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At concentration camp, Pearl reflects on freedom
‘To pray as we wish’
UT release
Freshman forward Steven Pearl looks out over a memorial cemetery for those who died in the Terezin Concentration Camp.
UT release
Head coach Bruce Pearl discusses parts of the Terezin Concentration Camp with sophomore guard/forward Josh Tabb.
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TEREZIN, Czech Republic — Crews, Chism, Childress, Howell, Wild, Smith, Lofton, Pearl, Tabb. And then Schlama Rosenberg.
My grandfather’s name was Hyman Rosenberg. Probably no relation to Schlama, but to see that name on a prison list, I had to wonder what crime she committed. I wondered what she had done that was so terrible that could have brought her to a place like this.
For my players to be here, and for them to understand that maybe it could have been their family name on that list and to understand what happened and to make sure that it never happens again, was important.
The players asked questions. Josh Tabb asked: “Coach, why is there anti-Semitism? I don’t understand. Why does one group of people hate another group of people?”
As his coach, and as a teacher, I’m at a loss for words. I’m not smart enough to explain it or begin to understand it.
As God’s children, for us to have the inability to tolerate each other’s differences … to (not) tolerate a difference in a skin color, or the shape of our eyes, or the way we pray, or how we believe politically, and for those reasons to be enough to go to war and kill one another.
I said, “Josh, for many reasons which we have learned, throughout history, the Jews have been an easy target.”
After World War I, Europe was in bad shape, and it wasn’t just Germany, all of Europe was in bad shape.
Adolph Hitler blamed the Jewish people for the economic hardship that was placed on the people in Germany and went about this final solution.
This was just a concentration camp; this was just a work camp; this was not a death camp. But at least they (the players) had to ask.
Mission accomplished, when Tabb asked the question.
For me, in reflection, when my daughter Leah had her bat mitzvah, I said to the congregation — as I was giving a blessing as a parent to a child — I said to Leah, “You’re now 13, you’ve chanted the blessings, you’ve studied Torah, and with that comes a responsibility to be able to continue to practice your religion.
“We are so fortunate to live in Knoxville, Tennessee, with several synagogues and have the ability to pray as we wish, without persecution, and look what your grandparents and your great-grandparents had to go through.”
When Jack Pearlmutter, my father’s father, was about 12 years old, he left Austria with three younger brothers and sisters.
Hitler was coming to power and the handwriting was on the wall. Papa’s parents did not have enough money to join the children.
But they made sure that the children were saved.
Papa really raised his young brothers and sisters, and for that, and for many other reasons, he’ll always be my hero.
He died when I was 13, so I knew him pretty well. He actually died after my bar mitzvah.
So it’s important for Leah to understand what took place, so that she and our family could enjoy the freedom to worship as we pleased.
A basketball game was played Saturday night, a basketball game will be played today. I’ll try to teach them to do a better job with their transition defense and to communicate better.
But this visit to the Terezin Concentration Camp was probably the most important lesson of our trip.
Who knows what lasting effects this will have on my players?
It’s my hope that when they’re faced with a difficult decision of what’s right or wrong, even if it’s an unpopular choice, that they will make the best decision.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that history has a way of repeating itself, and in this case we can’t let that happen again.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by dmouron2 on August 12, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, Coach.
Posted by flyinpro on August 13, 2007 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too have visited Concentration Camps in person and have never understood that kind of hate. UT is really blessed with a man such as Coach Pearl. He is truly a teacher first and a coach second and is a bright light at the college level.
Thanks coach for what you bring to the community and travel safe.
Posted by TriCityVol on August 13, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Talk about bonding, this group will really be tight. Great job Coach.
Posted by wewhite on August 13, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't imagine a basketball coach in the NCAA writing anything like this, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Hey, UT! You know this guy's a keeper for his brilliant coaching skills. Reason enough to throw a better contract his way. But what other team in the country is getting coached in the game of LIFE like our players are?! Just remember that the next time Pearl's contract negotiations come up.
And, hey, Bruce! Maybe you could take our football team on a pre-season trip next year? Sounds like a few of them could use some perspective.
Posted by bleed_orange on August 13, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have a great one in Coach Pearl. GO VOLS!
JDS
Posted by marc_ash on August 13, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow. Ok, anyone else teary eyed.
What an amazing man to teach these kids about life. Thats what sports is all about, teaching life lessons. When you realize how important family and life is, you learn to APPRECIATE it much more.
This should make the blessings that the Vols basketball team have (ability to walk, be free, express themselves spiritually, etc) seem much more important to them.
Being a teacher first and foremost is what makes someone successful...as a parent and a coach.
Coach Pearl is class act.
Posted by jh43 on August 13, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Success in any endeavor begins and ends with character. Coach Pearl is important to UT because of his coaching ability, but even more important to UT and to all who know of him because of his character.
Character will affect all those he touches long after the scores have been forgotten.
Posted by redbaron on August 13, 2007 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No accolades from me! I find it rather obscene to use a trip to the Czech Republic as an excuse to trudge a whole American basketball team through a local concentration camp so that they may learn about the importance of religious freedom.
Coach Pearl could have taught the same history lesson by taking his team to any Indian Reservation in America. When it comes to "Man's inhumanity to Man", the United States of America has plenty of "concentration camp" sites.
Posted by DSaVol on August 13, 2007 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
redbaron...while your underlying point may have some merit you obviously are overlooking the fact that the visit to this disgusting place is only one of many stops - and lessons - during what is certain to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of those on the trip. For others, while Pearl is proving himself to be one of the best, there are MANY other fine coaches across the country that are also sincere in their efforts to teach players the game of life so let's not discount them either. I do applaud the University, Mike Hamilton and Coach Pearl for allowing our guys to be a part of what is nothing short of a marvelous and hopefully eye-opening experience.
Posted by txsvol on August 13, 2007 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The life experiences our hoopsters are having on this trip far outweigh any basketball experience, and I am glad that Coach Pearl was there to answer Josh Tabb's question, and give us an insight into the family history of this wonderful man. I have visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where I witnessed a bar mizvah of a young Israeli, and also visited Yad Vashem, which recounted the stories of the death camps and the 6,000,000 persons who perished during the holocaust. This history is real, and is not to be ignored. There are close parallels between the threats of Nazi Germany and Islamofascism. "Those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it." --George Santyana...Go Vols, and thanks, Coach Pearl.
Posted by Bigger_Al on August 13, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Coach Pearl, for sharing this experience. Also, I'm glad you find Knoxville a welcoming place to freely worship with respect to family tradition and choice.
I was in Poland briefly this May, on a business day-trip from Budapest. The factory I visited was 20 miles from Auschwitz. I didn't have time to visit, but I was profoundly chilled simply by being that close to the epicenter of the Holocaust. Words are difficult to find to express the feelings of horror, dread, anger, and fear that engulfed me that day.
Posted by renagr on August 13, 2007 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
while I agree that the United States has not always had an exemplary history in human rights, that's not the point of why the team was taken on this trip to the Czech Republic. I have visited Terezin, Auschwitz and Majdanik camps personally and can tell you that it is an experience like none other....these young men will never be the same....and I mean that in a positive way....I think the second piece of the puzzle to why they went there was to play basketball in the international arena.... that's an experience they could not get here in the USA. So, thanks Coach Pearl for teaching our young men basketball skills and life skills all at the same time...GO VOLS!
Posted by vol4jesus on August 13, 2007 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Red Baron you have the "Freedom" to live elsewhere if the USA is too dirty for you. I love my country and defend her proudly. Some need to get over past flaws/errors and be part of the solution. Not be one to perpetuate it until reparations are paid by those who played no part in it. Coach Pearl is a good ambassador for UT and is trying to build character(not forced religion.)Lets be thankful for what and who we have in BIG ORANGE COUNTRY!!!
Posted by vol4jesus on August 13, 2007 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh by the way...the"RED BARON" was a german..that german hatred might have inflamed the rb poster because his leader didn/t like Jews for they were inferior in his flawed mindset. Maybe not his reason for slamming other posters......just a thot.
Posted by marc_ash on August 14, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is a thot?
Posted by Hunter on August 14, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It pains me to say this, but......kudos to the NCAA (again, I shudder) for allowing these kind of trips to happen. They could easily throw this experience out as "extra practice" and a violation, but they make exceptions so that these STUDENT-athletes can be educated about more than defense and rebounding.
Posted by vol4jesus on August 14, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
marc_ash.......thot = thought........sorry for any confusion that might have created for you. Those are sometimes planted to see how sharp our posters/readers are when scanning post. Good day Paul Harvey ...whatever page #. GO VOLS!!!
Posted by ladyvols2006 on August 14, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Louisville and have to put up with these d*** UK and U of L fans along with all the bad news of the world. I use my limited FREE time to watch, listen to and read about my Tennessee Vols. Why in the h*** do some of you have to bring all of the bad when you post! I was born in Knoxville and have been a a TENNESSEE fan all of my life. This site (along with any site that covers the Volunteers) should be a place where we can read and discuss all things Tennessee. Why in the world would anyone want to use this place to talk politics or anything other than things Tennessee.
To those that post non-UT items - you have many places to comment on anything and everything - please give it a rest here!!!
Posted by TurboFan on August 14, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My turn for a little non-UT ditty. Think about all the names that have been called and stereo-typing that has been posted on this site in regard to Bama coaches/players/fans, Gator coaches/players/fans, Wildcats, Tigers, Bulldogs, Bears, etc., etc., and apply the question of Josh Tabb to them. "Why does one group of people hate another group of people?” That maybe how prejudice and bigotry and self righteousness can infect a culture. Not that we are going to declare war on Tuscaloosa or Lexington but spewing such venom makes it easy for our children to imitate and to hate for no other reason than "they" are not "us".
Posted by vol88 on August 15, 2007 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How in the world could ANYBODY post a negative comment about this essay?
Thanks Coach, for everything.
Posted by DCVolFan on August 18, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great piece, Coach. You are a blessing to Knoxville and to the University of Tennessee family.
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