took very good care of us. But this wasn’t for long. My uncle developed weak
lungs. On 5 January 1940, he was taken to hospital. A week later, the news came
from the hospital. It’s hard for me to say, but it’s easy to guess. My uncle died.
I, as the eldest son, had to take care of the family.
5) Our life under the care of the House Committee
We were left on our own, helpless, and didn’t know what to do next. Knowing
about our past, the House Committee took interest in us. We received daily
meals and other support. My mummy was still selling things from the flat,
even though we were trading, because our earnings were scarce. But even
that ended. That was when mummy started doing laundry. Everything was
cheap, so we didn’t go hungry. But mummy was too exhausted. She grew
weaker, so she stopped working. We survived only with the support of the
Home Committee.
[6] 6) Establishment of the Jewish district
Until the district was established, the Committee supported us. But after the
district was established, the Committee stopped supporting us. Winter came.
That was when we started to starve. No one helped us. When it got very cold,
we stayed in bed all day long. We were selling leftovers from the flat by then.
Mummy sold her own coat, and when it got worse, even the wardrobe and
the table, because the wardrobe was already empty. And that did not last for
long. We were lying in beds like corpses. We had sores on our legs and hands
from the cold. The neighbours thought we were already dead because such
incidents had been known to happen in our house. And there were moments
when mummy and I lost consciousness. And we would have been dead for sure
if we hadn’t got to the common room, which was at Karmelicka Street 11. The
common room moved to Nowolipki Street 25 and was turned into a day-care.
7) Our life at the day-care
I’m very happy to be in the day-care. We get plenty of meals. We have a beautiful
place. We’re under very good care. If all the Jewish children had such
conditions, they would certainly survive the war. But, unfortunately, they’re
not all that lucky.
M. Rubinsztein
