heroic idealism to down-to-earth egoism, or even depravation. And this is precisely why (that is, knowing that she is driven by her feeling of duty) you can see traces of [5] true heroism in the tragic downfall of many a Jewish woman.
* * *
It is 10 a.m. [. . .] shining in the sunshine. The Jewish street [. . .] vibrates with the pulse of ghetto life. People are rushing, walking, barely moving, or standing with their backs to the wall. The faces, voices, smiles, and tears are all jumbled together.
“Fresh rolls! Tasty rolls! Low prices!”
“Oh, Morena! Your eyes are shining like two stars.”
“Warschauer Zeitung!344 Reich! Twoje Słowo!345 ”
“Cigarettes! Best sort! Cigarettes!”
“[Perfect] for potatoes, eggs, carrots!”
“Kind, good [people?], take mercy on a mother of three orphans!”
“Sweets! Irysy!”346
“Help! Thief! Catch her!”
“I’m hurrying to the hairdresser. I have an appointment after lunch.”
“Thank God, this week I have earned [. . .].”
“They haven’t been paying me at work. I have nothing to sell anymore. How will I feed my family?!”
“The collection for children has proved rather successful.”
“Do come to today’s meeting of the Care Section for the [soup] kitchen.”
“The prices are so high. I don’t know what I can save money on.”
“Spring. What beautiful sunshine! You just wanna live. We must endure.”
As early as 10 a.m. the Jewish street resounds with a full range of voices of misery and [6] with the ray of hope for the day.
