“We still have our Salems”
These powerful words were spoken by Elie Wiesel — Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate — at the 1992 dedication of the Salem Witch Trials Memorial.
On June 22, Friends of Podari.Life hosted an exclusive fundraising evening in Newton, MA. Rada Landar, Ivan Kurilla, and special guests reflected on what the legacy of the Salem “witch hunt” can teach us today.
What do the Salem witch trials of 1692 have in common with the work we do at Podari.Life?
You might be tempted to ask, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”
But before trying to answer that strange question, let’s say this: talking about witches — and what they’ve meant over the past three centuries — helped us raise over $4,000.
The real answer is this: it’s no accident we chose to link the story of dangerous, even deadly, myths to the work we do every day in our small gathering.
At the heart of both myths — witches and cancer — lies the same root: fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear for the future. In the 17th century, was a neighbor to blame for a poor harvest? Maybe she was practicing witchcraft. And today — have we heard “died of cancer” so often that it's easier to believe it’s some sort of mysterious, contagious curse?
Isn't it telling that we often avoid even saying the word “cancer” — calling it “the C-word” instead? That, too, is a kind of mystical thinking. We know cancer is not a death sentence. Thanks to you, children are beating it — and they’re not afraid to call it by its name.
Our conversation about the so-called witches of Salem helped raise money to buy medicine for Larisa. But there’s also Denis. And Sasha. And they need help too. And that’s just in July. Every month, children need medication — to fight real, specific cancers, not some vague “oncology.”
How can you help?
You can support our work directly on Facebook or on our website.
And — if the story of the witch trials spoke to you — you can also buy a special calendar created by our friends to support this cause.