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258 LUBOML
danger: that the Germans were getting ready to
slaughter our Jews any day as they had done in
other towns. This shook us very deeply.
We could not reach home by 7 o'clock, because
it was 12 miles away. Neither could we
remain sitting in the woods, for fear that the
Ukrainian police would either arrest us or shoot
us right then and there.
I suggested we should begin walking back to
the ghetto. Even if we had to sleep in the fields and
reach home in the morning, it would be much
better than staying put. But my father, who was
working with me, was against it, and he, together
with the other Jews, among them my brothers and
sister, remained in the woods. I, however, decided
to go to the ghetto, where my mother was waiting.
I said goodbye to them, and this was the last time
I saw them alive.
Back in Luboml
Holding two revolvers that I had with me closeone
for me and one for Efrayim Kandelshteyn
(z"1)I approached the town. My heart was beating
like that of a bandit. Where am I going? It was
before 7 a.m., and according to the curfew I was
not permitted to enter the ghetto yet. At Railroad
Street I met Nute Fuks (z"1) and Shimon Kroyt.
"What's new in Masheve, Chayim?" they asked
me.
I told them I had left work the day before and
did not know anything. They then told me that
one of the Jews had escaped and reported that
police had come right after I left and taken everyone
away to Olesk, where they were all shot. I said
goodbye to them and went to the workers' ghetto.
There I found some Jews in the street. The Germans
had not yet come to the ghetto, but the town
was strongly guarded. Suddenly I heard a woman
wailing. I came nearer and called out, "Mama!"
We fell into each other's arms and wept
bitterly. "My child. You alone are left alive!
Thank God that at least I have you!" She then
went to say that the people were awaiting the
slaughter tomorrow.
There was a commotion in the streets because
the youth were preparing to run away from the
ghetto. I left the workers' ghetto and went to the
general ghetto. On my way, I met Jews who were
going to sleep in the workers' ghetto, thinking
that it was safer there. But it turned out to be just
the opposite. The slaughter began there!
I was awakened by loud shooting from outside
the town. They were shooting at the young
people who had left the shtetl.
It was Hoshana Rabba, at 4:30 a.m. The street
was still. Once in a while, the echo of heavy footsteps
on the sidewalk was heard outside. These
were the footsteps of the ghetto's German patrols
who were "guarding" us.
In Hiding
The morning was nearing and we had to think of
how to hide in order not to be the first victims.
Being the youngest, I assumed leadership. I
told the women and children to go into the schron.
My house had a cellar that I left open. It had a jug
with water and a piece of bread. I left this the way
it was, to make the Germans think Jews had been
hiding there and had already been taken out to be
shot. I threw everything out from the closets and
tore up the bedding, to make it appear as if the
Germans had destroyed it.
The older Jews I sent up to the atticR.
Yisroel and Mendl Kandelshteyn and their wives,
as well as my mother. There they hid among old
things. I remained in the house alone.
I also opened the doors. Everything was meant
to look as if they had already been there and had
taken everyone away. I stood to the side, behind a
door, because I heard from afar the wild yells of
the Germans, the SS men, followed by the Ukrainian
murderers.
It became light. I saw from afar Jews being
taken out of their houses by the Gestapo. They
were leading mothers with tiny babes in their
arms: entire families. They drove them together
into one place. Shots came at intervals. They were
shooting down sick old people who did not have
the strength to walk to their graves.
Suddenly I heard two Germans saying they
were going into my house. I quickly hid near the
oven, under a couple of boards, where there was a
small cell.
The door opened and two murderers came
into the house with a big dog. And I heard one say,
"Everything is strewn all about. I suppose the