Miles Lerman, 2001 interview
Dangers of partisan life »
Partisan activities »
Role of women in the underground »
Value of weapons »
Observing Yom Kippur in his partisan group »
Impact of his wartime experiences »
Returning to his hometown »
Lifelong camaraderie among partisans
Lerman:
I must tell you that my sense of admiration and love, and you know, and camaraderie with these people, that whenever they have a simcha, you know whether it is a Bar Mitzvah, or a wedding, or a funeral, of people that I was in the forest with, no matter how busy I am, it gets wiped out, and I’m there. It’s a special feeling. There’s a special.... I have people in Vineland... you know. We are better than family. Do I have a lot in common with them? Frankly no. You understand what I am saying?
Interviewer:
Yes, yes.
Lerman:
But, what difference does it make?
Interviewer:
But there’s something else. There’s something else.
Lerman:
It’s much more -- it’s much more important, much stronger.
Lerman:
I must tell you that my sense of admiration and love, and you know, and camaraderie with these people, that whenever they have a simcha, you know whether it is a Bar Mitzvah, or a wedding, or a funeral, of people that I was in the forest with, no matter how busy I am, it gets wiped out, and I’m there. It’s a special feeling. There’s a special.... I have people in Vineland... you know. We are better than family. Do I have a lot in common with them? Frankly no. You understand what I am saying?
Interviewer:
Yes, yes.
Lerman:
But, what difference does it make?
Interviewer:
But there’s something else. There’s something else.
Lerman:
It’s much more -- it’s much more important, much stronger.
