|
|||||||||
A memoir of the Holocaust
By Jacob Zylberman
The online version
© Copyright 1995, 2000, Jack Zylberman
Foreshadowings of doom
The foundation of the Jewish family was love, devotion, an invisible glue, a great stronghold unshattered – trust in the Almighty, the Great Provider.
If there was a shortage of food, there was no lack of children – every household was blessed with many. If today was hard to come by, then tomorrow will be easier, and the day after, better. Those who are a chore today will make good tomorrow, particularly the boys. No wonder when a male was born he was looked upon more favorably than a female.
What if parents were blessed only with girls? At first it was not noticeable; when they were small, they were little worries; the problems grew with time.
Zysyl, the oldest of the brood, was employed at the neighborhood ladies’ boutique, and was admired by all, particularly the young men.
Her 20th birthday had already passed, to her parents’ great concern. The chicken had reached maturity, time to get a husband, but no suitor was in sight.
Young men visited the store, her father never failing to scrutinize them. One she liked; when he appeared, she became transformed, her eyes filled with joy, gaiety. But he was poor, and Zysyl, although beautiful, had no dowry. … A girl disfigured, with money, had more chances of getting married than a pretty girl with none. Those were the facts of life.
One day she left the sweltering city, for an overdue vacation to Radom, to see her school friends, visit uncle Shmuel, and there she met her destiny – the only son of a rich merchant, the most favored bachelor in town. Of all the other girls who vied for his attention, he chose her, the stranger from Warsaw. But she did not like him, and cut her vacation short.
Yet determined, he flooded her with love letters, often two a day. … For her father, Eliezer, was a sign from heaven, a stroke of enormous luck.
She – her father insisted – is 21 years old, not getting younger, other girls her age already married, having children.
In the end Zysyl consented to marry the young man, the one other girls dreamt of – all waiting for the wedding day except the bride-to-be.
Shortly after the High Holy Days Zysyl was married. The ceremony took place at the neighborhood rabbi, witnessed by the parents of the bride and groom. The reception was at her parents’ house.
The refreshments, wines, flowed freely. Tables full of fish, fowl, meats, cakes and cookies, catered by her mother, who labored for days for the occasion.
There was even a "Badchen," a sort of entertainer, the guests having a marvelous time, filling their stomachs, singing, dancing into the wee hours.
At last they started to disperse. Soon the in-laws and their son said goodbye -- but not Zysyl.
Glued to the spot, she postponed her departure. Nothing had to be said. Obviously – a newly wedded bride should not behave that way.
Then, not to prolong her agony, she kissed her father, her brothers, and fell into her mother’s arms, holding on, trembling, their tears merging.
Moments later her husband, like the proud owner of a prized possession, took her away.
Suddenly Jacob was painfully aware that this marriage was not a happy one. Somehow he knew that this wedding was not made in heaven and felt sorry for her; his heart cried for his sister, his unhappy, beautiful Zysyl.
Soon afterward Jacob’s grandfather came to live with them, the only one of his grandparents still alive, an elderly, deeply religious man, embroiled in prayer, and his God.
In the spring the family moved again. They had a store, with an adjoining spacious living room, kitchen and alcove a stone’s throw from the old one.
Besides a new gas stove, they had a tiled oven, their very own toilet, the most favored place in the house. The children ran in and out, flushing the water. Moishele in perfect seclusion, reading, often had to be chased out. But no bath-tub.
"How was the movie?" asked Laibl. "You went to see ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ didn’t you?"
"Yes, a cartoon-like animated film, no real actors, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I spent all of my allowance, but it could have been more costly."
"What do you mean more costly?"
"What do I mean? I almost got killed."
"How come? Yankel, stop talking in riddles."
"Okay. Have you ever been to the new movie theater on the corner of Zlota and Marshalkowska, the Palladium?
"I spotted two students, ‘Narovtzes,’ crossing the street toward me – but kept walking, and before I was at one arm’s length, I stepped aside, and continued walking. … I fooled him. Instead of having me for a target, he hit the air, lost his footing, and fell on his face. Looking back, the bastard was on the ground, the other helping him get up. How do you like that?"
"I like it all right!
"Unfortunately," Laibl went on, "I wasn’t that lucky. Last week I was with my date in the Sacksishen Park, near the Twelve Gates, when from nowhere a bunch of students approached us, one dressed in priest’s garb. I sensed trouble, hoping they would not touch us. But I was mistaken, my heroics backfired. Not only was I hurt, but my date also got a swollen lip.
"So you see, to be Jewish is hazardous to one’s health. A leopard doesn’t change its spots."
The next afternoon, a handful of boys stood at the corner discussing the events of the day, when Avrum yelled "Zex!" (police) and started to run. The others followed, alerting the policeman; Jacob remained standing, then walked toward the cop, passing him.
It was a timely reminder of the recent past, when Jacob, accosted by a dog, began to run but at the last moment stopped, not giving ground, forcing the dog to retreat. Thus learning a valuable lesson, not wasting a beautiful afternoon, a most trying experience of parents to be called to the precinct.
The year of 1936 sparked the revolution in Spain. Brother killing brother. Republicans fighting monarchists. Volunteers from all over rattling swords.
Mussolini, the Duce, and his fascists invaded Abyssinia, plundering, colonizing the country. Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, the Lion of Judah, and his people resisted, fighting the white-faced intruders.
Hitler, the moustached house painter, had the world under his spell. This imperious, blood-thirsty Fuhrer, prisoner of Munich where he wrote "Mein Kampf," expressing contempt for humanity, particularly toward the Jews, his goose-stepping Nazis stomping all over Germany. Dark clouds predicting frightful times, a stark premonition for mankind. A deadly interlude toward the great onslaught.
 |