apartment. And we can’t leave them here in the open,” she said. “We don’t know what will happen to the things in our home while we’re gone.”
“I wish I could take them with me,” sighed Ruda. “But I know that’s impossible.” He paced through the small apartment. “Where can we leave the newspapers so they will be safe? Who can we trust to hide them?”
Ruda and Irena finally came up with a plan. Their former housekeeper, a Christian woman named Thereza, had remained a friend, even after it became illegal for her to work for a Jewish family. She had left the Stadlers tearfully, promising to assist them in the future. The time had come to ask for help. Leaving the magazines with her was the only solution. Ruda trusted her to keep Klepy safe.
He gathered up the newspapers into a big bundle and left his home. He ran quickly through the streets of Budejovice, careful to avoid any soldiers who might be out on patrol, ducking in and around buildings to avoid being seen. Finally he arrived at Thereza’s home, anxious and out of breath.
When she saw Ruda at the door, Thereza pulled him quickly into her home, glancing around nervously to see if anyone had noticed him. It was dangerous for her to be seen with a Jewish boy, and even more dangerous to be hiding this Jewish newspaper. But when Ruda explained what he needed her to do, she did not hesitate. “I’ll hide them, Ruda,” she promised. “No one will find them in my home. And they’ll be here waiting for you when you return.”
A photo/drawing of Ruda as the fearless leader, from Klepy.
“I’m so grateful,” Ruda whispered.
She shook her head. “It’s the least I can do for a friendship that has lasted so many years.”
“I’ll come back for them,” Ruda promised, as he handed over the bundle of newspapers – two years’ worth of work, imagination, and resourcefulness. He felt as though he was handing over his past, his life. As much as he wanted to believe that he would come back home, he was deeply uncertain about his future. Even as he vowed to return, his voice was shaky, and he felt sad and empty as he walked away.
Top: Drawings from Klepy. Bottom: In this edition, an article about Chanukah includes the following passage: “Be proud of your people, so small yet so big, beautiful, and praiseworthy. Chanukah urges us to do good, noble deeds, and have strong character. The Chanukah candles shine back to the great past. Let them shine forth, so that while bringing back a memory, they also bring forth hope.”
CHAPTER 23
L EAVING H OME
A PRIL 1942
“Wake up!” John’s mother called from the kitchen. “It’s late, and we have to leave.”
John rolled over, stretched, and sat up in bed. His eyes moved around the room, finally coming to rest on the suitcase by his bedroom door. It was Tuesday, April 14, 1942 – the day he and his family, along with all the other Jewish families of Budejovice, were being forced to leave their homes and go to Theresienstadt.
No one spoke much at breakfast. John’s father looked sad and withdrawn, as if he had no more answers. John’s mother moved around the kitchen, packing up rolls and cheese and whatever bits of food were left in the house. As long as she kept busy, she would not have to think too much about what lay ahead. They all finished breakfast, and then John went back to his bedroom to complete his packing. His soccer ball rested in a corner of the room, along with his table tennis paddle. How he longed to take these toys with him! But these and other prized possessions would have to be left behind.
Where will I sleep, he wondered, as he made his bed for the last time. What will I do all day long? Will I be with my parents? Will I be near my friends? What will I eat? What if I get sick? Will my mother be there to look after me? So many questions swirled inside his head. He worried about what would happen to all the things left behind in his room. He wondered when he would come
“I wish I could take them with me,” sighed Ruda. “But I know that’s impossible.” He paced through the small apartment. “Where can we leave the newspapers so they will be safe? Who can we trust to hide them?”
Ruda and Irena finally came up with a plan. Their former housekeeper, a Christian woman named Thereza, had remained a friend, even after it became illegal for her to work for a Jewish family. She had left the Stadlers tearfully, promising to assist them in the future. The time had come to ask for help. Leaving the magazines with her was the only solution. Ruda trusted her to keep Klepy safe.
He gathered up the newspapers into a big bundle and left his home. He ran quickly through the streets of Budejovice, careful to avoid any soldiers who might be out on patrol, ducking in and around buildings to avoid being seen. Finally he arrived at Thereza’s home, anxious and out of breath.
When she saw Ruda at the door, Thereza pulled him quickly into her home, glancing around nervously to see if anyone had noticed him. It was dangerous for her to be seen with a Jewish boy, and even more dangerous to be hiding this Jewish newspaper. But when Ruda explained what he needed her to do, she did not hesitate. “I’ll hide them, Ruda,” she promised. “No one will find them in my home. And they’ll be here waiting for you when you return.”
A photo/drawing of Ruda as the fearless leader, from Klepy.
“I’m so grateful,” Ruda whispered.
She shook her head. “It’s the least I can do for a friendship that has lasted so many years.”
“I’ll come back for them,” Ruda promised, as he handed over the bundle of newspapers – two years’ worth of work, imagination, and resourcefulness. He felt as though he was handing over his past, his life. As much as he wanted to believe that he would come back home, he was deeply uncertain about his future. Even as he vowed to return, his voice was shaky, and he felt sad and empty as he walked away.
Top: Drawings from Klepy. Bottom: In this edition, an article about Chanukah includes the following passage: “Be proud of your people, so small yet so big, beautiful, and praiseworthy. Chanukah urges us to do good, noble deeds, and have strong character. The Chanukah candles shine back to the great past. Let them shine forth, so that while bringing back a memory, they also bring forth hope.”
CHAPTER 23
L EAVING H OME
A PRIL 1942
“Wake up!” John’s mother called from the kitchen. “It’s late, and we have to leave.”
John rolled over, stretched, and sat up in bed. His eyes moved around the room, finally coming to rest on the suitcase by his bedroom door. It was Tuesday, April 14, 1942 – the day he and his family, along with all the other Jewish families of Budejovice, were being forced to leave their homes and go to Theresienstadt.
No one spoke much at breakfast. John’s father looked sad and withdrawn, as if he had no more answers. John’s mother moved around the kitchen, packing up rolls and cheese and whatever bits of food were left in the house. As long as she kept busy, she would not have to think too much about what lay ahead. They all finished breakfast, and then John went back to his bedroom to complete his packing. His soccer ball rested in a corner of the room, along with his table tennis paddle. How he longed to take these toys with him! But these and other prized possessions would have to be left behind.
Where will I sleep, he wondered, as he made his bed for the last time. What will I do all day long? Will I be with my parents? Will I be near my friends? What will I eat? What if I get sick? Will my mother be there to look after me? So many questions swirled inside his head. He worried about what would happen to all the things left behind in his room. He wondered when he would come
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