Thanks for visiting Butterflies in the Ghetto. My name
is Tara Malone, and I think of myself 
as the unlikely chronicler of the artists of Terezin. I use the word artist to refer to the
creative individuals, both children and adults,
who made collages and drawings, wrote poems
and plays, and composed music while imprisoned
in Terezin.
While a student at Bryn Mawr College, I came across Pavel Friedmann’s poem The Butterfly, which moved me deeply and stayed with me. I later visited Terezin, where I became
captivated by the stories of the artists
who were imprisoned there during World War II.
My first attempts to share these stories was through writing a Young Adult novel. Given the difficulty of finding an agent and publisher, I realized I would have to find another way to get these stories out there, and so I decided to start the blog Butterflies in the Ghetto
to fulfill this mission.
Thank you for your interest in the artists of Terezin and for taking the time to read
their stories. Together we can ensure that their legacy will never be forgotten.
This is amazing Tara. Thank you for your important work ?
How beautiful that you write this blog. Thank you for sharing these stories and keeping the memories alive, the world’s better place for it ?
Thank you so much for your kind words, Stephanie, and for helping me to share these stories.
My aunt and her husband how was a doctor where in this camp.
Somebody paint the doctor.
Do you know where I can she this picture?
Thank you for writing in. I don’t believe I’ve seen this painting of a Terezin doctor. I’ll look into this and will certainly let you know if I am able to find the painting.
Hi,
I read your article about the poem, “The Butterfly” on the International Jerusalem Post.
It is a coincidence that I am donating a monument called “The Butterfly” by Ann Forman to the school in Tennessee featured in the documentary Paper Clips. The dedication of the monument will be on September 18, 2017. Please let me know if you would be interested in attending. Email me at
ce****************@ya***.com
.
Cecelia
Hi Cecilia,
Thank you so much for reaching out and for your generous invitation to the dedication of your butterfly monument. I would love to attend but am not yet sure if I could make the trip in September. I’ll certainly let you know if I can make it.
Thank you!
Tara
Roses in a Forbidden Garden is a True Holocaust love story between two inmates of Theresienstadt by Elise Garibaldi.
Thanks for the recommendation, Ruth! I’ll be sure to check this book out.