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7 We passed through the gate and into the Jewish ghetto. The wretchedness of life was evident everywhere. Crowds of people, desperate beggars, and starving and sickly children were pleading for food. The Tyczyn Jewish parents were desperately calling for their children, from whom they had been separated during the rush into the ghetto. Jewish orderlies appeared, in civilian clothing and dark blue police caps, and moved us away from the gate. Judenrat volunteers told us that little housing was available. In the midst of the confusion we heard a voice calling: “Henryk! Andzia! Boys! Here! Here!” We looked around to see who was calling us and to our great relief spotted Uncle Kalman. I had not seen him in two years. He looked thin and haggard. He made his way through the crowd and into my father’s arms. Kalman had heard that the Tyczyn Jews were being brought to the ghetto today. He and his wife lived in a small bedroom in an apartment that they shared with the Kahane family, near Szpitalna Street. The ghetto had no vacant rooms, and they offered to share their room with us. We were lucky, for most of the others would have to find shelter in a hallway or beneath a staircase. My parents were grateful and thanked Kalman. He helped us carry our bundles and suitcases , and we followed him through the ghetto to our new home. Misery was abundant. Entire families wandered the streets seeking shelter. Parents huddled in doorways with crying children, unsure of where to go or who to turn to for help. Uncle Kalman told us that the ghetto had become horribly overcrowded during the last few weeks. The ghetto population had doubled as the Germans forced in thousands of Jews from surrounding towns and villages. The thousands of new, desperate Jews overwhelmed the orphanages, informal schools, and soup kitchens that the Judenrat had set up initially. 56 We arrived at the old rundown building where Kalman had lived since he was forced into the ghetto late the previous year. He took us into the room that my family would share with him and his wife, Blima. It would barely be large enough for the six of us to lie down in. Two other Jewish families were living in the apartment. They greeted us with a look of knowing hopelessness. Their children were thin and sickly, dressed in ragged clothing. They sat on the floor among the disarray of their belongings. We were so fortunate to have found a place to live. In the ghetto just having a door and sharing a small kitchen and a toilet were luxuries. We placed our suitcases and backpacks in the corner of the room and sat down on mattresses on the floor. Father and Kalman talked about the reasons that the Germans had brought more Jews into the overcrowded ghetto. Kalman was worried about the German insistence that Jews do productive work or be sent to forced labor. It would be vital for Father, Manek, and me to find jobs right away. Kalman hoped to find something for my father at the Public Services Organization where he worked. He would try to help us, but we each would have to start looking for work immediately. The Rzeszów Judenrat would conduct a registration in the next few days for all new people in the ghetto. Kalman advised Manek and me to claim that we had technical skills and experience. Manek had worked as a bicycle mechanic, and I had worked in the locksmith shop as an apprentice. We would list these as our vocations. My mother asked about the dangers in the ghetto streets. Kalman warned us to stay clear of patrolling Gestapo and SS men. It was safer to be out on the ghetto streets during the day than at night. Kalman told us how the Germans came to the ghetto late at night and killed Jews during the nightly forays. Aunt Blima added, “I know you are frightened, but we will survive this. You must be exhausted from your march from Tyczyn.” She turned to my mother and said, “Andzia, let us prepare something to eat, and then you should all get some rest.” After a small bowl of soup and piece of bread, my parents went to another room to talk with the Kahanes. I undressed and lay down on the mattress that I would share with Manek. I wanted to sleep and push away the...
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