Chapter 11

THE FINAL PUSH, 1937

During Eva’s spring vacation in 1937, Dr. Bondy visited her in her home in order to interview her. Eva’s first impression of him matched what everyone else had told her: “What a terrific personality, a very wonderful person.”⁶² Because she had not passed the Matric, Bondy urged her to return to England in September and retake the examination one last time. This was so much a part of Bondy’s attitude—one never gives up until final reality is clear and inevitable. Eva would earn either her regular high school diploma or the honors Matric diploma. Either way, Eva was welcome to join her class at Gross Breesen in October. Bondy won the confidence of her parents, and they now endorsed what he wrote to the parents of teenage girls: “Not often enough can the parents be warned, about their short-sightedness in their policies regarding their daughters’ careers. If it is the fate of the predominant section of the Jewish youth in Germany, to build up a new life for themselves abroad, then the girls must not be artificially kept away from a corresponding vocational preparation.”⁶³

Between the time Hitler took office in 1933 and the opening of the training school in 1936, ninety-five anti-Jewish laws had been enacted that prevented Jews from participating in German life. Eva’s parents finally read the handwriting on the wall, and its scrawl was all too clear: there was little hope for a fulfilling life for themselves and their children in Germany. They did not need any more prodding.

Dr. Bondy interviewed Eva as a candidate for Gross Breesen. The two instantly connected. Courtesy of the Eva Loew collection.

Bondy was enthusiastic to have Eva. He recognized in her a never-give-up spirit and her desire to contribute to the community. He loved the fact that she was serious about classical music and literature; that she was a pianist, like himself; and that she dearly wanted to be a farmer. He was confident that she would work harder and learn faster than anyone else and that she would catch up with the other students in no time.

SEPTEMBER 1937

Back at St. Paul’s, Eva devoted every minute to studying for the upcoming exam. Others had given up their studying, but Eva crammed to the very last minute.

Only her birthday interrupted her routine. Two presents arrived from home, a book and a first aid kit. Eva wrote, “I was so happy. I think until now, I’ve never had that much joy about a birthday present. I actually jumped up in the air because I liked it so much… People are really thinking about me.”⁶⁴

With the tests over, Eva felt relieved and free. The results of the exam were announced several days later. It is hard to imagine, but Eva missed passing the Matric by only ten points. Out of 130 girls, only 30 passed, and 65 failed completely. Even in mathematics, she scored with an 80 percent. Considering the language barrier, Eva accomplished an extraordinary feat. She did not achieve Matric honors level, but she did earn the “General Schools Level.” She knew that her parents would be disappointed, but she had worked so hard and tried her best.

LOOKING BACK AT ST. PAUL’S

Eva mused:

At home at first I’m going to feel funny, when I think that I’ll never have to come back here again. Never to see all these girls again which I’m somewhat sorry about, never to have to eat this horrible food, never to have to feel so lonely, and that all this kind of life has no meaning. The year in England is now almost finished, and now it seems to have gone by very fast. Sometimes I actually thought that I couldn’t deal with it anymore, but now it seems all like a bad dream. I didn’t have much fun here, only study, study and study which was not always satisfying. Sometimes I thought I would go crazy because I was so lonely. Why didn’t I find real friends here? Is it my fault? Is there something about me that repels others? I would like to know that.⁶⁵

After what seemed such a long time, Eva no longer felt she was in exile. She was going home; she was going to Gross Breesen.