstration teams with pilots performing their stunts in the skies above Chicago. It sounded exciting. But there was too traffic jam everywhere, and that was a let down. I got a brief glimpse from my car window, but getting off at sea front seemed impossible.

By the time we reached Navy Pier, the show was over. We got off on the main road and walked towards the main building. Many people preferred to walk, but for those who was looking for extra fun, there was cycling and fun rides around the park.

The Terminal Building, so named because it was once a streetcar terminal dominated the sea front. Inside this building, there was children’s museum, shopping arcade, multiplex and food court.

We climbed up the stairs to see Crystal Garden, It was a large restaurant with palm trees and waterfalls, but it was closed on that day to the public as it was being prepared for late evening private dinner. 

Behind the terminal building was the huge Ferris wheel rising up to 150 feet. This Ferris wheel can carry the maximum of 240people.  This wheel is a recreation of the very first Ferris Wheel which was erected in Chicago in 1893.

I love sitting by the shore and enjoying the view, the weather was perfect. Most of our time was spent sitting on the bench, chatting and watching the boats ply up and down with eager tourists standing in long queues.

For me, just staring at the waters and the open skies with concrete skyline was a bliss.

Day Out At BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chicago

It was 1:30 pm, we made our way to the Swami Narayan temple at Pramukh Swami road, Barlett in Chicago. The huge parking lot was full of cars that indicated a massive attendance. It seemed like there was some festival inside the temple. Most of the devotees were Gujarathis. I tried talking to few, but they seemed distant.

We entered the main building that had beautifully carved white peacock perched on wooded windows in the patio. The carvings on the windows and on the walls were mesmerizing.

“Gods are sleeping,” announced the priest as we entered the main hall.

My cousin wrinkled her brows, “How can Gods sleep?” She wanted to know.

We had been driving since last two hours to reach this place, she was offended to learn that she would not be able to see the idols. The small carved, wooden doors were shut but we could see the idols on TV that were placed outside in the hall just near the donation boxes.

“Gods don’t sleep, He is supposed to listen to our problems 24/7” she grumbled.

“Its okay, maybe Gods need rest too”, I said. “Come lets admire the architecture instead”.

In the basement, there were group of ladies who poured cup of water over the idols (giving bath (perhaps) before putting Gods to sleep.) on the other side was a long corridor where big posters adorned the wall. The pictures were of India saints, who had contributed to science, technology and natural healing methods through yoga and other therapies.

Whether the Gods lived in this temple or not, I was awed by its architecture. The pillars, the interiors walls, the exterior had been carved meticulously. There was wood and marble carving and it was splendid. I admired the artists’ craftsmanship. The one who had worked on this must be truly blessed.

 Rumor has it specialists were imported to etch out the engravings in the doors and interior/exterior marble.

The limestone and marble stones for the temple were quarried from Turkey and Italy and shipped to Gujarat, India. From here, the stones were transported to Rajasthan where they were hewn and carved by 2000 craftsmen. Once the stones were sculpted, they were shipped to Chicago and then assembled like 3D jigsaw puzzle.

The temple is surrounded by beautiful landscape with fountains and statues spread across 27 acres. It was a pleasant walk outdoors and the weather was perfect. We walked back to the main building that had Shayona (cafeteria), there was a big queue for buying simple and tasty Indian food at discounted rates. There was a small supermarket too that sold Indian snacks and sweets. It did quite a good business because every devotee patronized this store to purchase India goodies for their family at home.