Beyond my windows is a forest, much like the one my family and I escaped to in 1942. We escaped from the ghetto in the small town of Zhetel before it was liquidated and all of the remaining Jews, except for a few, were murdered.
My family and other families set up camps in the forest. The summers were beautiful and warm but the winters were cold and brutal. It was a daily struggle to survive but we did. During the two years we were in the forest, Simon, the butcher’s son and I fell in love. We later got married.
100 Words
This story was inspired by the true story of the 25,000 Jews who escaped the ghettos and hid in Eastern European forests. The members of one family that survived years in the woods tell their story in Rebecca Frankel’s new book, “Into the Forest.” If you’re interested, you can read more about it here.
This post is for the Friday’s Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. You can find this week’s prompt here. To read other stories or to participate, click here.
Notes to Women 
Today I picked up the Diary of Anne Frank, thinking it is about time I read it again. Life in those forests must have been bleak indeed.
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I read the Diary of Anne Frank and watched the movie. I’m so thankful her father found it and it was published. You’re right, life in the forests was probably very challenging for the families.
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So lovely that some beauty came out of such horror.
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Yes, it’s always nice when there is beauty in the midst of horror or hope emerges from despair.
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Absolutely.
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It’s amazing to me that after all these years we are still hearing stories of those who survived and endured.
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I’m always hearing new stories about survivors. Just recently I watched the movie, Father Rupert Mayer. What a courageous man of God he was.
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Dear Adele,
Of course this is a story near and dear to my heart. And I go back to the movie Defience which told the story so well.
Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I can well imagine that this story would have quite an impact on you. I watched the movie you mentioned. Daniel Craig was one of the stars. It’s empowering when the people fight back.
I get very angry whenever I watch World War II movies. The Nazis were evil personified and they acted like they were gods. I watched a movie called, “Walking With the Enemy” with Ben Kingsley. I was grateful that they showed at the end of the movie what became of the different people, including Adolf Eichmann. In the end, justice was served.
Thanks 🙂 I had to write something for Remembrance Day. Lest we forget…
Shalom,
Adele
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To find love in a hopeless place! What a gift.
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Beauty out of ashes.
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I had no idea families had camped in the forests! I will have to check out the book by Rebecca Frankel.
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I had no idea too until I came across the story which inspired my story. I’m curious to know what you think of the book after you’ve had a chance to read it.
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Loved the ending 🙂
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Thanks, Bernadette 🙂
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