Ha Motzei Lechem

#22, Auschwitz Album Revisited

Oil Painting by Dr. Pat Mercer Hutchens

Imagine whole families being dragged at gunpoint from their homes, marked with yellow stars, herded into a train, and only to arrive at the killing fields of Auschwitz. In large canvas-like bags hanging heavy from their shoulders, were probably some pictures and a few treasures, but more likely what a mother would never forget – food for the children. Here a mother and her beautiful little girl are eating a piece of bread, while the young boy fearfully peers out from behind. Even in this moment of fear, the mother no doubt said the HaMotzei Lechem (prayer for blessing bread) before they took a bite.