Life in the City
Page 11
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It was almost an unreal thing that roused my home out of sleep. My house shook and moved with the Golem’s heavy steps. The sound of its voice shattered our windows.
“It is not safe for anyone to be outside,” the Golem roared. “Anyone who leaves their homes will be severally punished,”.”
And to make its threat a real one, the Golem seized my neighbor, Rosenberg—who had stepped outside to investigate. We watched in horror, as the thing crushed Rosenberg’s head between its misshapen hands.
We spend the rest of the day huddled in our homes: hiding, as the walls shifted and crumbled around us. The days turned into nights. All through the ordeal, the Golem continued to “protect” us and, under its protection, we slowly began to starve to death.
My daughter was the first to succumb. She died in my arms, still crying for food. I cursed God for the evil that had befallen our lives, but at the same time, I plead with God to deliver us so that I could bury my child. Still, we live under the creature’s thumb.
As suddenly as it began—it stopped.
We didn't believe it at first. Slowly we emerged from our burrows—our forced hibernation at an end. I stole away to Rabbi Loeb’s home. There I saw the reason why our prayers had been answered. The creature lay crumbling at the Rabbi’s feet.
“Father,” it called out, with its fading breath. “Have I not been faithful? Have I not served you well? Please, I want to live.”
But the Rabbi would not be moved.
After that, the Nazis, seeing their chance, came and took us away.