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Helen Rodak-Izso
The Last Chance to Remember
Chapter 12. BAR MITZVAH
The next most dramatic happening was the Bar-Mitzvah of my little nephew,
Imi, who was the son of aunt Cara and uncle Marci. This could hardly
be a more sorrowful place for such a joyful occasion. The grandmother,
aunt Marischka, her daughter Agnes, were allowed to come over from the
other side of the road. The Rabbi from Abauj-Szanto participated and
Imike (Imre) said his haftorah very beautifully. There were no dry eyes.
The Rabbi didn't have to say much, the situation spoke for itself. It
was very moving and everybody was full of emotion.
This
was the time when we felt that man can be stronger sometimes than steel,
but weaker than a single hair.
The
older son, Ervinke was there too, about 18 years old at the time, and
also took part in young people's work; tragically he never returned
either; they were both adored by both sides of the family. Clara's family
got permission for a few hours to participate at the Bar-Mitzvah and
then rushed back to their place. Little did we know, that this was the
last time we could see them. To our great shock we heard the bad news
next day: that the deportation on the other side already went on the
whole day. All we found out, was that who attended the Bar-Mitzvah a
day before, Clara's family and other relatives and many friends, were
gone. We never heard from them again. The date was about the middle
of May, 1944.
Again a new panic set in on our side among us because it was just a matter of time, and we were the next in line. Unless some miracle happens, for which we still were praying and hoping.
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