him out with their bayonets. We barely managed to extract him from the
grave, broken, stabbed and unconscious. After the work, they ordered us to
sing. We sang Rosh Hashanah niggunim. Then they led us back. We reached
the synagogue courtyard, where they stood us in a long row and cut off several
young men’s beards and sidelocks. When we got back to the camp, we
collapsed on the ground, exhausted and weary from the disgusting work.
Weeping, we raised our eyes and recited: Habeit mishamayim u-re’eh ki hayinu
le-la’ag u-le-keles bagoyim.¹⁷⁵⁶
A week passed in this way, after which the elderly and children were
freed, while the young people had to remain in the camp. They told us that we
were going to work in their country. They reassured us and enjoined us not to
be afraid: “Have no fear, you will [8] work and earn money. Work makes life
sweet.” Before we were sent off, they lined us up in two rows and appointed
several of us leaders to escort us to the town of P[ułtusk?]. At the same time,
they warned us that for anyone who escaped along the way, 10 men would be
shot. We understood what prospects were in store for us, but what could we do?
There was no impediment to their evil intentions, no force to oppose their
deeds. They acted with iron determination. We left our parents and friends
behind in town. We said goodbye to everyone only with our eyes. Our nearest
and dearest were not permitted to approach us. Amidst weeping and moaning
and a sea of tears, our hands raised in farewell, we took our leave of them.
And so we set off far away, as we had never [9] imagined. Outside town,
just like a cow led to slaughter which turns its head back to take leave of life,
we turned our heads to bid farewell to everyone and everything...! Along the
way our strength began to wane. Our legs grew tired. The sun blazed down.
The ground was scorching hot. It was as if the sun, the earth and the yevonim
were all in league to destroy us. The fields and gardens were in their full glory.
They beckoned to us to come and refresh ourselves. But who paid any attention
to them? We were embittered and saddened by the terrible fate that had
befallen us. We were hungry and thirsty, but we felt nothing. We lacked the
heart to satisfy our bodies, although we had pieces of dry bread in our pockets.
Here and there, [10] a sigh or a groan was heard. Our eyes ran with rivers
of tears. Our mouths were exhausted by the pressing questions that weighed
1756 (Hebrew) Look down upon us from heaven and see how we are ridiculed among the nations; from the selichot prayer, Psalms 44:14 and 79:4.
