KIT XII #8-9, August-September, 2000 Section II
The whole KIT and Caboodle outside the Jugendherberg
Oberbernhards -Rhön: Hans Bohlken, Tim Johnson, Elizabeth Bohlken Zumpe, Phil
Ellison, Mel Fros,Renata Fros,Thomas Kluver, Daniel Fros, Janet Fros, Josie
Kluver, Lie Priest Arnold, Hardmuth Kluver, Karola Friedemann, Stefan
Friedemann, Renatus Kluver, Matt Ellison, Hermann Pleil, Alfred Pleil, John
Mathis, Eslbeth Bauer, Joy Macdonald Johnson, Hanna Homann Patrick, Margot
Purcell Wegner, Gottfried John Holland, Jorg Mathis, Christine Mathis, Katie
Homann, Giovanna Mathis, Marcella Mathis, Ben Cavanna, Lee Kleiss, Rita Lord,
Susan Suleski Johnson, Isolde Brummelohe Dieter Holz, Norman Anthony Lord, Jean
Roering Hasenberg, Rosie Sumner Johnson, Barnabas Johnson, Carol Beck Beels,
Marlene Gelman Wegner, Gudrun Harries Pfeiffer, Rebecca Immanuel, Brenda Reber
Hasenberg, Annelene Wiegand - Ben Cavanna
Lee Maria Kleiss, 7/26/00: I need to thank you all for
making my trip to the Rhön KIT possible.
I am concerned that everyone who wishes to attend a
nearby KIT gathering has the opportunity to do so. Even with the existance of a
scholarship fund, it is usually not easy for the needy one to come and beg,
especially as many of us abhor the SoB's begging. We need a friendlier way. We
each should become advocates for those who might be short of funds
and speak for them. Specifically one person told me her sister needed to and
should have come but was too short of funds. That should not be allowed to
happen again. Greetings,
8/1/00: Eurokit 2000 was a marvelous reunion of people who had
once known each other, enjoyed seeing each other again, and singing. It
was expressed that the next generation, though they may be acquainted with each
other, will never be able to share the singing experience.
Instead of planning to video or tape Migg really there should
have been taping of the almost continuous singing. No, Barnabas was not the
ringleader in the singing this time, except just for an hour or so in a very
small circle.
I was disappointed that none of the "adults" were there. (Erna
& Werner & Migg) It turned out Elsbeth Bauer and I were the only
"adults," those who walked into the Bruderhof from the outside world, the rest
were all children of the Bruderhof. There were three that had never been to any
KIT gathering. I think Annelene came because I wrote to her and managed to get
help to get there in Elsbeth's car. The first night during the singing, someone
observed that every ten minutes Annelene was growing younger by ten years. I was
pleased to see another who was willing to operate the dozen cameras as we stood
for a group picture. She certainly did not hide from the group, but wasn't ready
to be in the picture. After all it was her first contact, not so for Annelene
and Elsbeth.
It was a very joyous time, including hikes, swims for the kids,
the afternoon car caravan tour to the original sites of Röhn, Sinntal, including
Eberhard's grave. The only serious, but enjoyable session was Bette's
presentation of the early history. It was taped and I attempted to take notes. I
am not sure who it is that will get those into printable form. My concern is
that along with Bette's report goes something that can picture better the
desperate times that drove people to the Bruderhof. In a way, like the Kibbutz,
it was a special time that required special life style.
I find it funny that the whole Bruderhof was founded... guess
what? ...on a lie. You'll get clearer details in Bette's report, but
Eberhard couldn't give up his smoking. While the Hutterite Elders met to discuss
Eberhard being made an Elder, he apparently lit up. When they asked him, he
denied it; too much was at stake. I suggested perhaps he didn't inhale (a la
Clinton). Anyway, to me it simply said the times were desperate and
everyone knew, but they had to proceed. Without becoming an elder
he wouldn't have been given the money the group so desperately needed, and
his year in the States would have been wasted. In that respect Palmgrove, which
is apparently still being helped by the Hutterites, might give us some
reasonable insight.
The 1930s were a desperate time as experienced by the
child-Lee Kleiss, and attempted to be understood by the adult-Lee Kleiss, who
recently had the opportunity to read the biography of Pierre Ceresol, a
contemporary of Eberhard Arnold, one who was equally influenced by Ragaz.
I was an only child, born in 1926 during the German Birth
Strike. The depression hit Germany a decade before it did the States. All my
German cousins were only children. The world was too evil and uncertain
to suffer children into this world. By birth I was Austrian, as my father was
Austrian. Actually I was trained to believe I was 3/8 Austrian and 1/8 Hungarian
on my father's side and 3/8 German and 1/8 Jewish on my mother's side. (In my
1993 research in Frankfurt with the Speyer Records in the Archives and at the
University, I discovered I am half-Jewish. My "Aryan" grandfather was born in
the "Judengasse" in der Altstadt. The house had often been pointed out to me.)
ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> My father had the misfortune to be taken by the Italian Army
as prisoner of war in 1918, as the Italians chose to make their Armistate
a day later than the rest of Europe. This left him a damaged person, as only the
officers, who had slightly better treatment, managed to survive. As civil
engineer he had difficulty acquiring or keeping a job in depressed Germany. The
marriage did not last. Mother and I were living in the "Projects" when Hitler
came to power. She was there as a social worker.
<
Examining the foundations of the Kinderhaus at the old
Rhön Bruderhof: Annelene Wiegand, Anthony Lord, Tim Johnson, Hans Bohlken,
Barnabas Johnson, Stefan Friedemann, Karola Friedemann Kluver, Phil Ellison,
Melchior Fros, Joy Macdonald Johnson, Janet Fros- Ben Cavanna
With 17 political parties, the tensions were terrible. She
described how people in their rivalry would shoot into each others windows. And
many times she told me, had she been permitted to vote, she would have voted
for Hitler. Remaining an Austrian prevented her from voting. But it
wasn't too long after Hitler came to power she lost her job permanently. When we
were invited to Frankfurt in 1985 as part of their Reparation, we qualified on
all three counts she lost her job for political and religious reasons, as well
for being part Jewish. She had inherited well from Lotti Speyer, thus our life
style didn't need to change. She did work at the Rhotert Schirm Gesellschaft.
Karl Rhotert should have been a professor, but instead he inherited a business,
the Umbrella Shop, upon marrying a Jewish wife. Maya, their daughter, was my
best friend as we lived next door to each other (as well as Ruth who later
became Lee Stern's wife). It was not a happy marriage.
Frau Rhotert spent a good deal of her time in Italy or
Switzerland. He did not dare divorce her, as being married to an Aryan was her
only protection. To alleviate the Housing shortage, Hitler gave grants to people
in large houses who remodeled the houses into apartments. My grandparent's
four-story house was remodeled into three apartments. One of the rooms on the
top floor belonged to each apartment for storage or for the maid's room. We then
moved in with them at 84 Adlerpflicht Platz, with my grandfather's sister living
at 88 Adlerpflicht Platz, houses my great-grandfather had bought.
The family felt a need to consolidate. A very sociable family
limited their friends to a very few. We ate together, upstairs, with the
grandparents, and always placed a pillow over the telephone before sitting down
to a meal. One never knew if the telephone was bugged. I can vividly remember
the Thursday one pot meals. Everyone was forced to eat simply and donate
the money saved for the soup kitchens. (Just as voluntary as Clara's working
extra hard for Palmgrove.) It was even decreed what your savings were. When
Hitler gave his speeches we listened to the radio we would have been disobedient
if we hadn't. But the adults did want to know what was going on. Even our dog
detested these speeches. While sleeping, he gave fantastic jerks, which I
interpreted as showing his displeasure.
Though Maya remained my best friend, now that we lived some
distance apart, I became quite friendly with a child across the park. Indoors,
we spent quite some time climbing on top of the Schranks in the large hallway
and just talking and joking as kids do. There was a problem. This girl was
stealing money. We set a trap, and yes it was this girl. We then confronted her
with the facts. She admitted it and told us that one of the bigger boys in the
neighborhood demanded money off all of the younger kids. He was enough of a
bully and threat, so they complied.
What agony! No, we didn't do the natural thing, seek out the
girl's parents and get the neighborhood to confront the bully. We had a "Web
Fehler." There was Jewish blood in our family, any thing to draw attention to us
could be dangerous. Was I forbidden to play with this girl? No, again. After all
her father was an SS Man. We just had to live with uneasy tension.
A similar tension existed with our maid. (You really
need to see "1900 House" to have an understanding of maids. This modern woman,
being used to modern conveniences, the privacy of her own family, felt so
uncomfortable with the maid she hired, she had to dismiss her. ) Without washing
machines, refrigerators and our thousands of conveniences, life was very
laborious. Without refrigeration, food had to be bought daily. For a young
peasant girl it was a safe way to experience the city, get away from home and
earn a little. For others it became their lifetime career. Maria was young and I
got along well with her. A real plus for the family as I was a terribly
difficult kid. When I was eight she took me to her home village to attend a
wedding. She had me completely convinced that at the very first wedding one
attended one had to have a nail hammered into one's head.
At the Roman Gate Trier: Phil Ellison, Giovanna Mathis, Katie
Homann, Matt Ellison, Marcella Mathis, Hanna Homann, Rose Holz - Ben
Cavanna
Recorders & Singing. Barnabas Johnson, Elsbeth Bauer,
Irene F. Friedemann & Annelene Wiegand - Ben Cavanna
I disappeared one day. After a long, long search, only upon
feeding the animals did they find me. I had crawled past the horse, and was
found lying down with the goats. Once when Reinhold was visiting, we had fun he
climbed along the roof of this four story building to scare Maria from the
window of her room. We trembled. We were just being mischievous and very
dangerous kids. She could report him as a peeping Tom worse yet as he was 3/4+
Jewish. Luckily she did not and took our prank in stride. It turned out she also
stole money. My grandmother could not understand: "But we pay her well." Even as
a child I could comment, "Maybe she needs to send money home." Well, I had seen
the village home, experienced the outhouse, etc. The
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decision by the family was "keep her." She could report on us
at anytime.
One day my mother came home from a women's meeting at church.
She was out of breath and very excited. The Gestapo had come into the basement
of the building, but they were meeting upstairs. Rev. Schuemer asked all the
women to slowly go out the front in ones and twos. Mother just hoped that he had
time to swallow the attendance list. Rev. Schuemer was the true Christian among
the three ministers who served our church, the Evangelich, Reformierte,
Bekenneden Kirche, the same denomination that Niemöller belonged to. As he was a
First World War Hero, the Nazi powers did not dare touch him. Rev. Schuemer was
not so lucky. Each of the three ministers held a separate children's Sunday
school in different parts of the city, and took turns preaching to the adults in
the downtown building. I say building, as it was a very large rectangular room,
since when it was built it could not look like a church. The small Huguenot
branch that the Rhoterts often attended, and which frequently had sermon's in
French, did look like a real church. Children are quite perceptive.
Schuemer's Sunday school grew to more than one hundred
children. We met in one of the rooms of a school for the deaf. I still can see
that room the last time we met. The chairs were all turned around. He had
requested that during the church service the large picture of Hitler be turned
around or covered with a cloth. It was not permitted. So he chose to turn the
class around and face the picture himself. I always believed he disappeared for
that act. As stated above, there was other activity he stood for. I had two
favorite songs Die Gedanken Sind Frei and the second verse of Luther's
hymn: Nehmen sie den Leib, Gut Ehr, Kind und Weib Lasz fahren dahin, sie
haben kein Gewinn, das Reich musz uns doch bleiben (If they take my body,
goods, honor, wife and child, let it be, they cannot win, the Kingdom is still
ours.) It is hard for me now to conceive of an 11-year-old with such favorites.
The church had to continue to support his wife and four
children. One of the two sisters that worked with the church was secretly
whisked away to Switzerland because of her "Web Fehler, partial Jewish
ancestry" as one of the three minister became a avowed Nazi. (Many claimed to be
Nazi for their own safety, a few were really convinced.)
Until 1936 I was in a private school with Lullu Cossman, a
Christian Jew. Actually, she had really given up her school, and a few of
us had private lessons. A truly fantastic educator. But for fifth grade I had to
enter a bigger. proper, private school. When the teacher entered, we all had to
rise and say "Heil Hitler." Our homeroom teacher always dismissed us, saying,
"Oh, I've seen most of you already." One was exceedingly stern about saying it.
I later found out that was out of sarcasm or ridicule. I do not recall any
particular fear or uneasiness about being in this larger school. Yet I did not
speak a single word with any of the students except for Maya, who was my best
friend.
After a year we had an outing. Typically German, we walked in
twos. Not only that, but we were assigned who to walk with. My partner did the
forbidden thing, she got out of line and ran up to the teacher to report that I
had talked. Apparently she had been especially assigned to get me to talk.
Vividly I can remember our conversation. She said (in German) "isn't it a
beautiful day!" and I commented "Hm hm" I did not even open my mouth. That is,
when teachers called on me, I responded, I just did not talk with any of the
other girls. The reason: fear I might reveal any of our family's opinion
concerning the government. One child's father had disappeared, like Rev.
Schuemer, and my family surmised that a teacher overheard this child say to
another child "We can be thankful to Chamberlain that we are not at war."
November 11?? 1938, I had walked to school as usual along the
Anlage, a stretch of park where the original city walls used to be. We were
dismissed early and urged to get home as quickly as possible. A great mistake.
The quickest way was by tram through town. Thus I saw all the distruction of the
Crystall Nacht. I came home terrified. Even more so as my aunt Mable, visiting
from Canada, was just ready to go into town. I remember clinging to her skirt to
prevent her from going. That night I was put to bed early, as Mother and I had
an appointment at the US Embassy in Stuttgart the following day. Reinhold, my
cousin, was visiting as well. Later I learned that the Gestapo came that evening
and tried to arrest Reinhold, aged 13, my uncle and my grandfather. They did
manage to convince them that Reinhold was under age, my Uncle had his Canadian
passport, and my grandfather calmly asked them to wait to get his papers. Since
his father had been chief of police for the city of Frankfurt, my grandfather
was declared pure Aryan. Thus he was released later that night. The Nazi's
simply could not admit that a Jew (pardon me, or Jewish ancestry) could have
held such a high position in Frankfurt.
Reinhold really rose to the occasion. We had a player piano
rolls of music that he put on to play by themselves. He kept putting on new
roles to calm the family until my grandfather returned.
The next day at the embassy was another vivid experience. The
building was packed with people who did not dare go out into the street. People
were hungry, but did not dare go get something to eat. Finally my mother left
and came back with the easiest fast food, just as much as she could carry
bananas. Having just been in Germany and enjoyed the Brötchen, I now wonder why
she didn't bring those. Had she bought many Brötchen, did she fear suspicion
that she was feeding lots of people? Was there just no bakery nearby? It is
raising interesting questions in my mind now. (Mother got quite close to one
young couple and kept in contact with them for a while. They had left their baby
with their catholic landlord who were willing to raise the child. But the young
couple went back and all three perished.)
Finally our turn came to see the consulate. He doubted that the
distant cousin, just divorced, aged 24, was really able to supply the necessary
avidavit and be our sponsor. In 1939, had we taken a penny of U.S. welfare, we
would have been immediately deported. (Remember the ship that was not allowed to
land.)I can still see mother rising, banging on the table, "But I can work!" The
consul decided that's the kind of people the U.S. needs. He had some serious
questions about me though. When he questioned me as to what ocean we would need
to cross, I had no idea. In the Nazi schools we learned all the geographic
details of all the nearby creeks, but no global geography. Anyway, he let this
12-year-old 'retarded child' come to the U.S.
Tim Johnson, 7/30/00: The EuroKit conference went very
well, in my view. There was very little, thankfully, in the way of deep or
painful analyses of the past, and dredging up old memories, yet much happy and
healing interchange, including the much-loved old songs, both in the large group
meetings in the "meeting area" and around the campfire, and during smaller
get-togethers, sometimes on hikes and hill climbs. One of the pleasures was
meeting with old friends and new, including putting faces to such previously
disembodied hummer contacts as Mel Fros (and family), and to see after decades
of separation such old friends as Bram Burger, from Wheathill days. Of course,
for me the chance to meet up with my brother Barnabas and sisters Joy, Susan and
Rosie was a great additional bonus.
Actually, for B., S., R. and me, the reunion began and ended in
Amsterdam before and after the main event, as we met the previous Thursday to
celebrate the 50th birthday of Barnabas's wife, Lowry, before the siblings drove
off to the conference. On the return, after being the next-to-last to leave the
youth hostel, we mosied back to Amsterdam, largely by back roads, with another
hillside hike enroute, and a pleasant village overnight stay in the "Sauerland"
area.
To add just a note on Ben's comet watch, yes, the comet was a
bit of a damp squib, but the experience of getting together on two nights, with
various folks besides Ben and me joining in, was itself unforgettable. While we
would have seen the comet (sort of) and the spiral galaxy of Andromeda with just
our binoculars, and some meteors and satellites with the naked eye, Ben's
telescope allowed us to pick up things we otherwise would have missed totally,
including the Ring Nebula. Thanks, Ben, for toting that big instrument out to
the meetings, and for joining with me and others for our two nights of
stargazing.
On that vexatious Palmgrove question, for those who want to see
what I wrote after a brief visit there more than six years ago, my article
appeared in the April 1994 KIT. It's a bit dated, of course, but I think
identified some of the problems that the Bruderhof in particular, but also the
Nigerian participants, had not really thought through, and which contributed to
the subsequent debacle. There are many ways to view what happened, depending on
the perspectives of the viewer, and what they "actually" saw, and how this was
processed. Neither Inno Idiong nor Steve Wiser, Ebong Ebong or Clara Arnold, nor
certainly T.J., will ever know the whole truth, yet by hearing the evidence from
them and others as they see it, we may better understand the complexity of what
happened.
Unfortunately, the recognition of such multiple perspectives,
each with its own legitimacy, is something the Bruderhof can simply not
recognize openly, for to do so would undermine their stance of infallible
guidance by the "true spirit." And yet, I know that even at the Bruderhof, many
had at least nagging questions about the course they were embarking upon...
Cheers to all,
On the Rocks Milseburg: Lie Priest Arnold, Brenda Reber
Hasenberg, Jean Roering Hasenberg, Margot Purcell Wegner, Rosie Sumner Johnson,
Mel Fros, Hanna Homann Patrick, Susan Suleski Johnson, Marlene Gelman Wegner,
Renatus Kluver, Carol Beels Beck, Ben Cavanna - Ben Cavanna
KITsters break bread at the feet of Jesus. Milseburg
Rhön - Ben Cavanna
Melchior J. Fros, 8/4/00: My family and I had the good
fortune of traveling to Europe recently and, among other things, meeting with a
large number of former members and participants of the Bruderhof. We also stayed
with former members of the Basis Gemeinde. All told, it was an incredible
experience; more so because we met with untold kindness from people I had not
seen since my Windel years.
In England I met my childhood kindred spirit and found the
disruption of our friendship during the Great Crisis (1960-61) to be restored.
Dear and devoted friends, former members of the 'Hof, opened their home to us in
the quaint Cotswold region of England and accompanied us to the former Cotswold
Bruderhof, where my mother and father wed. Others in England likewise helped us
along our way. Joy was joy! Ben, a teddy bear! Matt, a likable bundle of fun.
Renatus, full of adventure! As a small group we were able to visit the old
Bulstrode mansion, formerly a Bruderhof. Little has changed. We made an attempt
to visit with my 90-year-old mother, Oma Susi, at the Beech Grove Bruderhof in
South-East England.
We had been told in writing we were personas non grata, but
decided to make an attempt to hand over our gifts for Oma Susi at the security
gate. The gate man received us kindly and asked us to wait while he attempted to
make contact with members of my family via a cell phone. He must have had a bad
battery, for he kept shaking his phone and showing signs of frustration. While
this was going on, a large lorry (truck) pulled up and the gate man asked us to
pull aside to allow the lorry through. After it had passed us, Janet turned to
me and playfully asked if we should make a dash for it; now was our chance. I
reminded her, with a wink of the eye, that were not here to start a
confrontation.
<
Mel Fros and Hanna Homann Patrick - Ben Cavanna
Eventually, an older man labored up the hill on his bicycle. He
was Klaus Meier, my brother-in-law. He stepped to the passenger side of our
rented car and, rather surprised, greeted my teen daughter, whom he has not seen
in ten years of 'Iron Curtain" Bruderhof-imposed isolation. He then walked over
the driver's side, and acknowledged my wife with a quick hand shake. Daniel, my
son, was also greeted.
At this point, I extended my hand to Klaus, but he shrugged off
my greeting and would not make direct eye contact with any of us thereafter.
"Here, please read this," were his only words to me, as he handed me two letters
from my mother. (I read them later, and both expressed "her" desire not to see
me or my family until Janet and I change our attitude towards the Bruderhof.)
Klaus accepted our gifts for Oma: cheese, chocolate and coffee.
With package safely in his hands, Janet inquired if the children could accompany
him and hand the gifts to Oma, but Klaus declined our request, retreated to the
gate man's shelter, and refused further communication. Janet got out of the car,
walked to the gate, addressed Klaus, and expressed her dismay with his unfair
behavior. Meanwhile, my daughter was in tears. Later she expressed that she felt
she no longer had relatives on my side. Interestingly, late one night, she asked
her mother to explain the Bruderhof story to her in full, and Janet did the best
she could, making an attempt to be factual. We left peacefully after taking a
few photos of the place.
Our attempt to see my mother one last time before the Lord
calls her has failed. If Christoph Arnold's book "Endangered," encourages
reconnecting with people and striving to bridge human-made chasms, Mr. Arnold is
hopelessly insincere.
Margot (Wegner) Purcell, 8/26/00: Dear friends, Thanks
to my husband, Blair and my daughter, Emily, I was able to attend the
get-together in Germany. What a great joy this was and I will treasure the
memories. I want to thank all those who managed to come, each one of you added
to the wonderful mix.
First of all I must thank Isolde for all she did to book the
hostel and prepare for this gathering. It was such a lovely place. Isolde, you
were kept so busy and continued to organize things while the rest of us enjoyed
ourselves. I don't think we realized how much went into the planning and to keep
things running smoothly with the staff. Thankyou! Danke | |
Shoen! Gracias!
I especially enjoyed the singing and hiking in Germany. We sure
sang alot of songs. Some over and over as we were limited with songbooks, but
that was OK. Thanks to those who brought instruments to help keep us going.
Irene brought her accordian and played for several hours. Thankyou Irene!
Barnabas and Bette played their recorders and afew harmonicas also chimed in.
What talent! What a thrill to walk the hills and old hofs where my parents and
grandparents had spent so many years.
The best walk was the one along some of the trails on the
Wasserkuppe. We could see it from the youth hostel. At first it was very foggy
on the top. As we walked along the fog slowly lifted and the valley could be
seen. We came to a wonderful view of the valley and sat there for abit before
returning a slightly different way. So many lovely flowers were in bloom there
and blueberries were ripe and very tasty. I now know why my parents talked so
fondly of this area.
We managed a caravan of minibus and cars to see the old hofs.
First stop was Sinntal. I was surprised that it was in a small town and right
next to the road. Several who were along had lived here and were able to tell us
about the hof. Second stop was Sannerz. What an interesting house. We were even
able to go inside. Our next stop was the Roehn bruderhof. Only one building
remains standing and the ruins of two others can still be seen. A lovely new
building stands on the site. We did not want to intrude too long upon the family
that lived here, so kept our visit short. We drove to the burial ground. I was
surprised that there were so few buried there, I had thought there were more.
At the Roehn burial ground is the resting place of one of my
childhood friends. I was very surprised to see that he was buried there. Johann
Loeber and his brother Gregor are both there. Both brothers died early in life
of a hereditary illness which caused both to go blind and slowly deteriorate.
Johann and I were in the same age group and I remember him best from
kindergarten. At that time he had lost most of his sight and needed someone to
help lead him on walks. I am glad to see that both boys are buried at the Roehn
alongside Eberhard and Tata.
Hardmuth Kluver, Tim Johnson, Matt Ellison, Carol Beels Beck,
Lee Maria Kleiss, Hans Bohlken - Ben Cavanna
Other snips of this gathering were: the campfire late into the
night for some of us, Ben's telescope on the hill, the barbeque dinner, Bette's
report of the old hof history, fog in the valleys, the farm next to the hostel
with cows, goats, cats, sheep and chickens, volleyball game, snails and slugs,
rain, cool nights, walks into the wildlife preserve just after the rain,
wonderful views, fields being mowed and baled, religious memorials located all
over, lovely gardens of vegetables and flowers, cold cuts for meals, wonderful
tea assortment, group photo, children's trips, and the walking stick dilema on
the Wasserkuppe.
After the gathering was over, I had the great joy to travel
with Stephan and Karola Friedeman as well as my sister Marlene and cousin Lie to
spend several days with Werner and Erne Friedemann. What a pleasure to meet them
again and to share stories (I was too small to remember them from Primavera). I
enjoyed our visit with them, and to share in their daily life in Bremen. Irene
and her son took us to Bremen's old town section where a statue of Roland der
Riese and the Bremen stadtmusicanten stand. We saw the Schnoorviertel, which is
a part of town with very narrow cobblestone streets with old houses now filled
with quaint stores and restaurants. One evening Ludwig and Irene showed us a
video of their trip to Paraguay. I felt right at home with such wonderful
friends. Thank you!
Giovanna Mathis, Katie Homann, Mel, Daniel & Janet Fros,
Hanna H Patrick, Ben Cavanna - Ben Cavanna
While I was in Germany, Blair and his brother travelled to Key
West, FL. Here they joined in the annual Ernest Hemingway Look-a-like contest.
Blair has had a beard since I have known him, his brother grew one for the
occasion. They looked quite smart as they joined the other hopefuls. Sorry to
say, despite looking very Hemingway-like, neither of them won, but they did get
close. Past winners become the judges. As Blair explained to me, it may be that
an individaul has to return for several years before they are even considered
for the honor of being chosen the winner. Nevertheless, the brothers had a great
trip together, something they have not had a chance to do in many years.
Looking forward to the next time we can gather, where ever and
whenever. Till we meet again, much love,
<
Renatus Klüver and Tim Johnson - Ben Cavanna
Carol Beels Beck, 8/26/00: The KIT conference was an
absolute tonic from the moment I arrived at Joy McDonald's home, first to stay
the night and then board the mini bus, about 5.00 AM, with fifteen other Kit
folk for the trip to Germany, until I was dropped off atthe railway station at
7.00 P.M. in Camberley A week later.
It's amazing to me that after all these years I could feel so
much more of a sense of belonging to this very loose network of people, with
such varying outlooks and eperiences of life than I ever felt when still in the
Bruderhof as an "adult." I may have lost total contact with my parents and a
brother and sister and their families in the Bruderhof, but I have an abundance
of special Kit friends of various ages to more than fill that gap! That became
so clear to me again on this trip. So a very big Thank You to all those
who helped organize this event, especially Isolde, who put an enormous amount of
time, energy and effort, before and during the conference. Also to everyone else
involved in every thought-out detail and for the idea that it could be in the
Rhön.
There was just so much fun, laughing, singing, sharing,
walking... Looking back over the previous Eurokits, it seems we're reaping the
benefit of all the personal work that people have done to get free and find
healing; so much healing has taken place. I can't ever remember laughing or
singing as much as this time. For a week after I got back home and had to go
back to work I had to make a conscious effort to remember simple day to day
things. I guess I was "spaced out!"
One of the main highlights for me was going round to where the
Sannerz, Rhön and Sinntal hofs had been. In the morning Bette shared with a few
of us very honestly and openly how she remembers and understands the history of
the Bruderhof's beginnings. Thank you very much, Hans, for organizing this
Sunday afternoon outing to these different spots, and for you, Bette, to make it
come alive, sharing in the morning beforehand. I really valued, Bette, that you
were so willing to answer some of our awkward questions, especially about when
your Grandfather went to America. Hopefully, that discussion will someday appear
in KIT.
The central room where we hung out when nothing else was
happening elsewhere had a beautiful sounding piano. Whilst others were busy
congregating, Barnabas (and sometimes Marcella Mathis), would be playing quietly
and with much feeling many of the old Bruderhof songs, including many meeting
songs. So there was this buzz of people having a good, with these beautifully
played wealth of songs.
There would have been a riot if someone had suggested singing
meeting songs, but this way the tunes just blended in. They are an important
part of our heritage and no one seemed to object in this setting! So thankyou
Barnabas for that lovely addition to an already perfect environment! A very
spiritual addition.
We were veryfortunate with this lovely big room with beautiful
views through big windows. In fact, the Youth hostel and the surroundings were
just ideal. A most marvellous "community" experience the whole week for me.
Thank you again so much to all involved in making this happen.
Ruth, German & Alfred Pleil, 8/2/00: We are now back
in Canada. As for as I figured, my son Alfred and I were the only ones from
Canada at the Europe gathering at Fulda, Germany. It was the first time for me
to be at such an event. I call it 'friends circle reunion' that is what it was.
Such a grand experience to meet so may old friends and make so many new friends.
Sometimes it was hard for me to recognize them after 29 years and some even
longer. I would not say they got older. No, they only 'advanced in years.' They
all had a young spirit. Some even behaved like teenagers.
I myself felt in my twenties. I think I was with the most
advanced in years under them, with my 70th. I met a lot with whom I was
acquainted only by names or I knew their parents. It was a joy to get to know
them. My circle of friends grew so much and the joy was so tremendous and
incredible. It amazed me how free and happy everyone was after what every
individual had to go through in the past. It struck me very much how much I felt
in common and unity with all individuals of that group. I nearly managed to have
a good conversation with everyone. It was such a joy!
It was only a big shame that Ruth, my wife, was not able to
experience this because of her hip trouble. She would have enjoyed it very much.
I hope it will be possible next time.
I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for having
such a beautiful time. Special thanks to Gottfried Holland who arranged our trip
to Frankfort airport and also many thanks to Dieter Holtz and his wife who took
us to the airport. Again, many | |
thanks to the people that made it possible to have such a great
time! Greetings to all,
Blair Purcell, 8/26/00: Dear All, Well, they have
done it again. I was served with a lawsuit Thursday by Rifton Aviation within
two hours of the time that a letter from me was sent to the Bruderhof attorney,
Eugene Massamillo.
The suit was filed in US District Court for Maryland in
Baltimore. At least I don't have to get to Albany to fight this one. And fight
this one I intend to do.
Civil Action No. L00CV 2573 Rifton Enterprises, LLC vs. S.
Blair Purcell
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
RIFTON ENTERPRISES, LLC
d/b/a
RIFTON AVIATION SERVICES
Stewart
International Airport
10101 First Street Building 112
Town of New Windsor, New York
Plaintiff,
against
S. BLAIR PURCELL
5 Rothschild Court
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
and
JOHN DOES
1 THROUGH 5 INCLUSIVE
Defendants,
COMPLAINT
Civil Action No.
Plaintiff Rifton Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Rifton Aviation
Services (Rifton Aviation), by its attorneys, for its Complaint, alleges as
follows:
1. By this action, plaintiff asserts claims for defamation,
tortious interference with economic relations and prima facie tort, all arising
from defendants' publication and circulation of a false and misleading press
release concerning the plaintiff and the operation of its business.
THE PARTIES
2. Rifton Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a Rifton Aviation Services
(hereinafter referred to as "RIFTON AVIATION ") is a New York company, with
business and hangar offices at Stewart International Airport, 1032 First Street
Building 112, Town of New Windsor, Orange County, New York.
3. Founded in 1997, Rifton Aviation has quickly gained industry
recognition for innovation and excellence in providing fast, dependable access
into and out of metropolitan New York, Among the full spectrum of aviation
services offered by Rifton Aviation is air charter, providing executive travel
to celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations.
4. Rifton Aviation operates within a marketplace where
perception and discretion is of paramount concern for customers and prospective
clients. The integrity of the operator is all-important in a business where
clients pay a premium for security, safety, and privacy,
5. Defendant S. Blair Purcell (Purcell) is an individual
residing at 5 Rothschild Court, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878.
6. Defendants "John Does I through 5" inclusive are as yet
unknown persons or entities that, since 1997, have acted in concert with the
defendant Purcell in a continuous course of conduct in various media (and by
direct contact) aimed at harassing, defaming, and discrediting Rifton Aviation.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
7. The Court has jurisdiction of this action under 28 U.S.C, §
1332. Diversity of citizenship exists between the parties and the amount in
controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
8. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. §139).
BACKGROUND FACTS
9. On or about August 16, 2000, defendant Purcell published and
circulated a message by electronic mail which purported to be a 'press release"
(a true copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit 'A"). In pertinent part, the
electronic message states, inter alia: | |
"Speculation continues to mount today in regards to whether
Rifton Aviation Services (located at Stewart International Airport Newburgh, NY)
may have flown four children and their mothers out of the country in order to
prevent them from appearing in court in nearby Ulster County Family Court in
Kingston on August 3rd.
* * *
"The question is whether Rifton Aviation may have flown from
there on their private jet aircraft in order to remove them from the
jurisdiction of the court and to prevent the two fathers in question from
obtaining visitation with their children whom they have not seen for three
years."
10. Defendant Purcell published and circulated the aforesaid
purported 'press release" directly to the aviation business community by
electronically communicating it to Internet world wide web sites and Internet
newsgroups, including, specifically, "rec.aviation.piloting," which is a
newsgroup devoted exclusively to the aviation community and can be and is
accessed by pilots around the world.
11. Upon information and belief, defendant Purcell has
communicated the content of the press release to professionals within aviation
associations.
12, This aviation community to whom defendant Purcell published
and circulated the purported "press release" is the very same community to which
Rifton Aviation has marketed and continues to market its services.
13. The content of defendant Purcell's "press release" and the
words used by Purcell in that message were and are false and defamatory,
14, The publication of the "press release" by Purcell was
intended to convey, and did convey, to the community at large and to the
aviation community in particular, the impression
that Rifton Aviation interfered with valid judicial process,
obstructed justice, and otherwise violated the law and was calculated to, and
did, hold Rifton Aviation up to public scorn, hatred, and ridicule, by such
publication.
15 The publication of the "press release" by Purcell was meant,
and intended to mean, that Rifton Aviation used its aircraft for illegal
purposes, and was so understood by the readers of the publication.
16. Defendant Purcell published the defamatory "press release"
with actual malice and with wrongful and willful intent to injure the business
and business reputation of Rifton Aviation.
17. Publication of the defamatory "press release" was an
unfair, false, and malicious account of the proceedings had in the Family Court
of Ulster County, New York; as such, the Purcell's publication was not
privileged, but was a libelous and defamatory publication on the part of
defendant Purcell.
18. Said publication, which has exposed Rifton Aviation to
public wrath, hatred, contempt and ridicule, has deprived it of the benefits of
public confidence, is also an allegation that Rifton Aviation has committed a
criminal offense and, as such, is libelous per se.
19. By defendant Purcell's false, malicious, and defamatory
communication, defendant Purcell intended to convey the meaning and was
understood to mean, by the general public, the aviation community and by other
persons to whom the communication was made, that Rifton Aviation had interfered
with the judicial process, obstructed justice, lacked respect for the law and
was in the habit of violating the law for the purpose of hiding children from
family members and the courts.
20. The statements in the publication set forth above were, and
are, false, and were known by Defendant Purcell to be false when made, and were
made by Defendant Purcell with actual malice and wilful intent to injure Rifton
Aviation in its aviation business,
FIRST CLAIM
(Commercial Defamation)
21. Rifton Aviation repeats and realleges each and every
allegation set forth in paragraphs 1 through 20 of the Complaint as if fully set
forth herein,
22. The content of defendant Purcell's "press release" and the
words used by Purcell in that message were and are false and defamatory,
23. The publication of the "press release" by Purcell was
intended to convey, and did convey, to the community at large and to the
aviation community in particular, the impression that Rifton Aviation interfered
with valid judicial process, obstructed justice, and otherwise violated the law
and was calculated to, and did, hold Rifton Aviation up to public scorn, hatred,
and ridicule,
ALIGN="JUSTIFY">24 Rifton Aviation has been injured in reputation and good
standing in the aviation community in which plaintiff s business exists, and
has suffered damages,
25. Rifton Aviation is entitled to be compensated for all
damages caused by Purcell's publication of the defamatory "press release" and,
because or the wilful and malicious publication of the "press release,"
plaintiff is also entitled to recover punitive damages.
SECOND CLAIM
(Tortious Interference With Economic Relations)
26. Rifton Aviation repeats and realleges each and every
allegation set forth in paragraphs 1 through 25 of the Complaint as if fully set
forth herein.
27. Defendant Purcell is aware of the nature of Rifton
Aviation's business and the clientele that avail themselves of the services
provided by Rifton Aviation, The actions of Purcell complained of herein, and
particularly his publication of a message purposely styled as a "press release"
on Internet newsgroups. accessed by Rifton Aviation customers and potential
customers worldwide were taken with the intent to interfere with the lawful
business interests of Rifton Aviation and were taken in bad faith without a
legitimate business purpose,
28. Such actions constitute tortious and intentional
interference with existing economic relations Rifton Aviation has with members
of the aviation community and has caused damage to Rifton Aviation,
THIRD CLAIM
(Prima Facie Tort)
29. Rifton Aviation repeats and realleges each and every
allegation set forth in paragraphs I through 28 of the Complaint as if fully set
forth herein.
30. The actions of defendant Purcell alleged above were
intentionally and maliciously inflicted to cause | |
harm to Rifton Aviation and its business and with the sole
motivation to do so. Purcell's actions have no excuse or justification.
31. Such actions constitute a prima facie tort against Rifton
Aviation and have caused damage to Rifton Aviation,
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Rifton Aviation respectfully requests that
judgment be entered by this Court.
(A) on its first claim for relief, an award of special damages
in an amount to be determined at trial and general damages for harm to its
reputation in an amount to be determined at trial but not less than Seventy-Five
Thousand Dollars ($75,000)l
(B) on its first claim for relief, an award of punitive damages
in an amount, to be determined at trial,
(C) on its second claim for relief, an award of damages in an
amount to be determined at trial, trial,
(D) on its third claim for relief, an award of damages in an
amount to be determined at
(E) an award of its reasonable costs, disbursements and
attorneys fees, and
(F) such other and further relief as the Court deems just and
proper.
DATED August 24, 2000
OF COUNSEL:
HOWARD PROTTER, ESQ. (HP4256)
Jacobowitz and Gubits, LLP
P. 0. Box 367
158 Orange Avenue
Walden, New York 12586
(845) 7782121
Respectfully submitted,
Max H. Lauten, Esquire (00288)
KRAMON &
GRAHAM, P.A.
One South Street, Suite 2600
Baltimore, Maryland 2114.023201
Phone
4107526030
Fax 410-539-1269
Exhibit "A"
Subject: Rifton Aviation Services flying children out of USA
for Bruderhof??
Date: 08/16/2000
Author: purcellsb <purcellsb@my-deja.com>
Press release 16 August, 2000:
Speculation continues to mount today in regards to whether
Rifton Aviation Services located at Stewart International Airport Newburgh, NY)
may have flown four children and their mothers out of the country in order to
prevent them from appearing in court in nearby Ulster County Family Court in
Kingston on August 3rd.
See: http://www.th-record.com/2000/08/04/arbrude0.htm
Rifton Aviation Services is associated with the The Bruderhof
Communities of New York, Inc. Joe Keiderling, of the Bruderhof, appeared to have
difficulty recalling where the women and children had been sent. He denied they
were being hidden.
Quoting from another newspaper article:
"Under rigorous questions, Joe Keiderling, vice president of
the Bruderhof Communities in New York Inc., testified for more than two hours.
He said two of the women were believed to be in Bruderhof communities in
Robertsbridge and Dover counties, England. The third one is said to be in a
Bruderhof community in Farmington, Pa.
| | |
|
"Judge Mary Work, who is hearing the petitions, ordered a
report of the current case to be sent by overnight mail to the two women in
England. She did not order an appearance for the Pennsylvania woman.
"Work called Keiderling's testimony "vague."
Rifton Aviation is planning a grand-opening event at Stewart on
September 14th at which, according to Rifton, Governor George Pataki intends to
speak as well as representatives from a number of aviation industry associations
and commercial firms.
The relationship between the Bruderhof and Rifton Aviation is
not completely clear. Controversy has surrounded the Bruderhof in recent years
in regards to allegations of wire-tapping, telephone harassment and child abuse.
It is a communal religious group based at the nearby town of Rifton, NY with
locations in Pennsylvania and England.
| |
A recent report from the UK seems to confirm the two women and
their children are there. The question is whether Rifton Aviation may have flown
them there on their private jet aircraft in order to remove them from the
jurisdiction of the court and to prevent the two fathers in question from
obtaining visitation with their children whom they have not seen for three
years.
Other former members of the Bruderhof and their families are
considering the possibility of demonstrating at Steart on behalf of the fathers
and their children on September 14th.
For further information, see:
http://8886kinder.20m.com/
You may also call 888-654-6337 (daytime) for further
information. [End of Exhibit A}
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