Motherhood

Genia Judzki

“Mommy, we’re going to die together,” seven-year-old Michál would whisper to his mother, Genia, hugging her.

Genia, her husband Ber (Bronek), and their son Michál survived the persecution of the Sosnowiec Ghetto. In August 1943 the ghetto was liquidated and Genia’s husband was murdered. Genia and her son managed to flee to the “Aryan” side, where Genia managed to obtain ID cards for them both by dint of her fluency in German and French (she was a graduate of the Sorbonne). She gave Michál to the care of a Polish woman named Bronia, writing her a thank-you letter and asking her to take care of her son. Genia found a job running the household of a German physician. The doctor, receiving an instruction to relocate to Vienna as part of his work, offered to take Genia and her son with him. Some time later, Genia’s identity was revealed; she was taken to a prison and Michál was placed in an orphanage. When the Gestapo informed Genia that they were about to deport her, she decided to take her son with her, fearing that the orphanage would be destroyed. In 1944, the mother and son were deported to Auschwitz and murdered; the children in the orphanage survived.

The 27th of September 1943

Dear Miss Bronja,
It is so hard for me to write to you. Lately, terrible things have been happening to me. Life is too cruel.
Miss Bronja, I beg you, look after my son, be a mother to him.
My dear Bronja, give him everything with all your heart and I will be grateful to you until the end of my days.
He is so clever and he has a good heart. I am sure that you can find in your heart to love him.
Michael should eat as much as he can for who knows what is to come? He must be strong and able to endure great suffering. Please make sure that he dresses warmly and that he also wears socks. I cannot write any more, my tears have all dried up. May God watch over you both.
Kisses


My beloved Michael’leh,
Are you playing with other children? Are you getting along well with Miss Bronja? Write me a few lines every day. That way, you’ll learn to write me long letters.
Take care of yourself. Sleep in the warm pajamas that I handed you.
Kisses,
Mother