Still from the film Street Art Simon (1). Detail from the first scene of the street art mural created by the Liège artist HYER , depicting the story of Simon Gronowski in the Garden of Remembrance of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium.
This scene shows the moment that Simon jumps, solo, when pushed to freedom by his mother, Chana Kaplan, who is standing in the opening of the sliding door of the freight car of Transport XX — the 20th deportation train heading to Auschwitz on the night of the 19th April 1943 at Cuttecoven (Kuttekoven) in Belgium, some 50 km (30 miles) before the border with Germany .
Propaganda visualizing joint Israeli-Palestinian public projects published 3 months ago , July 25, 2025 (@1MEMO 20250725)
Source :
Gaza Riviera Plan 3.0 • @1MEMO 20250725
It would be wonderful, right?, if the Israelis would rebuild Gaza, and essential for reparation for the war damage, according to a new “Plan 3.0” : meaning rebuilding for the people of Gaza and working with them, promoting trust, peace, wealth, through a shared economy, in cooperation…the future for all. AI-generated image by OpenAI (DALL·E), and custom prompts by Michel van der Burg
#Gaza #Israel #Palestine #Rebuild #Riviera #sea #Mediterranean #Trump #promenade #Plan3 #OpenAI
English – 🇬🇧 Street Art Simon — Episode #6 of Miracles Docs — captures the emotional unveiling of a mural created by artist HYER honoring Holocaust survivor Simon Gronowski at the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium. Through Simon’s testimony and message of hope, the film celebrates resilience, remembrance, and the enduring beauty of life.
Français – 🇫🇷 Street Art Simon — épisode #6 de la série Miracles Docs — retrace l’émouvante inauguration d’une fresque murale réalisée par l’artiste HYER en hommage au survivant de la Shoah Simon Gronowski, au Centre Scolaire S2J de Liège. À travers le témoignage de Simon et son message d’espérance, le film célèbre la résilience, la mémoire et la beauté de la vie.
Intro
Unveiling of the street art mural created by HYER , a tribute depicting the story and credo of Simon Gronowski, in the Garden of Remembrance and Memory of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium, on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Saturday 17 May 2025, Simon Gronowski arrives at the Station Liège-Guillemins — invited for a surprise event at the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium.
Surprise
After climbing the stairs to S2J school’s hanging garden, Simon has his first encounter with this street art mural on the S2J school’s garden wall, and with the Liège artist HYER.
Inauguration
In her opening speech Antonia Hicter (Principal, S2J School Center) recounted on the history, rationale, and team of this mural project, and the memorial work — the duty of remembrance at S2J .
Next, Philippe Renette (Teacher, S2J School Center) described Simon Gronowski’s impact on the school, the students, and the teachers during Simon’s regular school visits over the past 12 years. Philippe Renette further explained how this inauguration of the mural also marked the first step in the development of S2J’s ‘Jardin du Souvenir et de la Mémoire’—the Garden of Remembrance and Memory. Renette concluded by describing this work of art ‘that reads like a book, that is, from left to right, and that unfolds like a tracking shot in a movie’.
Simon Gronowski
Simon Gronowski in his speech focussed on the main points of his history and his message:
The Nazis killed my mother, my sister, in the gas chamber, at Auschwitz-Birkenau. And my father, died, just after the war, in July 1945, in despair.
And I myself, at 11 years old, the Gestapo took me, threw me into a prison, the Dossin barracks in Mechelen.
And after a month of internment, they deported me, in the 20th convoy, and by some miracle, I jumped off the train, and I escaped.
A miracle. I was 11 years old. … I do not bring today, nor previously… in this school and elsewhere… a message, of negativity, or sorrow.
I bring a message, of hope and happiness.
Never forget, life is beautiful.
But it’s a daily struggle. You have to fight every day. Because no one is sheltered from life’s trials.
Misfortune can happen to anyone. We can lose a loved one, in a road accident for example, or through illness. When it happens, when misfortune happens, you have to face it with courage.
I’m not saying I’m courageous, by the way, but I say this for everyone, one must overcome. Fidelity to the deceased person, is to live fully and happily.
And despite today’s tragic events. I keep my faith in the future , because I deeply believe , in human kindness…
Long Live Peace And Friendship Among Men !
Simon concluded – “to let off steam a little” – with two of his favourite pieces of music , playing on a keyboard.
Street Art Simon • Miracles Docs #6 • CC ⚙ 🇬🇧🇫🇷 • 20251012
Notes
Unveiling of the street art mural created by HYER, a tribute to Simon Gronowski in the Garden of Remembrance , S2J School Center (Jardin du Souvenir et de la Mémoire , Centre Scolaire S2J) , Liège, Belgium, Saturday 17 May 2025.
Thanks to Simon Gronowski, the S2J team, and especially former student Maxime Louis for his last minute helping hand with the keyboard.
Still from the short doc Street Art Simon, scheduled tomorrow. Simon Gronowski and Philippe Renette in the ‘Jardin du Souvenir’ , the Garden of Remembrance , the Espace Simon Gronowski, of the S2J School Center in Liège, Belgium, May 17, 2025.
Citation info : Souvenir • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20251011 • TakeNode 01d35aa7-d4f3-46a7-9c59-1ef00362e902
Moments from a vibrant testimony and jazz by Simon Gronowski at the Saint-Sépulcre school in Liège, Belgium, 19 november 2013.
The Institut Saint-Sépulcre (now S2J School Center) hosted 3 sessions with Simon Gronowski that day for different age groups, including adults in the evening — and, in between, an intimate jazz moment was created in the surreal ambience of the school’s chapel.
Thanks to friends Philippe Renette (co-producer), Simon Gronowski, Koenraad Tinel (Photo Dieter Telemans featured in Die Welt , Saturday 16th Nov 2013 – Feinde wie wir, by Felix Stephan) and Patrick (assisting with sound), staff Marc Belleflamme and André Hérin, and teachers Christine Marchal, Ingrid Lothe, others, and the Saint-Sépulcre students. Special thanks to the students Hélène, Charline, Tristan, Kimberley, Elodie, Farah, Esther, Estelle, Laetitia, Catherine, Tracy, and Pauline for making possible the unique events that month in 2013 for this Miracles film project.
Filmed by Michel van der Burg at the Station Liège-Guillemins, and Institut Saint-Sépulcre , Liège, Belgium, 19 november 2013.
French talks with English subtitles in open captions (OC).
Miracles Docs #8 :
The first French edition was published in 2022 as Simon Stompin’ at the Saint Sépulcre | Miracles•Media | 20221119 | ISAN 0000-0007-329C-0008-C-0000-0001-0 .
The here presented, second, edition is titled ‘Saint Sepulcre Moments’ and has open captions (burned in) showing English subtitles.
Citation info : Saint Sepulcre Moments | Miracles Docs #8 | Miracles•Media | 20250918 | ISAN 0000-0007-329C-0008-C-0000-0000-1 | TakeNode 3cb541dc-0806-4a0e-bafb-7cbf4387f6ca
Tuesday , November 19, 2013, Simon Gronowski arrives at Station Liège-Guillemins on his way to give a series of testimonies all day at the Saint Sépulcre school in Liège, Belgium. When he gets off on the platform, and teacher Philippe Renette and I – while filming – welcome him, Simon surprises us, showing me last Saturday’s news in the German national daily newspaper Die Welt (The World) at the front page of the weekly supplement Die Literarische Welt (The Literary World).
Unlikely Friends • Feinde Wie Wir
In the article ‘Feinde wie wir’ (Enemies like us) in the German newspaper Die Welt of November 16, 2013 (1), cultural journalist Felix Stephan reports on his conversation in Berlin with Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel, which took place after their presentation there at the 13th International Literature Festival Berlin (2) of their book (3,4) ‘Enfin libérés’ / ‘Eindelijk bevrijd’ (Finally liberated) — the story of their history as children of war and the special friendship since their first meeting a year earlier, in 2012 (5).
The lead of the story reads as follows (my translation):
A story of reconciliation: Belgians Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel were children during World War II: one a Jew whose family was murdered, the other the son of a committed Nazi. Decades later, they discover how close their lives were and send an emphatic message to Europe.
French, German, with English subtitles.
Enemies like us • Miracles•Media • 20250915_1 • TakeNode d6238cf6-2521-42fe-9323-a90d521a94f6
2. Finally Free after 70 years. Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel (Belgium). internationales literaturfestival berlin (13.ilb), Sep 7, 2013.
3. Ni victime, ni coupable, enfin libérés. French edition (2013) by Simon Gronowski, Koenraad Tinel, David Van Reybrouck. Renaissance du livres ISBN 978-2507051051
4. Eindelijk bevrijd – geen schuld, geen slachtoffer. Dutch edition (2013) by Simon Gronowski, Koenraad Tinel, David Van Reybrouck. Hannibal ISBN 978-9491376405 . Reissue (2021) 978-9464366204
6. Enemies like us • Miracles•Media • 20250915_1 • TakeNode | Still (frame 340) Simon Gronowski shows Die Literarische Welt at Station Liège-Guillemins, Nov 19, 2013 , with a portrait photo of Simon Gronowski and Koenraad Tinel by Belgian photographer Dieter Telemans – https://www.dietertelemans.com
Citation info : News | Miracles Moment #5 | Miracles•Media | 20250915 | ISAN 0000-0007-36B4-0005-4-0000-0000-P | TakeNode 49f6c290-d00e-4969-9fec-fa1163517991
Scout and test sound recording (Olympus LS10 Line In, on the school system, with Patrick assisting), Institut St-Sépulcre school , Liège, Belgium, Nov 8, 2013.
Citation info : Scout Saint Sépulcre • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20250913 • TakeNode 7b2301f7-ca66-4572-8d02-0485d2ebcd5e
