Chapter 1. Kilinskiego 11
Henry shared a single bed with his two younger brothers, Avram and Chaim, in a three-bedroom flat in a brick building in Radom, Poland. His three older brothers, Herschel (Harry), Julius, and Yasel (Joe), along with their sister Celina, shared another bedroom; and his mother and father were in the third. His other older sister Sala was already married and living with her husband Moishe a short distance away. Henry woke up early that day so that he and his brother Herschel could get fresh milk from the market. He washed his face in a basin in the foyer next to his room and then put on his clothes, making sure not to forget his white armband with a blue Star of David in the center. His father, Zygmund, was at his sewing machine in their living room, which doubled as a tailor shop. His mother Ida was busy preparing breakfast. There was a small container of milk sitting on the window sill. It had been there for a few days curdling into buttermilk.
Henry and his older brother Herschel carried a large five-gallon aluminum container as they walked to the marketplace. They passed businesses and shops that had paper signs posted on them letting the public know that they were owned by Jews. As they made their way to the market they were careful not to walk on the sidewalk, as it was forbidden for a Jew to do so. Instead, they walked in the street alongside the curb paying particular attention so as not to be struck by a vehicle. After they got the milk it took all of their strength and dexterity to carry it back without spilling any. There was a small storage area in the basement of the apartment that was allotted to their family to store their groceries to keep them fresh, but there was no refrigerator. They struggled down the few steps to the cellar and placed the container in its usual spot. Herschel grabbed a ladle that was hanging on a hook, opened the lid of the container, scooped out some milk, and carefully filled a bowl to bring upstairs.
When they came upstairs their mother Ida had breakfast prepared: hot cereal and fresh bread. There was no juice, as that was a luxury. The only time they had juice was when one of them was sick. It served as medicine. Ida began serving the cereal as the whole family sat at the breakfast table together. It had been several months since the Germans announced that all Jews were forbidden to go to public school. They even closed all Hebrew schools. Before this happened, Henry would typically pack his small tin with lunch after eating breakfast, and accompanied by his siblings he would walk to school nearby. After school let out at 2:30 he and his siblings would walk back home and snack on fruit and cookies. Henry would then head off to Hebrew school for two more hours along with all three of his older brothers. There they learned how to read and write Hebrew, as well as how to daven or recite passages from the Chumash, the Five Books of Moses. After Hebrew school the whole family would eat dinner together and then Henry would go do his school reading assignments. His older sister Celina would sometimes help him.
Henry and his older brother Herschel carried a large five-gallon aluminum container as they walked to the marketplace. They passed businesses and shops that had paper signs posted on them letting the public know that they were owned by Jews. As they made their way to the market they were careful not to walk on the sidewalk, as it was forbidden for a Jew to do so. Instead, they walked in the street alongside the curb paying particular attention so as not to be struck by a vehicle. After they got the milk it took all of their strength and dexterity to carry it back without spilling any. There was a small storage area in the basement of the apartment that was allotted to their family to store their groceries to keep them fresh, but there was no refrigerator. They struggled down the few steps to the cellar and placed the container in its usual spot. Herschel grabbed a ladle that was hanging on a hook, opened the lid of the container, scooped out some milk, and carefully filled a bowl to bring upstairs.
When they came upstairs their mother Ida had breakfast prepared: hot cereal and fresh bread. There was no juice, as that was a luxury. The only time they had juice was when one of them was sick. It served as medicine. Ida began serving the cereal as the whole family sat at the breakfast table together. It had been several months since the Germans announced that all Jews were forbidden to go to public school. They even closed all Hebrew schools. Before this happened, Henry would typically pack his small tin with lunch after eating breakfast, and accompanied by his siblings he would walk to school nearby. After school let out at 2:30 he and his siblings would walk back home and snack on fruit and cookies. Henry would then head off to Hebrew school for two more hours along with all three of his older brothers. There they learned how to read and write Hebrew, as well as how to daven or recite passages from the Chumash, the Five Books of Moses. After Hebrew school the whole family would eat dinner together and then Henry would go do his school reading assignments. His older sister Celina would sometimes help him.