The Scarlet Letter

“So that the latter generations will know, the sons that will be born, they will arise and tell it to their sons” (Tehillim 78/page vii). For this reason alone, Pinchas Feigenbaum, along with the joint efforts of his family decided to put down in ink the horrors and miracles of their story. Although his parents had passed on, he and his family gathered weekly to discuss and recollect the events of the time. It took much time and energy but the possibility of having it forgotten was too great to have not been done.

Rav Avraham Chaim Feigenbaum married Roiza Shermer in the year 1924, and together they moved back to his hometown in Galicia, Poland. In the small town, Svosov (Swoszowa in polish) their house stood at the top of the hill. “She longed for Krinich, the beautiful resort town where she had spent her childhood” (page 5). Life in the village was dull for Roiza, a city girl herself, used to loud market places and crowds of tourist filling the streets, she had to adapt to the quiet way of living in the country. The family had many fields, employing many of the villagers, which Rav Avraham supervised; he also ran a business causing him to travel frequently. Roiza maintained their private farm, the cow and chickens that lived there, the one that provided them with food.

Together they had five children. The first, Mordechai was born a year into their marriage, bringing much happiness. Not long after Pinchas Elimelech arrived. When Mordechai was five, Rivka joined the family, followed by Naftali and then the youngest one Yehuda. Not far from their house lived their grandfather, Reb Menashe, whom they visited regularly. He passed away shortly before the war began and was fortunate to not have to experience it.

Life was not easy for observant Jews in the small village. The closest “spiritual center” was a far distance away, to which the traveled by foot or wagon once or even twice a day. “Every morning, while the village was still immersed in slumber, Mordechai, Naftali, and Pinchas, the three eldest, woke to the soft touch of Mama’s hand. In a split second, we slid out of our beds and within a few moments, we were already in the kitchen gulping down a fresh cup of milk, being sent on our way to our day in Cheder” (page 9). The shul in Olpiny was a big center for religious Jews, with about 200 family’s pre-war, by the time it was over only about 50 remained.

“She measured out the ingredients for the dough from which she would make the Shabbos challahs, mixed them together and began to knead the dough vigorously” (page 3). It was a hotter than usual, Friday, Roiza was preparing for Shabbos, before everyone awoke, when she sensed something was amiss. Trying to concentrate on her work, she kept getting distracted by the warplanes and dusty skies, when it hit her, war had broken out. Rav Avraham came down, she served him breakfast and they shared their nerves about what was happening. Shabbos was fast approaching and feelings of uncertainness were rising. Rav Avraham, along with his eldest son Mottel left at once with only a small burden on his back, but a big one on his heart, with no place of destination in mind. Some people were walking, some were running, all were in panic, all in exhausted. Headed in the direction of Freistig, a city rumored the Germans had yet to reach.

After hours of walking they arrived at the outskirts of the city, filled with feelings of relief these emotions were short-lived. Quickly realizing that Frestig was already occupied they turned around, blisters on their bodies with no end in sight. “The Nazis were sauntering the streets and doing as they please” (page13). The Nazis suddenly appeared ordering them to the ground, they thought this was there end, little did they know this was just the beginning to many similar episodes.

The days following, were filled with much worry and confusion, only with rare occasions leaving the house, many unanswered questions. Stories were being brought to their attention of terrifying happenings in nearby towns, including the death of their Rebbe, Reb Reuven Chaim Raya and his sons. The situation was deteriorating quickly; their lives were hanging in the hands of no one, able to be snatched away at any given moment. The days were passing, many decrees were set up. White bands with stars were now mandatory, a Judenrat set up in each town, and they remained indoors for the fear of being seen was worse. Life under the Nazi rule became regular; living in fear became the norm, always being braced for the worst, unknown to them this would be the easiest of the times.

The more the Germans advanced the more refugees and also deaths there were. After Lodz was captured they took in many people, including a scholar who would teach the children. When the Nazis came to their town, they stripped them of their clothes, their furs and many other possessions. “It’s not enough that they turned the Shuls into stables, that entire streets have been emptied of their Jews, and that Jewish property has become free for the taking….now they want our clothes, too” (page 31). Through all of this Rav Avraham took upon himself to become the towns ‘Shochet” providing kosher meet for those still in need.

One bright day, their lives turned to dark, the Germans had come to Olpiny. They were gathering up the Jews and sending them to the Batish ghetto. Arriving there they settled in a house with one room assigned to them. The ghetto consisted of a few streets, a Jewish center and a Shul, filled with about 2000 inhabitants. Many died of starvation, some were wound up by the Nazis, but for the time being the day to day life was bearable compared to what was yet to come.

Rav Avraham and Rivka had managed to leave the ghetto, and stayed in a nearby town for the time being. When the Germans arrived they ran, escaped to the nearby forest were they heard about the well beings of their children Mordechai and Pinchas who had been taken to Prokochim-Plashov, a concentration camp. Meanwhile Batish had been destroyed and they feared the worst for their family, receiving a package that they were alive brought much joy to their hardships.

Rumor was that they were planning to send the prisoners to the nearby Plashov a camp of almost an immediate death sentence. They came up with an escape plan, endeared with many risk but the well worth the outcome. They were reunited with their family, in the home of Waldek, an angel sent to them in these terrible times . This paradise was shortly outlived; Waldek feared being caught by the Nazis, they escaped to a neighbor for the time being, but it could not be long, for they had to move on. Waldek built them a bunker underground, which unknown to them would serve as refuge for well over a year. “You see we’re already one week in this attic. It’s even smaller than the