The Ghetto

Another anti-Jewish law shortly passed, forcing us to leave our homes and be concentrated in a ghetto. This was a very distressing period for us. The Hungarian army called up my father for forced labor. Jewish men had been called for this purpose several years back; most had already died from hunger, been beaten or froze to death.

The Allied Forces started conducting air raids since the Nazi occupation began. Looking up at the planes in the sky, I wondered why the free countries don't do something to help us Jews before the Nazis exterminate us. We were innocent victims, and they could have helped us if they wanted to. My soul directed a silent prayer to them - please help us escape the devil's clutches.

Restless and depressed, we could not stay at home. I tried to think if there was some way to stop the pending disaster. But I could not come up with any comforting answers as I walked the familiar streets of Puspokladany.

Why is the sun not shining in my soul anymore?
Why can't I feel what happiness means anymore?
Why has darkness struck at my world?
Why is the devil ruling human souls?
Why is he turning them into cruel forces?
Why are the hopes of innocent people being shattered?
Why has the world kept silent at our loss?

There were so many why's then, and there are still too many why's today. There are no satisfactory answers to explain the endless suffering of the Jewish faith. Will justice ever prevail on earth? Will the time ever come when people come to tolerate each other and let them live peacefully? The devil prevailed and took our fat into his cruel hands.

© David Muskal, 2001