The Fate of Aharon and Fiszel
The Fate of Aharon and Fiszel
My brother, Aharon Schlafrock, brought Zionism into our home. As a child he learnt in a cheder, but was not satisfied by the studies there and began to study on his own. He also became interested in the natural sciences, which was unusual among Jewish boys in the Diaspora. Throughout his life he regretted not having had the opportunity to study systematically, but while unable to remedy this in his own case, he made sure it would not happen to me: He put me into the Hebrew school Kadima and even hired a teacher to prepare me for high school examinations. He also took me to the Zionist Youth Movement.
He was an honest person, considerate towards others, loved by his friends from all the circles and all the schools of thought, and our home served as a meeting place for them. He participated actively in all the Zionist and cultural activities.
He was a member of the community council, which became the Judenrat after the German occupation. Aharon was about to resign from his post there, because he did not want to cooperate with the rich assimilated Jews, who, as we know, were only concerned with their own gain… However, it was decided that the Zionists would participate in the Judenrat, to prevent the assimilated Jews from taking control of the life of the community. So he continued to work as a clerk for the work committee and became friends with Grosbaum Fiszel (born 1909 – editor). The job of the work committee was as follows: The Gestapo and the S.S. handed them requests for Jewish workers. Aharon and Fiszel prepared the lists and accompanied the people to their workplaces. His work was difficult. At that time Jews from Wloclawek, Prague and Vienna were brought in. Those were cold winter days and they both tried to receive permission to bring the new arrivals food and water. The Nazis ordered ‘contributzia’, and invented the forced labor camp in Bialobrzeg for that purpose; anyone who had money was permitted to release himself and someone else was sent in his place. Engineer Bronstein of the Judenrat demanded the lists, but Aharon refused to hand them over and said: “If the Judenrat is unable to do anything to help the Jews – it has to resign.” Bronsztajn was offended and hit Aharon and shouted: “This isn’t Palestina and the Zionists are not in control here – we give the orders!” When others intervened, Bronstein apologized to Aharon. But Fiszel did not give in and told them the truth in their faces. Then the members of the Judenrat prepared the lists themselves and the Bialobrzeg camp was set up.
Many people paid a ransom in gold or precious stones and much of it went into the pockets of the Judenrat; Engineer Bronsztajn, Memek Garfinkel and Wilder (Boruch) had a great time, while the people in the community experienced great hunger, sorrow and fear. Wilder was responsible for the work camp; the S.S. provided flour and potatoes for the workers, but Wilder sent it to Warsaw and received a great deal of money for them, which went into his own pocket. Garfinkel’s behavior was cruel. During the expulsion to the ghetto in the New Town, 700 Jews were ordered to gather in the Umschlagsplatz. Some of the members of the Judenrat (though not all of them) accompanied the Germans from house to house. A thousand Jews came to the square. And when the S.S. commander remarked to Garfinkel that there were 300 more Jews than requested, he did not ask for them to be freed, but said: “Do as you wish”.
My family was expelled with the first transport. My aunt and my uncle were ill. Aharon asked Szeps and Tiszberg of the Judenrat to let him bring them to the square in a cart. Szeps brought a vehicle, but did not bring them to the square; he brought them into a side alley, apparently destined from the start for the old and the children to be killed – and they were murdered there.
My parents and the parents of Ya’akow Najmark and Fiszel Grosbaum’s mother hid for three weeks in a safe place outside the ghetto. Members of the Judenrat demanded that Aharon and Fiszel hand them over. They both answered: “It’s high time that you yourselves went to the camp and we got rid of you and of all the trouble you cause us.”
During the liquidation of the ghetto, the order was published to gather again in the square. A group of ten people, belonging to the families of the Judenrat, were placed on the side, as earmarked for survival. I went and joined that group. Garfinkel asked Tiszberg: “Who is that?” Tiszberg answered: “Aharon Schlafrock’s sister.” Garfinkel shouted: “Who allowed you to stand here?” I answered: “I have the right to live like you, and even greater right: You are older and have had the chance to live and I am still young.” Garfinkel caught me by the neck and kicked me. He pushed me out of the group to those doomed to die. But on the way, by the army camp, I escaped and hid. That is how I survived.
This is a little of the great deal I can tell. Aharon and Fiszel were killed. Who knows how many secrets they took with them to their bloody grave.