A Story of Love

Hitler and his army were on the move, destroying everything and anyone in his way. His hatred for the Jews drove the most devastating of this destruction.

As word spread from city to city and town to town, a family living in a small village in Poland made a most difficult decision.

They would send one of their two sons to America. He would become a citizen, work hard, and save money. His objective: return to his village and bring the rest of his family to the Goldeneh Medinah (land of gold — America).

The young man landed at Ellis Island settling in The Bronx. Over time, he met many other young men and women who arrived in America with the very same goals.

They all worked hard to fit into this new culture. They had to learn the language and learn new skills for the jobs available to them. They spent their weekends at various Jewish clubs meeting other young Jewish men and women, many with the same objectives as this young man whose name was Moishe.

Countless of these young people had arrived with their families before hatred of Jews made it impossible to live in their home country. Many were fortunate enough to enroll in public schools where they learned English. They worked hard to fit into the American way of life, while holding on to their Jewish customs and beliefs.

Eventually, word of the war’s devastation spread to The Bronx. Life back in Poland had become intolerable and dangerous. Entire Jewish families were being slaughtered. Organizations quickly sprung up whose sole objectives were to create opportunities for saving as many Jewish lives as possible.

At one of these weekend dances Moishe attended, he met a young woman named Penina. Her family left Poland, had been in America for several years, all had become American citizens.

Moishe and Penina became fast friends. Moishe shared his worry about his family with Penina who was eager to help in his effort to save his family.

At the time, Penina was engaged to a handsome American gentleman named Steve. Try to imagine the discussions between Penina and Steve, when she explained her agreement with Moishe to go to Poland, marry Moishe’s brother, Chaim, and bring him to America. The agreement between Moishe and Penina was that the marriage was not to be consummated.

After three months, Chaim would become an American citizen, return to his village and rescue his family.

Many Jewish women volunteered to join this radical movement. There were many issues to be addressed before Penina could embark on this mission, beginning with the fact that she was engaged to Steve, an American-born man. Penina had a well-paying job whose salary helped the family pay rent for the apartment they lived in. These issues and others would have to be addressed and agreed upon before undertaking this critical mission.

As soon as all obstacles were removed and with the support of her family and the sponsoring Jewish agency, Penina packed her bags, boarded a ship heading for Paris. Upon arrival, Penina was driven to a previously agreed upon location, then was taken by horse and buggy to Moishe’s village.

Penina was more than a little surprised to enter Moishe’s family home – a structure built on dirt floors with chickens and goats wandering throughout their home. Moishe’s family included the brother, whom Penina was to bring back to America, three sisters, two brothers-in-law and their children. Penina and Chaim married and headed for Paris to board the ship that would take them back to America.

How can I say this politely? While in Paris, they broke the agreed upon rules, consummated the marriage, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The man who was to become my dad never made it back to Poland. It was too late.

His nightmares plagued him for the rest of his life.