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Pesach |
The Gift of LifeRochele looked at her baby brother, sleeping in her mother’s arms. He had been crying all night, but then again everyone on the train was crying - even Papa. They had been here almost two days now. Rochele was tired and cold and very hungry. She tried to sleep, but all she could think about was the soldiers who came to her town just a few months ago. Since then, she hadn’t gone to school. Papa had a hard time finding work and last week her family almost forgot her birthday. They remembered, of course, but there was no party, no cake, just a small chocolate bar for a present. Her chocolate bar! It was on the bottom of her knapsack. Now, at least she wouldn’t be hungry.
The woman smiled. “Let’s share it,” she said, taking half. “You also have to be strong.” When they finished eating, the woman slipped a tiny object into her hand. Even in the dark train, Rochele could see that it was a diamond ring. “Take it,” she begged her, and Rochele knew that she couldn’t refuse.
"I was that baby and that’s how your Great-Aunt Rochele saved my life,” Grandpa finished the story. |
Suddenly
Rochele heard a faint cry: “Help me, somebody please help me,” an old
woman moaned. “Sshh!” Rochele whispered, “you’ll wake up my brother.”
The old woman just kept on moaning. She looked so feeble that Rochele
knew she had to help. “Here,” she said, giving her the chocolate, “it’s
all I have.”
An
hour later the train stopped and the doors squeaked open. Soldiers were
shouting: “Raus, raus, everyone out!” Rochelle’s family rushed into
the dirty train station. She saw hundreds of people, all of them Jews
(she knew because of the yellow stars they wore). In a minute she saw
a familiar face. Could it be Katya? No, Katya was the funniest girl
she ever met, but this girl had such sad eyes. “Rochele!” the girl whispered.
It was Katya. “Don’t talk, I’ve been here a month and I know the routine.
Whatever happens, stay on the right.”
Soon,
everyone was standing in a long line in front of a Nazi officer. Most
of the people were being directed to the left. “To the right,” Rochele
thought, “to the right.” When her family finally got there, Rochele
and her father were sent to the right, but her mother and brother were
sent to the left. ‘Please,” Rochele pleaded, “let them go to the right!”
The soldier grabbed her, but Rochele just took his hand and put the
ring in it. The soldier paused for a moment: “Send the lady and boy
with the girl!”