I do not think very much of the response I received after sending an email in response to this article:
Herein my response to the Museum:
Dear Teresa,
Thank you so much for your reply. However I still strongly feel that the suitcase needs to be returned to the original owner's son. You claim in your letter that a great part of your resistance in this case is due to the fact that the suitcase was on loan. But what would you say if Mr Michael Levi-Leleu had visited your exhibition and seen the suitcase - would it make his claim any more legitimate. Furthermore you also claim that this is not the first time that the museum has dealt with a situation like this - but that normally, with dialogue, you are able to convince the claimant to leave the item in your possession. What would you have done if you had indeed managed to hold negotiations with Mr Levi-Leleu and failed? Would you then have returned to him the suitcase?
The fact remains that although education and preservation of the remnants of the camps seem to be your claimed purpose - and I quote "the view of the Museum's Board of Directors is that it certainly understands, most profoundly, the feelings of the families of victims of the Shoah. Nevertheless, the Museum has a responsibility towards what is left of the camp." The camps existed as extermination centers for millions of Jews, gypsies, dissidents and others. The pain suffered by the families who lost loved ones and suffered horrible conditions themselves for so many years at the hands of the Nazi's is no excuse for depriving any living person a remaining physical memory of their loved one. It just shows that you really do NOT understand, most profoundly, the feelings of the families of victims of the Shoah. If you did then there would be no question that this suitcase needs to be returned immediately.
You offered Mr Levi-Leleu a photograph of the suitcase. Perhaps this is what you should do yourselves, give him the suitcase back and put a photo of the suitcase on display, or even better turn this into an educational and PR success. Make the right choice and return the suitcase, document its return in a video and (if he agrees) interview Mr Levi-Leleu about his memories of his father. THAT is education.
Send an email to the Museum
