Independence So, it was true! Poland was to become independent! Russia would be forced to give back the land she had seized long ago and the Poles would be allowed to establish their own country.
What would it be?
Would they have a king like the Russian Czar, who instigated pogroms against the Jews?
Everyone had an opinion and it was a relief to have something new to talk about. Yet, people spoke in a low tone as though they were afraid of being overheard.
For some time the village waited for someone with the authority to appear. Someone who could give orders. Then, one afternoon, we heard very faintly from a distance, church bells ringing. This never happened during the German occupation. And suddenly a priest arrived, driven in from the station. He wore a black robe, a high hat and had a large silver cross on his chest. As the carriage passed through our street he bowed to everyone, inviting them to come to the church and listen to the speeches. Most were reluctant to go (What, to a church?) but several of the Jewish tradesmen thought they had better go and hear at least what was in store for them.
As they reported back to the rest of us, it had all turned out very surprising. The speeches were held outside of the church. The first speaker was the priest himself. He blessed the assemblage, then said, “The war is over.” It is the will of God that Poland [unreadable] should be reconstituted as a nation. The Polish people should all come back from wherever they have strayed.” The next speaker was a military man. He greeted the Poles first, and then the Jews, but he addressed them as Yudden and not as Zhid, the customary insulting term. He asked all the people to cooperate and work together to help Poland for the benefit of those who lived in it. Then he turned to the Jews again, “Don't be afraid of us. We are not your enemy. We want you to remain here and work with us.” After that, everybody sang the Polish national anthem and the Poles went into the church to pray while the Jews came back to the ghetto.
In spite of these assurances, there was little enthusiasm for the new regime among the Jews. Several of the stores reopened but there was scant merchandise in them. I remember mother begged our neighbors who had chickens for just a few eggs to tide us over.
Some days later a group of officers arrived in the village and announced that they were the representatives of the Polish government. They requested that several of the Jewish merchants should appear before them. They presented to them the picture of a wartorn country whose need was great. They asked for financial help, promising that this would be considered in lieu of taxes. In exchange, they offered the merchants a franchise covering the entire area of Wysokie Litewskie. These Poles were so polite but once more the Jews felt that they were pinned against the wall! They disputed the amount that the Poles requested. But in the end a compromise was reached and an agreement was concluded.
