Hana’s SuitcaseBy Karen Levine

The SuitcaseThe Suitcase““Really, it’s a very Really, it’s a very

ordinary-looking ordinary-looking suitcase. A little tattered suitcase. A little tattered around the edges, but in around the edges, but in good condition.good condition.

It’s brown. It’s big. You It’s brown. It’s big. You could fit quite a lot in it could fit quite a lot in it – clothes for a long trip, – clothes for a long trip, maybe. Books, games, maybe. Books, games, treasures, toys. But treasures, toys. But there is nothing inside there is nothing inside now.”now.”

Small Wings @ the Tokyo Small Wings @ the Tokyo Holocaust CenterHolocaust Center

““Fumiko IshiokaFumiko Ishioka wanted young people wanted young people in Japan to learn from in Japan to learn from the Holocaust. It was the Holocaust. It was her job to make that her job to make that happen. She decided happen. She decided the best way to start the best way to start would be through would be through physical objects the physical objects the children could see children could see and touch.”and touch.”

Hana Brady - Hana Brady - WaisenkindWaisenkind

“Hana had blond hair, blue eyes and a very pretty round face.”

Nove Mesto, CzechoslovakiaNove Mesto, Czechoslovakia

Hana had a normal childhood, but that Hana had a normal childhood, but that all changed when Adolf Hitler all changed when Adolf Hitler invaded her country in 1938.invaded her country in 1938.

Tokyo, 2000Tokyo, 2000

The children’s questions:The children’s questions:– Who was Hana?Who was Hana?– How did it feel to be sent away from her How did it feel to be sent away from her

family?family?– What was it like to be an orphan?What was it like to be an orphan?

– What was THERESIENSTADT?What was THERESIENSTADT?

Nove Mesto, 1939Nove Mesto, 1939

March 15March 15thth – the Nazis marched – the Nazis marched in and set down new rules about in and set down new rules about the “evil Jews.” the “evil Jews.”

What do you think some of those What do you think some of those rules were?rules were?

Tokyo, 2000Tokyo, 2000

Theresienstadt was Fumiko’s first Theresienstadt was Fumiko’s first clue as to who Hana was. She also clue as to who Hana was. She also found out that 4,500 drawings made found out that 4,500 drawings made by children were found in by children were found in Theresienstadt after the war.Theresienstadt after the war.

Could any of these have been drawn Could any of these have been drawn by Hana?by Hana?

Nove Mesto, 1940-41Nove Mesto, 1940-41

Hana was about to begin the 3Hana was about to begin the 3rdrd grade.grade.

Her mother was arrested by the Her mother was arrested by the Gestapo in March.Gestapo in March.

Tokyo, 2000Tokyo, 2000

Fumiko wrote to the Terezin Ghetto Fumiko wrote to the Terezin Ghetto Museum and received a package in Museum and received a package in response. The package contained 5 response. The package contained 5 drawings.drawings.

1941, Autumn1941, Autumn

19421942

““Everyone is to appear at the train Everyone is to appear at the train tracks in one hour. Each person tracks in one hour. Each person is allowed one suitcase. Twenty-is allowed one suitcase. Twenty-five kilos. Not a gram more. five kilos. Not a gram more. Form straight lines. No talking. Form straight lines. No talking. Do as you are told.”Do as you are told.”

May 1942May 1942

Hana’s ViewHana’s View

July 2000, CzechoslovakiaJuly 2000, Czechoslovakia

Fumiko was able Fumiko was able to find Hana’s to find Hana’s name on a name on a document, document, along with that along with that of George of George Brady.Brady.

How does the story end?How does the story end?

For Hana?For Hana?

For Fumiko and Small Wings?For Fumiko and Small Wings?

For George?For George?