An Insect's Wing - Sarajevo, 1940

~ (pp. 45-90)

8. What did you think of Lola's adventures? Did it make sense to you when the young man told Lola, "The only true home for Jews is Eretz Israel" (p. 50)?
Yes, the spiritual homeland of the Jews is and always will be Eretz Isreal, but this should not mean that all Jews should actually live in Isreal and take it away from the Arabs. It is the homeland of the Palesinians also.

9. What did you think about Stela and Serif Kamal, the Albanian Muslims Lola met?
Stela and Serif are traditional Muslims who are kind and concerned about others. Stela shows her kindness by inviting Lola in for coffee and engaging in conversation with her, the laundress. Serif is an intellectual with so many books in his personal library. It is interesting to find out that he is the chief librarian and speaks 10 languages. His marriage to young Stela was arranged and is a happy one.

10. Why do you think the Nazis were intent on destroying Jewish books? Could something like that happen today? Before you answer, take a look at Banned Books blog.
Yes, things like this are happening today. The Nazis wanted to 'plunder the cultural heritage of the Jews' to protect Aryan blood and wipe the Jews out.

Hanna ~ Vienna, Spring 1996 ~ (pp. 91-104)
11. What do you think of Herr Doktor Doktor Werner Maria Heinich, Hanna's colleague and teacher?
Herr Doktor
knew more than anyone about the original crafts and materials of ancient manuscripts.
taught by 'hands on' methods, expecting his students to master ancient crafts related to book making.
avoided the square where Hitler announced the incorporation fo Austria into the Third Reich.
particular about appearances.
12. What do you think of Frau Zweig, chief archivist at Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien?
Frau Zweig was very modern in her thinking and dressing and was dissatisfied with the old school way of doing things. She was impatient with the status quo.
13. What do you think of the assertion that "a charge of collaboration was a useful way for the Communists to get rid of anyone who was too intellectual, too religious, too outspoken" (p. 100)?
"A charge of collaboration" covered a broad swath of 'sins' that could be a basis for persecution and prosecution by the Communists. They did not want their ways of repression challenged by outspoken, intelligent citizens