Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Ester Benjamin Shifren, on air from March 7th
Hiding in a Cave of Trunks: A Prominent Jewish Family’s Century in Shanghai and Internment in a WWII POW camp. Against an impressive historical background, China-born Ester Benjamin Shifren relates the saga of her family’s century-long existence in Shanghai, the city often referred to as “The Paris of the East,” and details the culture and tribulations of the colorful multi-ethnic population. In the early1840s a vessel brought the Benjamins from India to Shanghai, where they prospered for five generations. Some members of the family achieved high-level diplomatic positions. Owners of prize-winning horses, the family even conducted business at the race- track, sometimes on a handshake! World War II abruptly terminated their privileged lifestyle. In 1943, the Japanese interned the Benjamins for three years in a POW camp. Along with other internees, they endured great hardship and loss of all worldly possessions. In 1948, shortly before the Communist takeover, the Benjamins relocated to Hong Kong, where the ensuing Korean War embargo eventually caused their irreparable financial collapse. In 1951 the family immigrated to Israel. Ester served two years in the army, married a South African in 1957, and spent thirty-six years in South Africa. After spending five years in Canada Ester immigrated to the USA in 1997 and now lives in Los Angeles, California. Ester Benjamin Shifren is an author, artist, musician, and dynamic international speaker. In 2005, in England, she was featured in the BBC1 program “We’ll Meet Again,” and was a guest lecturer for several days at the Imperial War Museum.
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A POEM BY ESTER.
How life changed overnight, and more, of which I’ll speak.
So recently from China, with little to our name,
Depleted of well-being—the enemy had no shame!
First, Israel and tented, then moving to a hut,
So many people idle, most doors to work were shut.
New roofs of tin still missing, our ceilings were just wood,
A Heavy rain fell early—we did all that we could!
Pouring in it drenched us, some neighbors from a tent
Piled in—that day all old umbrellas were truly heaven sent!
Some songs we sang in English were mimicked, hardly fun…
We all spoke different languages in 1951!
The army came to help us, we needed tons of aid!
The government took note, and important changes made.
More or less a year went by, we got the tiniest place
On roof top of a building, the view its saving grace.
We bartered our possessions to pay the purchase price,
We traded fridge for icebox, and daily purchased ice
From vendor (horse and buggy!)—who shouted out his wares!
We heaved ice block, both up and down, more than one hundred stairs!
But we were young and healthy, and never said a word,
Just happy to have shelter, and freedom of a bird.
The next best thing to being like birds that at our level flew,
Was being at top of mountain with the most breathtaking view!
And soon we started working, in different styles and ways,
And started feeling better with how we spent our days.
And now I think I’ll end this piece of memoir that’s in rhyme,
And leave continuation for another day and time.
MORE POEMS BY ESTER CAN BE FOUND HERE ON OUR SHOW
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Eduardo also sets himself to see the goodness in people by venturing out a year ago on a two month hitchhiking trip across the USA, beginning in Milwaukee, WI and ?nished in San Francisco, CA Eduardo’s goal is to write a memoir narrating his journey as an illegal immigrant who advocates the voices of many communities and millions of people not just here in the USA, but also around the world- Millennials, Atheist, LGBTQ, Immigrants, Dreamers, Women, & all lives because we’ve all been subjected and in?uence to tear each other down one way or another.
It became painful and difficult to push words out of his voice box. At nearly the same time, his mother-unbeknownst to him-gifted him a reading by a world renowned evolutionary astrologist. Her words and an article in National Geographic on the Sioux Nation with a photo of a modern day young Native American galloping across the prairie ignited something deep within him. He knew he was called to Indian country, but did not yet know why, but that became apparent in the four trips that he made within a year to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and the awakening of his soul. Says Kevin in his remarkable award-winning new book Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse, “Within me lived a powerful impulse to take charge and protect my tribe, whenever it came under duress. I felt a strong pull to save everyone, and I took on all the work that went with that instinct. Worse, I internalized that responsibility to the point where it consumed me in ways I could not see. The price I paid for that approach was that I lost myself to both my role and my local circumstances. I had become consumed in protecting others. I had not yet learned that most everyone is capable of protecting themselves. I had not yet learned to share power. I had not yet learned to serve myself.” It is this and more that he discovers on this mystical and fascinating journey-a vision quest for a visionary. Kevin captivates with his story telling. He shares his growing connection and affection for the long-suffering, but resilient Lakota people-and what they teach him; his increasing awareness of human relationships to land, animals, nature and spirit; and how he unyoked himself from his sole leadership role to create shared responsibility that resulted in record profits for his company and a feature in the NY Times showcasing his new leadership model.
Scott Brown is a visionary who bridges divides: psychology and spirituality, the personal and the political, humanity and nature, peacemaking and activism. He is a leading advocate for consistent nonviolence and bringing the principles and practices of restorative justice to bear on the full range of social issues.
Dr. Catana Tully grew up trilingual (German, Spanish, English) in Guatemala where she attended elementary and middle school. In tenth grade she entered a boarding school in Jamaica, WI and received her Advanced Level Higher Schools Certificate from Cambridge University, England. Expecting to become an international interpreter, she continued her studies at the Sprachen und Dolmetscher Institut in Munich, Germany. However, she was called to work in a play and discovered her affinity for the dramatic arts. She became the actress and fashion model Catana Cayetano and appeared in Film and TV work in Germany, Austria, and Italy. In Munich she met and married the American actor Frederick V. Tully and ultimately moved to the United States. They have a son, 
Patrick. In Upstate New York, she completed the BA in Cultural Studies, an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Literature, and a DA (doctor of Arts) in Humanistic Studies. She held the position of tenured Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State College, from which she retired in 2003. She returned in 2005 for part time work in ESC’s Center for International Programs, where she served as Mentor and instructor in the Lebanon program, and as Interim Program Director for the Dominican Republic. In 2011 she retired completely to dedicate herself to publishing Split at the Root. She is currently preparing an academic version discussing the psychological issues embedded in the memoir.
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