From the beginning of the war until December 1941, three levies were
imposed on the city (Jewish population). The first levy was the hardest, because
the Germans were threatening to impose the “yellow star”. Jews gave money
and jewellery to have the Germans repeal the harsh decree and free the Jews
of Lublin from the great “disgrace”.⁸⁸
Buying them off, however, had demoralising results. It led to further harassment
on the part of the Germans, with the unrestrained SS and Gestapo
constantly threatening and misusing the new “instrument” to extort money
and valuable household effects on various occasions, both from the kehillah and
from the Jewish population.
It got to a point that if an SS man or Gestapo agent used a droshky in
the street or took goods from a Jewish shop, he would send a bill to the kehillah
finance department demanding payment. There was no limit to their wild
ideas. For Christmas 1940, they [3] (the Gestapo) demanded three “dolls”.⁸⁹
Their crazy demand was met and the kehillah supplied the “dolls”. There is no
lack of Jewish helpers to assist the Germans in their mad antics. A bunch of
informers, known troublemakers and underworld types, distinguish themselves
in this work.
84 Yoysef Zygfryd (Siegfried), economist and doctor of law, on the Lublin Judenrat from November 1940, where he managed human resources and the Health Commission. Ibidem, p. 64.
85 Probably a reference to Maurycy Szlaf (1897–1941), lawyer in Lublin, General Zionist activist, town Councellor from 1934. On the Judenrat, headed the Levies Commission (Komisja Kontrybucyjna) and the Education Department, treasurer of the Jewish Aid Committee (Żydowski Komitet Pomocy). Ibidem, p. 64.
86 Probably a reference to Dovid Hochgemajn (1905–?), lawyer in Lublin, philanthropist, member of the Judenrat from January 1940. Responsible for setting and collecting a communal levy and for running the Civil Records Commission (Komisja Stanu Cywilnego) and the Cemetery Commission (Komisja Cmentarna). Ibidem, p. 61.
87 The remaining Judenrat members were Yitskhok Bursztyn, Arn Bach, Urysz Cymerman, Dovid Dawidsohn, Dovid Edelsztajn, Yoysef Goldsztern, Avrom Goldsobel, Leon Hufnagel, Arn Yankl Kantor, Yankev Kelner, Dovid Rechtman, Yosl Wajselfisz, Shloyme Halbersztadt, Shloyme Kerszenblum, Nakhman Lerner, and Aleksander Lewi. Ibidem, p. 61–65.
88 The Germans imposed the first levy in the amount of 300,000 zlotys on 14 October 1939. Despite that, the wearing of yellow patches was imposed on 1 December 1939.
89 The Yiddish word lalke (doll) is a euphemism for prostitute.
