Page 101 - Witness

Excerpts from the letter...
Dombrowa, July 22, 1943
Eleven-year-old Sally in 1946, after the war, with her Polish rescuers, Eva and Mikolaj Turkin.
My Dear Sister and Brother-in-Law,
I was able to leave my Sheindele (Sally) with Mr. Turkin. I met him only a few months ago.
He and his wife are very decent people, they took Sheindele under their care with love...I am writing this letter to you during the last days of my life. We are expecting death any time. We know what kind of death to expect. My dearest, the end is bitter and tragic.
I thank God for Mr. Turkin. I am sure he and his wife care for, and will save my child’s life. I see the Angel of Death before me. I don’t believe even a miracle can help us now. My little son Vovek and I are the last sacrificial victims. My dear ones, I write this letter with blood instead of ink. The only thing that makes it easier on my heart is knowing that Sheindele will be saved. She is in good hands with good people.... I can feel the pain in your hearts when you read this letter. It is not our fault. We are innocent, our future is lost and it cannot be changed.... It is terrible to die when your mind knows everything that is going to happen....
It hurts me terribly, it breaks my heart to have to write this letter to you, but you must know what happened to your family and how they disappeared. I am sorry to say that from the whole family, nobody is alive, we are the last. We are in danger and there is no possible way for us to live through this.
We do not have a way out. We are surrounded on all sides. I cannot write any more, I do not want to pain you. This is the last letter from me to you.
Your Sister Toby
A few days later Dombrowa was liquidated and declared Judenfrei (Jew free).
Shortly thereafter Sally’s mother and brother were murdered in Auschwitz.
93