On the way home from selichot, the whirr of motorcars, taxis, and open
armoured trucks full of German troops was heard. The whole convoy swept
through the town at lightning speed, like an arrow from the bow. The streets
were empty. Everyone was hiding at home, only peeping [19] out through
various openings. A few people ventured to draw back the window curtains
a little to take a look, but only very cautiously so as not to be seen from outside.
During the days of the selichot prayers, nothing especially new occurred,
except that some goods were requisitioned from Jewish shops.
Rosh Hashanah ([5]700) in D[obrzyń].
In addition to the emat ha-borei¹⁵⁰² of the Yamim Noraim, the population of
D[obrzyń]. was immersed in emat basar vadam.¹⁵⁰³ Because of the general terror
engulfing the Jewish population, a discussion arose as to whether prayers
during the Yamim Noraim should be said collectively or if each person should
pray individually. It was decided that, although there was both a bet hamidrash
and a synagogue in D[obrzyń], the Rosh Hashanah prayer service should
be held in only one place, namely in the bet hamidrash rather than the synagogue,
and only early in the morning.
However, the Jews of S[kępe], led by their rabbi, seeing that the bet
hamidrash was packed full and very crowded, decided, on their own responsibility,
to pray in the synagogue, with some of the congregants standing on
guard outside to see whether anyone was coming or if there were any troops
about. On Rosh Hashanah they began to pray as soon as day dawned, but
a hush fell immediately. Something was wrong. All eyes turned towards the
door. What was going on? It transpired that one of the ‘guards’ praying outside
was warning the congregation to be quiet while some soldiers marched
past, so that, [20] God forbid, they did not hear the sound of the prayers. It was
quiet for a while, but there soon came the message: “All right! You can pray
now without worrying. They have already passed by.” Again there arose from
the congregation in the synagogue a spontaneous ecstatic cry, a passionate
plea from the depths of the soul that was now particularly befitting: “Adonai
shema bekoli tihyena oznecha kashuvot lekol tahanunai.”¹⁵⁰⁴ The sound of that
1502 (Hebrew) dread of the Creator.
1503 (Hebrew) dread of flesh and blood; fear of the Germans.
1504 (Hebrew) Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. (Psalm 130:2).
