Growing Fears of Hitler

After returning from Hajdusamson I too often heard one of our neighbors, Lilike, tell my mother will annihilate us too, just like he is doing to our Jewish brethren throughout Europe. My mother always responded that the Almighty would protect us. Lilike just smiled, but she was firmly convinced that what she said would happen. And it truly did. But at the time we were too preoccupied with everyday life, trying to overcome the economic hardships which the Hungarian government decreed on us Jews. We felt happy just being alive, with a decent income, a home and the ability to come and go as we pleased. We continued to humbly live our lives as Jews in the face of all the hardships.

I recall one day when my mom sent me to buy eggs from one of our Christian neighbors, the Karob family. One of the girls who tried to be "friendly" with me asked some ignorant, degrading questions. "Is it true that you Jews mix your unleavened bread with the blood of a Christian child for your Passover holiday?" It was the first time I heard this brutal accusation.

Shocked as I was, I could answer the question immediately. Even the youngest Jewish child knows that it is forbidden to eat blood. When Jews slaughtered animals, the Christian people came with dishes to collect the flowing blood, which they took home and ate! Afterwards, we throw the veins from the neck into the garbage, soak and salt the animal to make sure it is completely rid of blood, because our Torah forbids us from eating blood.

© David Muskal, 2001