One More Miracle the Memoirs of Morris Sorid
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One More Miracle The Memoirs of Morris Sorid © 2007 by Jonathan Sorid All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or trans- mitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission of the publisher. For my children and their families; and to the memory of my wife, Regina. Table of Contents The Outbreak of World War II...............................................................1 Collapse of the Polish Forces................................................................4 Capture by Red Army ...........................................................................6 Capture by Polish Military Police .........................................................9 Recapture by Russian Army................................................................11 Home Again in Pruzany......................................................................17 Life Under the Soviet Regime.................................................................19 Teaching in the Communist System...................................................24 Home Life............................................................................................29 Banishment to Siberia .........................................................................31 Russian Citizenship and Passports......................................................31 The Threat of German Invasion.........................................................32 German Occupation................................................................................34 Life in the Pruzany Ghetto..................................................................37 The Evacuation of Jews from Pruzany ...................................................45 The Bunker .............................................................................................48 Life as a Partisan......................................................................................56 On the Run ..........................................................................................56 Acceptance into the Chapayev Brigade—Malenkov Otriad ...............59 Facing Danger Within the Otriad.......................................................63 Acts of Sabotage...................................................................................71 Promotion to Rank of Sergeant ..........................................................73 Promotion to Deputy Commander ....................................................75 Medical and Food Supplies.................................................................76 Hungarian Jews........................................................................................87 Songs and Entertainment ........................................................................92 Communist Party Rejection ....................................................................96 A Change in Locations and Regimes....................................................100 Life as a Civilian Under Communist Rule ...........................................111 Map One................................................................................................127 Fear: The Foundation of Communism ................................................129 The Yalta Accord ..............................................................................129 Fear and Apprehension—Our Way of Life ......................................130 Registration for Resettlement in Poland ...........................................134 Registration to Leave Kobrin ................................................................144 Election Day and the Birth of Chaim...................................................147 Back to Poland ......................................................................................153 Shteteen: Stopover to Berlin.................................................................156 Refugee Camp Foonkkaserne...........................................................182 Refugee Camp Neu Freimann ..........................................................184 Early Life in Dolgolisk, Poland.............................................................200 Family Roots and Heritage....................................................................205 General Family Information .................................................................215 Sisters .................................................................................................215 Chores................................................................................................219 Childhood Games .............................................................................219 Early Education .................................................................................220 Youth Organizations and Activities...................................................226 My Bar Mitzvah .................................................................................231 Higher Education ..............................................................................232 Talents and Accomplishments..........................................................233 Military Service in Poland .....................................................................236 The Family Cheese Business ................................................................245 Courtship of Regina...............................................................................248 Life in America......................................................................................258 Our First Home.................................................................................260 Meeting the Relatives.........................................................................261 Finding Employment.........................................................................262 American Citizenship ........................................................................272 Membership in a Fraternal Lodge ....................................................273 Family Life .........................................................................................274 Bar Mitzvahs of Victor and Harvey ..................................................276 Jewish Organizations .............................................................................278 German Restitution ...........................................................................278 Regina’s Hadassah Activities .............................................................279 Pruzaner and Vicinity Relief Organization .......................................281 Fulfillment of My Promise ....................................................................283 New Business Venture ..........................................................................286 Regina’s Illness, Sale of Business, and New Job ..................................291 Addendum.............................................................................................302 My Father’s Siblings...........................................................................302 My Life in Retirement .......................................................................302 Introduction Whenever I experience a challenge in my life, I think of my Grandpa Morris, Grandma Regina, and the last name they chose 58 years ago. (Sorid is a variant of “Sarid”, which means “survivor” in Hebrew). They lived in the forests of Poland and fought against the Nazis. They lost so many dear family members during the Holocaust. They started with nothing in America and worked tremendously hard to rebuild their live- lihood. And in the end, while we lost Grandma Regina more than 32 years ago, our family has survived and continues to grow. These thoughts race through my head with every challenge I face. If Grandpa Morris and Grandma Regina could get through their chal- lenges, I surely can find the strength to get through mine. It’s in our blood to survive any challenge that comes our way. I hope this book in- spires all readers, especially those in the family, to keep personal chal- lenges in perspective. In a few weeks, the Sorid family will get together with Grandpa to cele- brate his 96th birthday. Four generations of the Sorid family will laugh, eat, and listen to stories about the old country. This is our way of never forgetting the tragedies of the Holocaust and the triumph of our family. I hope this book, originally written on a typewriter by Grandpa during 1999-2002 and copyedited by a professional editor in 2006, will enable future generations to never forget the Holocaust and take tremendous pride in our family’s history and name. Jonathan Sorid January 2007 Acknowledgments I am grateful to my family for their help and support in producing this book from the typewritten pages I had written over the years. And to those who saved my life: Ivan Pauk and his family, and Pavel Deba. Morris Sorid (Moshe Yudewitz) June 2007 Section One “The Holocaust is a central event in many people’s lives, but it also has become a meta- phor for our century. There cannot be an end to speaking and writing about it. Besides . everyone carries a biography deep inside him.” —Aharon Appelfeld ONE MORE MIRACLE: THE MEMOIRS OF MORRIS SORID 1 The Outbreak of World War II I remember Wednesday, August 30, 1939 as though it were yester- day. Early in the morning, I had walked down the street to buy a news- paper and saw huge posters attached to the lampposts. I approached one of