This week, each student had to read two letters that were written by people who were killed in the Holocaust. It took me a very long time to read the letters because I took many breaks due to the intensity of what I was reading. One of the letters was particularly difficult for me to read because the person who wrote it, Shimshon Holcblatt, was from Poland and my grandmother–a Holocaust survivor–is also from Poland. Sadly, but not surprisingly, most of my grandmother’s family died in the Holocaust.
After reports that Germans were attacking Jews, Shimshon and his wife, Henia, decided that their children should leave Poland to have a better chance of living. My great grandmother–whom I am named after–decided that fleeing from Poland was the only chance her family had to escape the Nazis. If she had not fled along with her husband and two daughters, I would not be here today.
Shimshon’s daughter begged her parents to leave Poland, but Shimshon and Henia decided to stay. Shimshon was writing to his children in the letter. He told them that he knows he is going to die:
“Unless a miracle suddenly occurs, our letter will reach you when we are no longer alive.”
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1942/holcblati.asp
Shimshon then says:
“I see you in front of me, Miriamele, my darling daughter, standing with tears in your eyes and asking us to do as you did, and to consider your request.”
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1942/holcblati.asp
My grandmother’s aunts, uncles, and cousins all decided to stay in Poland, and as far as we know, they all perished in the Holocaust.
To end this post, I would like to share what I believe is the most powerful line from the letter:
“In a world of so much cruelty, with people whom we lived amongst and were friendly with for years, people who always smiled and now are willing to betray us – it is not worth living in such a world.”
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1942/holcblati.asp
This quote properly portrays the reality Jews faced during the Holocaust and other times throughout Jewish history.
: Last Letters from the Holocaust : Last Letters from the Holocaust