Page 51 of The Righteous

AS HAD RECENTLY become their habit, Julia and Martin met Benjamin at the Great Synagogue in the morning, and Theresa went with Gertrud to find vacant housing.

A stack of Swiss letters of protection and the addresses of six more apartment buildings were brought to the synagogue to be distributed by Benjamin.

The process seemed to be working. Benjamin and the rabbi would meet with homeless families who had been practically living in the synagogue.

They would discuss the letters of protection and how they were to be used.

They would ascertain the families’ housing needs, and if they had available space in an apartment, they would have the fathers sign a special lease agreement with the Swiss embassy.

The agreement would describe the apartment and the conditions and responsibilities of their occupancy.

Often, the apartment was “shared,” and the lease agreement would be between two or three families who all agreed in advance to the terms. They agreed to respect the rights of the other families in the use of the available beds, the kitchen, and the bathrooms, and especially the quiet times.

“You look tired this morning, Apa,” said Julia. “Did you get enough sleep last night?”

Benjamin shrugged. “What is enough? I slept a few hours. I was here at the synagogue until very late.”

“Was it a service, or were you having another of those stormy sessions?” Julia asked with a smile.

Benjamin shook his head. “Neither one. It was sick children. It started with the Rosen girl. She had a fever and trouble breathing. I examined her and discovered that she had a case of the croup. I called Goszin, who agreed to open the pharmacy. The girl’s father ran to get the medicine.

But we had to quarantine the girl as best we could.

She is in a classroom on the second floor. ”

“I’m proud of you, Apa. How many times are you tending to children at this synagogue?”

“Too often. I don’t count how many. And it’s not just children. Some of them are new mothers, and they need help. They are out of their comfort zone, miles away from their families and their community, and they feel lost.”

While Julia and Benjamin were talking, Samu Stern came into the building.

He was met with grumbles. Many considered him a Nazi agent.

“You know I am here on behalf of the Judenrat,” he said.

“Think what you will; I am your friend. I have some important news to discuss with you, and I ask that you pass it along to the members of the congregation.”

“Is it good news, or does it come from your German friends?” one of the congregants asked. “Is it news, or is it more demands?”

Benjamin reached over to the member and tapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s not be impolite. Mr. Stern is the president of a Jewish organization formed to communicate with the Germans. He is an honest man and deserves respect.”

“Thank you, Benjamin,” Samu said. “I came here this morning to tell you about new regulations that are going into effect starting tomorrow. It is better that you hear it from me rather than unknowingly breaking the laws and getting into trouble. As you know, Hungarian Jewish citizens outside of Budapest are being gathered into groups in the nearby towns. They are staying in closed housing units until they can be transported to camps outside of Hungary where they will live with other Jews.”

“Do you mean like Auschwitz and Majdanek? People tell us that Jews are taken there to be killed. Who’s going to tell us the truth?”

Stern said in an irritated tone, “I am. No one told me that anyone is to be killed. That is a vicious rumor. They are being held in a prison camp until the war is over. You don’t have any proof they are being killed.”

“We have met with people who tell us that, and they have been there. Have you been there?” Julia asked with her chin out.

Benjamin raised his hand. “Let him speak, Julia. Samu has a thankless job. It’s not easy or pleasant. Let him finish.” He looked at Stern. “Tell us, Samu, did the transportations start again? We understood that there was a pause during negotiations.”

Stern nodded. “There was a short pause while Obergruppenführer Eichmann was talking with the Aid and Rescue Committee,” he said, “but that is over now. The Allied countries are unwilling to be reasonable and meet Eichmann’s terms.”

“You mean that Churchill and Roosevelt are refusing to be ‘reasonable’ and supply trucks to the German army in exchange for the blood of Jewish families, right? Isn’t that true?” Julia said angrily. “Wasn’t that the response of the Allied countries?”

Stern took a deep breath. “The British press learned of the offer and published it in their papers. They called it a ‘monstrous offer’ and ‘blackmail.’ They said it was a trick. The Russians were against it because the trucks were to be used in the attacks on their territory. Then British and US immigration departments wanted to know where the million Jews were supposed to go. The US Congress wouldn’t raise the money or consider the deal.

Joel Brand traveled to Palestine to promote the deal, but he was arrested by the British.

He is still under arrest. The trains have resumed transporting Jews from the Hungarian small towns directly to the camps.

They are poised to transfer twelve thousand Jews per day. ”

“Oh my God,” Benjamin said. “Per day? What about Budapest? Are the German troops coming here?”

Stern shut his eyes and nodded. “I’m sure they will when they are finished in the smaller towns. All of Hungary is to be Judenfrei .”

“Is that what you came to tell us?” the rabbi asked. “Is that your news?”

“Partially. There are new regulations enacted by the Gestapo. They also go into effect immediately.”

“What are they planning on doing now?” Julia said.

“Don’t blame me,” Stern said, “I’m just the messenger.

Each Jewish person over the age of five is to be identified as a Jew when he or she goes outside the home.

To do that, he or she must wear a ten-by-ten-centimeter yellow star that reads ‘JUDE.’ We have been given a supply of yellow Jewish badges.

They are to be worn on the outside of the clothing, in the stomach area.

Failure to wear the star would mean arrest, or worse. ”

“Where are we to obtain these yellow badges of sin?” the rabbi said.

Stern bit his lip. He bowed his head and again shook it back and forth. “You may obtain them at the office of the Judenrat at 6508 Planjacz.”

“Well,” Benjamin said, “thank you for bringing us this miserable report. We understand it is not your fault, but you may leave now.”

“That’s not all,” Stern said. “The SS is planning on collecting all telephones from Jewish households. In that way, they are cutting off communication with the outside world.”

Stern could see the bitterness in the eyes of the listeners. “Do you want to hear the rest? You should, because you could be arrested for violations.”

“Yes,” said the rabbi, “tell us the rest.”

“As of next Monday, Jews are forbidden from owning a car and must declare the value of their property on a disclosure form that, once again, may be obtained at the Judenrat. I’m not privileged; I have to do the same thing myself.”

“Why are they taking away our cars?” the rabbi said.

“You know the answer, Rabbi,” Julia said. “They want to make sure that you can’t go anywhere when they come to herd all the Jews into areas near the train station. They did the same thing in Holland.”

Stern stood to leave. “Rabbi, and you too, Benjamin, I would ask that you spread the word. Let the people know what the new laws are. If your fellow congregants don’t follow the laws, they will be punished.

That is the reason I came here. Now I have to go to the other synagogues.

I wish you well.” Stern turned and left the building.

For a moment, everyone was silent and looked from face to face.

Finally, Benjamin said, “We must make plans to pass out as many letters of protection as we can. Those with letters will be diplomatically immune from the new laws. They may still keep their phones and their cars. Those families with letters can try to emigrate out of Hungary while there is still time.”

“Then that is the answer,” said Julia firmly.

“All Jews must make their way out of Hungary, one way or another, before being arrested by the Nazis, and we must help them do that. It is as clear as the lies on Mr. Stern’s lips.

All Hungarian Jews are going to be arrested and put on trains for Auschwitz.

It is not a place where they will live with other Jews; it is a place where they will die with other Jews.

We had better believe that, and pass the word. ”

“We have to inform Carl about everything that Mr. Stern had to say,” Martin said.

“If I know Carl, he will be very upset. I know that Benjamin believes that letters are the answer and that they should be given to every Jew in Hungary, but I don’t know how many more letters we will receive from Bern. ”

“Will the letters work forever,” Julia said, “or will there come a time when the Nazis ignore them? I don’t trust them. Let’s go straight to the embassy and talk to Carl. Maybe he will have other ideas.”

Martin winced. “We can’t go this afternoon. Carl is at a very hush-hush meeting at the embassy. I don’t know how long it will last.”

“What is it about?” Julia asked.

“Even I don’t know the details. There are two men meeting with Carl behind closed doors.

They’ve been there since early this morning.

” Martin leaned forward. “You can’t say anything to anyone else, but Carl is meeting with two men who escaped from the Auschwitz prison camp and have written a report.

They are supposed to deliver it to Carl under certain conditions. ”

“What conditions?”

Martin shrugged. “I don’t know. Just don’t say anything. Carl will tell us when he is ready.”