LUBLIN, POLAND
OCTOBER 25, 1939
WEEK 5 OF THE NAZI OCCUPATION
“Eli,” Jakob called. “Can you come to the office?”
Clipboard in hand, pencil behind his ear, Eli walked from the brickyard into the small office.
“Yes, Papa.”
“The rabbi was here again. He said that the Germans have demanded a contribution of three hundred thousand zloty from the Jewish community of Lublin.”
“Contribution? For what?”
“According to the rabbi, it is to reimburse the Germans for keeping their army in Lublin.”
“That’s insane.”
“Go complain to Hitler. I’m sure he’ll be attentive.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“The rabbi wants twenty thousand from the brickyard. He says we’re still busy, we’re doing business and we can pay.”
“He has some chutzpah! Half the repairs we’re doing are at our cost. We’re not making money off the occupation.”
“It doesn’t matter; we have to contribute. There is other news. I learned that the Nazis will conduct a census in the next two days. They will require all Jews to register with the Nazi command.”
“For what purpose?”
“Because they are conquerors and we are the conquered.”
“How do you know this will happen?”
“Maximilian. He was here earlier today, and he told me.”
“Maximilian Poleski? How does he know anything at all? He’s nothing but a salesman who brokers our supplies to the Catholic side of the city, for which, by the way, we pay him a damn nice commission. Why would he know anything about the Nazis’ plans?”
Jakob raised his eyebrows. “He knows. You know how he sidles up to influential people, how he walks around town in his fancy suit and straw hat. Now he’s managed to worm his way into favor with some of the Nazis. He says the Nazis are paying him to identify and register Jews.”
“He’s denouncing Jewish families to the Germans? That snake! Six years ago, he came to you with his fancy hat in his hand begging for a job. You gave him the church accounts. Now he turns on us? He’s pointing out Jewish families for the Nazis to arrest?”
“Not to arrest, just to identify. They want to know who is Jewish and who is not. He hasn’t turned on us, but he is definitely working for the Nazis. He came in today to give me a warning. He says all Jews must voluntarily register.”
“Register for what?”
“Maximilian does not know. Or he is not saying. But if people don’t register, they will be punished.”
“He’s a rat, Papa. Sever all ties with him. Louis can take over his accounts.”
“I’ve thought about that, but I’ve decided not to make a change. Maximilian is still managing the Catholic Church accounts and making us money in a very difficult time. Your brother does not have contacts in the Catholic community. Besides, Louis is more of a teacher than a salesman. Let’s leave him to his duties at the yeshiva.”
“What yeshiva? The yeshiva is gone. It’s a Nazi police station and a jail.”
“Louis has been studying with the elders in the synagogue basement since it reopened. It’s a makeshift yeshiva. He has also been appointed to the Judenrat. The Nazis have demanded that a Jewish council be established to speak for our people.”
“The Judenrat? We already have a Jewish council.”
“Now it is the Judenrat. Since Henryk Bekker was president of our community council, he was appointed president of the Judenrat. Louis is one of several named to the committee. At least in that regard you should be proud. He is well thought of in our community. Therefore, Louis is too busy to take over any sales accounts. We still need Maximilian to handle the church accounts, and we are overloaded with their business.”
“But Papa, how can we associate with a man who makes his bed with the Nazis? Today he’s identifying Jews. What’s he doing tomorrow? He’s no better than they are. The Nazis are confiscating Jewish homes and businesses all over the city. They’re rounding up Jews and shipping them off to who knows where?”
Jakob raised his index finger. “That is exactly the reason we should continue to employ Maximilian. We don’t know where, but he might. He’s found a way to ingratiate himself with the vermin. Through Maximilian, we have eyes and ears inside the German administration.”
“What else did the great Maximilian tell you?”
“Well, it’s no secret that the Nazis are seizing Jewish businesses. He told me that the Nazis are paying him to identify which businesses to take, but he promises that he will protect us and our brickyard.”
“He’s full of shit.”
The older man put a gentle hand on Eli’s shoulder. “We are at war, son, and we must keep our heads. We have families to protect. Although we have known Maximilian when he was nothing but a well-dressed street scrounger, he has now cultivated a relationship with the Nazis. Yet he professes to have loyalty to us. When he came by today, he told me that he would protect the brickyard from seizure and safeguard our family.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe he will try as long as it suits his ambition and is financially advantageous to him. He makes good money as our sales agent.”
“And you trust him?”
“Of course not, but he sees opportunities to work his rackets and he is privy to information that others are not. Last week, a trainload of Jewish families from Bohemia and Moravia arrived here in Lublin. Maximilian told me that Jews from other provinces are being sent here as well. He has learned that the Nazis intend to build a huge reservation designed to hold five hundred thousand Jews.”
“Five hundred thousand! There are only forty thousand Jews in Lublin. Where is this reservation supposed to be?”
“Nisko.”
Eli’s face turned red. “That’s a swamp, Papa.”
Jakob nodded. “True. Maximilian told me that it is designed to hold only the Jews brought in from other towns, not the Lublin Jews. He thinks the Nazis will register us and leave Lublin families alone to live in the Jewish Quarter.”
“I don’t believe him, Papa. They’re confiscating homes and businesses in our neighborhood. The Bornsteins were given one week to vacate their home. Why would they leave the Rosens alone?”
“Because Maximilian will intercede on our behalf.”
“At what price?”
“On that, we shall see.”
“The Cohens were forced to give up their house today,” Esther said as she stirred her stew on the stove. Eli could see that Esther’s nerves were on edge. Her movements were tense, her muscles taut.
“Where did they go?” Eli said, snitching a warm piece of challah.
“Leah told me that they rented a small unit in the quarter. Most of the families who have lost their homes are trying to find apartments there. Even storefronts are being rented. It’s becoming a teeming, unhealthy mess. The Nazis gave the Cohens three hours to gather their belongings. Three hours, Eli! Leah called me at the clinic. She was frantic. ‘What can I possibly gather in three hours?’ she cried. I rushed over to help her. That poor girl. She had so many lovely things, but we could only collect essentials—clothing, shoes, bedding, pots and pans, Mikal’s books, a few dishes. We wrapped them in sheets and blankets to wheel them in a cart like a peddler. All of her beautiful things, Eli—you know what a lovely home she made—she had to leave them all behind for some filthy Nazi. She was heartbroken. Why, Eli? Have they no respect for anyone? Would they like someone to do the same thing to their mothers?”
“As my father said, it’s because we are the conquered.”
“Are we next? When will they come in here and give us three hours?” Esther began to weep. “When will they take our home from us? All my precious things, my mother’s things. Everything I’ve put together to make a lovely home for you and Izzie.” She wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve.
“There is no acceptable answer, Essie, but you speak only of possessions. They are things. They are not you, and they are not me, and they are not Izzie. As precious as they are, they are objects. Maximilian says he is protecting us from Nazi seizures. Whether he is or not, what’s important is that we hold on to each other. We’ll always have each other. You, me and Izzie. If we have to move into some little apartment, we’ll move, and we’ll do it together and make the best of it. Sooner or later this storm will pass, and we’ll establish a new normal. The three of us. You have to have faith.”
Esther nodded. She wrapped her arms around Eli and held him tightly. “I’m trying, and I do have faith. I don’t have confidence where Maximilian is concerned, but at least we are still living in our home and you still have your business. And you’re right, this may be temporary. No matter how severe the storm, you will always be my sunny day.”
“That’s my girl. Our love can weather any storm. Never forget it.”
She kissed him and folded into his embrace. “You and I are forever,” she whispered.