Hannah and Her Children, 1940–1942

Abstract

Hannah: I had never met Tante Roizele but I knew that she was an unusual woman, goodhearted and very wise. She had taken the children into an already large household; cared for them, sent them to school, and provided them with a large family of uncles, aunts, and second cousins who were more than willing to play many games and make them laugh. The children stayed with the family for four long months, not easy for children who had almost never been away from home and only recently had lost their Papa. Needless to say, we had a joyful reunion. Chaya’le did not let me out of her sight. She asked unending questions, “Where is Papa? Where is he now? Why didn’t he come with you?” I had to explain over and over why Papa was not with me. She did not want to believe me and needed to hear again and again that her Papa was not here because he was dead. Gradually, she stopped asking. Gitta’le was quieter, more reserved than her sister, but also very tender with me. She understood so much better than Chaya what was going on. She was of course, almost four years older than her sister.