Contemplations at Oskar Schindler’s Jerusalem Gravesite Yesterday

Contemplations at Oskar Schindler’s Jerusalem Gravesite Yesterday

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Reflecting on the Legacy of the Man, the Businessman and Life Itself…

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Having an extra hour yesterday after leaving Jerusalem’s Western Wall with my brother-in-law who is visiting from America, I decided to take him to a place which I, myself, have been meaning to visit since immigrating to Israel thirteen years ago. To a grave. The grave of a man. A businessman. A war-profiteer. A member of the Nazi party. And alas, when all is said and done, a man to whom thousands and thousands of  holocaust survivors, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren owe not just a debt of gratitude, but very existence itself. Yes, Oskar Schindler.

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Since being immortalized in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster, Schindler’s List, much has been written about the man. Written by his supporters and those whom he saved. And written by his detractors, castigators and critics. All translated into thoughts which were running through my head as we made our way down the hillside in search of the grave. Why did he do it? What motivated him? Was it truly an act of unfathomable kindness and humanity? Or did he, knowing the war would be lost, seek to save his own hide? I was asking myself those very same questions which historians have asked and will probably continue to analyze until the end of time.

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It took Steven and I a full half-hour to find the grave. The huge neon-sign of my mind’s-eye proclaiming "Here Rests Oskar Schindler" didn’t exist. The grave is an ordinary one nestled amongst hundreds of others. Like them, it is covered by an ordinary gray slab. The difference with Schindler’s, and the key to finding it, were the many hundreds of small stones which rest atop his. For those unfamiliar with the tradition: in Judaism the traditional placing of a stone on the grave of a deceased person is a mark of honor, reverence and homage. It allows those who did not participate in the burial itself to do so symbolically.

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After silently contemplating "Schindler the Man" I shifted mental gears to "Schindler the Businessman."

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Schindler, Business Ethics, Acts of Humanity and Goodness for Goodness Sake:

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…and with that, I began to contemplate the acts of other famous businesspeople. Oprah Winfrey and her highly-publicized school for underprivileged girls in South Africa. Bill Gates’ multi-billion dollar contributions to third-world healthcare. Brad Pitt and his Make it Right Foundation which is dedicated to building affordable, environmentally-friendly housing for those who lost everything as a result of Hurricane Katrina. CEO Aaron Feuerstein, who spent $25 million of his own money to pay the salaries of his thousands of employees while their factory, destroyed by fire, was being rebuilt. These are just a few examples. And I pondered a phenomenon which continues to befuddle me: the fact that almost every publicized act of goodness which a businessperson or corporation performs is inevitably followed by questions from pundits and detractors. What mysterious factors could be behind the act itself? Tax-breaks? Publicity? Egocentrism? Public Relations? There must always, seemingly, be an agenda.

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As I stood beside Schindler’s grave, the brilliant, warm Jerusalem sun giving no inkling or clue of the snowstorm which is scheduled to hit the city tomorrow, I arrived at my answer. Why did Schindler do it? What motivated him? Did he have ulterior motives? Was it business? It didn’t matter! Why did he do it? I don’t care. The only thing that matters is that he did do it! While the vast majority of others who were in positions of influence and had the means to help didn’t, this remarkable man, for whatever reasons, did! Isn’t that enough?

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Newspaper headlines and television news scream of corruption, greed and callousness which are both rife and rampant in the business world. Bernie Madoff. Ponzi schemes. Multimillion dollar bonuses for executives at bankrupt AIG. Enron. Fraud. Bribery. Graft. Extortion. It can be depressing, distressing and disheartening.

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Perhaps when we see those far-too-rare glimpses of greatness, acts of incredible charity and the granting of happiness, health and human life by those with the means, capacity and wherewithal to make a difference, we should stop looking past the act itself. The endless scrutiny and examination of motives and agenda should end before they begin. I’ve reviewed some commentary today on kindness. Bill Gates gives for tax write-offs. Oprah gives because maybe she has future political aspirations. Brad Pitt has a giant ego. I don’t care! The important thing is that they do good! Rather than being examined for flaws, their examples have the capacity to let each and every one of us, both as human beings and businesspeople, through introspection ask ourselves, "What small things can I do to make the world a better place?’

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Whatever lay behind Oskar Schindler’s decision to stand up and act, at risk to his own life, there are by some estimates, tens of thousands of human beings whose very existence would not have been possible without his incredible acts.

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They were the acts of a rare breed of human being. And a businessman. 

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I’m glad I visited his grave…the opportunity and the privilege have provided me with newfound clarity. 

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Visiting Israel soon? Already here? Thinking of visiting Oskar Schindler’s grave? When departing the Western Wall through the Dung Gate, turn right. Follow the road up the hill approximately 1/4 mile. When you see the Diaspora Yeshiva on your right, proceed another 100-150 feet. On your left you will see a small arched gate with a tiny black and white sign which reads "To Oskar Schindler’s Grave." Enter the cemetery and proceed down to the second level. Look for the gravestone with hundreds of small stones resting atop it. That’s Oskar Schindler’s.

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*** I was saddened to see that the pictures we took of Schindler’s grave were accidentally erased from my camera. As such, the above image of Schindler’s grave is presented courtesy of flickr.com