A Summary 223
25 portraits, produced in the 1930s, being a gallery of images of leading members of the intelligentsia involved with the Union of Jewish Writers and Journalists. These are excellent drawings, sketched on carbon paper and sketchbook cards, perfectly capturing the likeness of patrons of the Union’s seat in 13 Tlomackie St. Some, such as the portraits of Mojżesz Broderson, Szymon Horonczyk, are watercolours. It is not clear whether the artist aimed at creating a “gallery of personages”. Actually, picturing film, theatre, and literary celebrities was popular among Jewish artists. These portraits, usually drawings, were frequently published in the pre–war press of Poland.
Gela returned to Warsaw to stay in 1937. Her acquaintance with Izrael
Lichtensztejn and the planned marriage must have prompted her decision. They were married in 1938 and lived at 29 Okopowa Street. In 1938, Izrael’s sister–in–law, Noemi Frodman–Lichtensztejn, visited them. Gela’s situation was much improved with the marriage. Izrael helped her to get teaching jobs in Jewish schools, whereshe taught drawing skills and handicrafts. Twice, in 1938 and 1939, Gela joined her husband to go to a summer camp in Kazimierz Dolny on the Vistula. She did a lot of painting there, mainly children, whose portraits she planned to display at her own exhibit entitled “The Jewish Child”. The outbreak of war put an end to these plans. Many of these works have survived in her legacy.
The late 1930s were a very active time in her life. Most of the watercolours and
drawings in the collection come from this period. In 1938, she participated in two
exhibitions and received good reviews. In 1939, she also took part in the anniversary edition of the Salon organized by the Association of Jewish Artists.
Not much is known about Gela’s life after September 1939. With the outbreak
of war, her fate was intertwined closely with that of her husband. During the Nazi
occupation, the Lichtensztejns were forced to move several times. Documents
preserved in the ARG indicate that they stayed at 29/23 Okopowa St., their prewar
residence, until October 1940, when they had to move out, as Okopowa and Towarowa Streets were not included in the newly delimited territory of the Ghetto. Until April 1942, they lived at 81 Pawia St. Yet another address, at 93 Dzielna St., has also been recorded in the documents. Just after the Ghetto was closed, on November 4, 1940, Gela bore a daughter, whose name was Margolit.
In those three years, the Lichtensztejns strove to continue their pre–war
activities. Apart from his work for the Oneg Shabbat, Izrael was also active in welfare organizations, and he co–managed a soup kitchen at school no. 145, located on the second floor of the former school building at 68 Nowolipki Street.
Gela held drawing classes there and set up the exhibitions of the pupils’ works.
She also used to sew costumes, and make sceneries for their performances. Her
commitment won her much popularity and was appreciated. Many ghetto cultural
events were staged there. In May 1942, the school participated in a School Matinee, organized in the hall of the Femina Theatre, with the children’s performance entitled
