Page 40 - LEIBY

40 Leiby – Border Smuggler

with her parents and family, eventually crossing the border and
disappearing into Russian Soviet territory. She was lucky, and
unlike many other young communists who tried crossing the
border into the Russian paradise and instead found themselves
arrested on suspicion of espionage and exiled to the Siberian
hell, she was never caught and put on trial.

Rosa was blessed with rare talents, and the government
authorities took notice of her, and knew just how to utilize her
talents for their advantage. She soon rose in the communist
ranks and was nominated director of the communist youth
movement in neighboring Poland. The special division of
which she was head sent envoys to Poland to disseminate
the communist ideas, equipped with a variety of propaganda
materials that Rosa authored.

But one day, Germany caught them all by surprise, when her
soldiers crossed the Bog River, conquered Eastern Poland and
penetrated into Russia. German soldiers took over the town,
and Rosa had no time to flee. All the residents were forced to
assemble in the city square.

“All Jews are to stand over here, and everyone else – over there!”
the Germans ordered. Rosa stayed just where she was, together
with her colleagues. They all shared the same philosophy
of life, and had spent countless hours together, planning the
perfect world they dreamed of establishing. As far as Rosa
the Communist was concerned, there was no difference at all
between a Jew and a non-Jew, and so she made no move to
go over to the Jewish side. To her utmost shock, however, her
communist comrades informed her that she had to go over to
the other side – for she was not like them; she was Jewish.

Numbly, Rosa was forced to change sides, while her communist
friends, whom she had considered as her own brothers up until
now, spat in her face and cursed the zhidovke who had dared
imagine herself to be one of them. These were not boorish
farmers, but young intelligent people, the cream of the Party,
partners in her dream of equality for all.