Page 26 of The Righteous

As they approached the Great Synagogue, Julia stopped and stared in awe.

It was even immenser than Theresa’s stories had led her to imagine.

They walked through the gate and into the synagogue, where they met a man who was organizing prayer books.

He asked if he could help them, and Theresa told him it was important that she speak to her father, Benjamin Weissbach.

She knew that he was in a meeting with the rabbi, but he was aware that she was coming, and he was expecting her.

A few minutes later, Benjamin Weissbach walked into the large sanctuary.

When he saw Theresa, he quickened his pace.

He wrapped his big arms around her and lifted her off the floor.

“Terri, Terri, Terri, I have missed you so badly. I am so happy you came home, but you visit at a troubling time.”

“I understand, but don’t think I’m being foolish. I’m more aware of the situation than you realize.”

“Terri, hundreds of questions are circling my brain, and they all want answers,” Benjamin said, “questions like when, how, and why? Why now? It’s not that I don’t want to see you, but you chose to come home in the middle of the war. You walked into a lion’s den.”

Theresa’s father then said hello to Julia.

He said it was nice to see her again, and kindly asked that she call him Apa or Benjamin, not Mr. Weissbach.

He was a little taller than Theresa, but stocky.

The hair visible under his black fedora was salt-and-pepper colored, which matched his beard and bushy eyebrows.

A slight tremble in his hands testified to his age, which Theresa had informed Julia was sixty-six years.

He led them into an office and shut the door.

“Okay, my daughter, to say that I am shocked beyond belief would be an understatement. So, let me have the whole story. What are you doing here? I know you two didn’t come here on an all-inclusive Danube River cruise.”

Theresa translated the discussion for Julia, who chuckled and said, “Very funny, Apa.”

“You want the whole story?” Theresa said.

“You don’t have enough time. The bottom line is that we came all the way from America to make sure that you and Anya and the rest of our family would be safe, and if necessary, to take you all out of Hungary, as far away as possible, as soon as possible.

This must be done before the Nazis enter the country and take control. You are not safe here.”

Benjamin raised his eyebrows and nodded.

Theresa continued, “Anya told me that the Jews of Budapest feel safe, that they are economically sound and not worried about the Germans.”

Benjamin nodded again. “That’s right.”

Theresa continued, “To date, the Germans have allowed Regent Horthy and his group to run the country without interference.”

“That is correct,” he said. “The Germans are not our enemies. They have no reason to interfere in our internal business. We don’t interfere with theirs. It’s mutual.”

Theresa sighed. She said in her most professorial tone, “Apa, you and the rest of the Jewish community are apparently unaware of what the Germans have done to Jews in neighboring countries that they have conquered. That’s understandable, because that knowledge has been withheld from you.

But the Germans’ history is predictive. It will reveal what they are planning to do in Hungary in the near future.

As far as the Jewish community is concerned, the Nazis must be regarded as enemies. Enemies who are prepared to kill.”

Benjamin stroked his beard and muttered, “Mm-mmm.”

Theresa shook her head. Either he wasn’t listening or he chose not to believe that such a fate was possible for Hungarian Jews.

“Apa, listen to me; I’m serious. If the Nazis conquer and occupy Hungary—and smart minds think that they will—then they will devastate the Jewish community, every last one.

Hitler will exterminate the Jews; that is his mantra. ”

Benjamin sat still, like an owl on the roof, slowly nodding at the words. It was as though Theresa were speaking another language.

“Apa, Theresa is right,” Julia said, and Theresa translated.

“I have been present in other European countries that were conquered by the Nazis, and I have witnessed what they did. I have seen their savagery once they occupy a country. Murderous cruelty follows them wherever they go, and we believe they are coming here to Hungary very soon.”

Theresa added, “We know this is so, because we have information that five hundred thousand German troops are stationed just north of Munich, not far from Hungary’s northwest border.”

Benjamin held his hand up for her to stop.

“We know that too, Terri. We’re not as oblivious as you think.

Maybe the common man is unaware, but leadership is not.

We have sources. We know what the Nazis did in Poland.

How do we know? Because thousands of Jews escaped Warsaw and Kraków and Lvov and made it across the border into Hungary.

We have heard their stories. But all of that doesn’t mean that the Germans intend to do the same thing in Hungary.

Germany was at war with Poland. They were enemies.

Hungary is not at war with Germany. We are strong, and we are Germany’s military ally.

At Germany’s request, Hungary sent a hundred thousand Hungarian soldiers to back up the German army in the fight at Stalingrad.

Many of them were Jews. Does Hitler want those Hungarian troops to be his enemy and turn against him, or does he need them to help defend Germany against Russia? I think you know the answer.”

Theresa took a deep breath and shook her head. “Why would Hitler move all those troops close to Hungary’s border if not to use them against us? There is no reason for the troops to be there if Hungary is still Germany’s ally.”

“That is correct, but Hungary is still Germany’s partner. Nothing has changed. Hungary is a member of the Axis powers. Those troops may be stationed there because Russia is getting closer and may attack us. The war with Russia has not been going well. That may be the reason.”

“We have heard a very disturbing rumor, Apa, which is confidential and not to be revealed to anyone at this time,” Theresa said. “Will you keep it confidential?”

“Of course.”

Theresa continued, “According to our information, Prime Minister Kállay has delivered messages to three of Germany’s enemies—Russia, England, and the US—expressing a willingness to enter into a separate peace treaty.

We don’t know if Hitler has uncovered the same information, but if he has, it is reasonable to conclude that he no longer trusts Horthy or Kállay.

And that is our conclusion why five hundred thousand German troops have been stationed on Hungary’s border. ”

“We have not heard that rumor,” Benjamin said, “and maybe because it is only a rumor. To my way of thinking, if the rumor was true, it would be a smart move on Kállay’s part.

Nobody knows who is going to win this war.

Kállay is covering all the bases. May I ask you, where do you get your information? ”

“From US intelligence,” Julia answered. “From the War Refugee Board. It was through their efforts that we were able to travel here. That so-called rumor of Hitler’s intention to attack Hungary is why Theresa begged the board to let her come here.

She came to rescue you and your family, if the rumors are true. ”

“The WRB is a newly formed government agency,” Theresa said, “just enacted and signed into being by the president. It is designed to do exactly what its name expresses: to rescue refugees caught up in World War II.”

Julia put her arm around Theresa’s shoulders.

“Theresa is valuable to the WRB because she gives them what they need and what they didn’t have: access to the Budapest Jewish community.

You, Mr. Weissbach, are a significant part of that access.

If there is an attack, mass emigration will be necessary to escape Germany’s racial attacks.

We want you to be among those who escape. ”

“How does the WRB plan on accomplishing this mass escape? Does it have an army?”

“A military army? No. It has an army of volunteers,” Julia said proudly.

“We have connections to people, powerful people who are pledged to aid refugees. It doesn’t take tanks and guns.

Sometimes even a small rescue squad can lead a group to safety, as we did in Holland.

These well-connected people have access to diplomatic letters of protection, but I would ask that you hold that information in confidence at the present time.

The identity of these people is a secret. ”

“Are they Swiss letters of protection?” Benjamin asked.

Julia took a deep breath. He knew more than she gave him credit for. “Our letters are Swiss. May I ask where you get your information?”

“Nothing as formal as the WRB,” Benjamin answered, “but we have people strategically placed throughout Hungary and even in the Hungarian government. Who did the WRB appoint as its representative in Hungary?”

“You might say that it’s us,” Theresa answered, “but that’s not entirely true. We don’t have permission to reveal his identity at this time.”

Benjamin raised his eyebrows. “I’m proud that you’re honoring his confidence.

” He walked over and put his arm around Theresa.

“And I am so proud of you, my Theresa. A professor and a trusted member of the US War Refugee Board. You have accomplished so much at such a young age. You have always been brave, and you have always been a leader. The reason that I asked you about the WRB representative is that I would like to meet with him. That way, we can pool our efforts and re alize both of our goals. We should be working together. We can save a lot more lives that way.”

“Apa, that is exactly the WRB’s intention. They told Julia and me to come here and use our connections to interact with the Jewish community, to make it possible to rescue them from a German takeover.”

“It’s not a certainty, but give your father a little credit.

What do you think we were discussing at the synagogue when you arrived today?

There is a split of opinion among our people.

Some take the position that the situation is calm right now and that is the way it will stay.

You don’t want to kick a sleeping dog. They argue that the Hungarian Jewish community has been safe and prosperous during wars for the last eight years, so why shouldn’t it continue?

But the other half dissents and believes that we should plan for the worst. That means prepare to escape while it’s still possible. ”

“Which half are you in, Apa?”

“I’m on the side of caution. I can’t just think about myself.

I must think about your mother, your brother, and your sister.

I must think about our synagogue and our people.

It’s a big decision. Right now, we are still debating, but as of this morning, we are still safe. There is no present danger.”

“You are a realist, Mr. Weissbach,” Julia said. “Isn’t it obvious that Hitler is making plans to invade? Why else would he take five hundred thousand troops out of the front lines and place them on our border if he wasn’t going to use them?”

“I suppose you could argue if he was really going to attack Hungary, he would need a lot more than half a million,” Theresa said. “Hungary has a strong military with almost that many. Hitler doesn’t go into a fair fight. He would want a large troop advantage.”

Benjamin nodded. “Very astute, my daughter. That was part of the argument this morning. The ones who don’t want to make waves said that very thing.

If he was going to attack, he wouldn’t station only five hundred thousand troops and only in one place.

And it is true that Hitler has his half million troops north of Munich, we know that for a fact, but that is not the whole story.

There is much more that you don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” Julia asked. “What don’t we know?”

“Hitler can call upon troops from Axis partners. Remember, Hungary is surrounded by Axis countries. We have information that there are two divisions of Austrian soldiers now stationed close to our western border. There are three hundred thousand Croatian troops massing on our southern border, and three Serbian divisions stationed to the southwest. Add to that one division of Slovak troops lying north of our border. That combination of Axis soldiers totals in excess of one million, and they are surrounding Hungary, able to attack at Hitler’s command. ”

Julia had a shocked look on her face. “Carl didn’t tell us that. Either he doesn’t know about it, or maybe your information is flawed?”

Benjamin shook his head. “It’s not flawed. Our sources are reliable. Still, I would like to talk to Carl. I assume you are talking about Carl Lutz, the Swiss diplomat? Can you arrange it?”

“I think so,” Theresa said. “We will be meeting with him tonight. I will try to get an appointment for tomorrow.”

“Excellent. You know, I always thought my daughter was the brains of the family, and now I know it’s true.

Meet with Carl tonight, and call me here at the Dohány synagogue.

I’ll be here for several more hours. This meeting will take all day and probably go into tomorrow as well.

Anytime you put fifty Jews in a meeting, you end up with three hundred opinions.

” He looked at his calendar. “I’ll make sure the meeting ends before sundown tomorrow.

If you can, try to set the meeting with Carl for tomorrow, March 15, late afternoon or night. ”

“Okay,” Theresa said, “I’ll do that, March 15, but beware.”

“What?”

“Shakespeare, Apa. ‘Beware the ides of March.’ It didn’t work out well for Julius Caesar.”