Lone Wolf in Jerusalem
Page 34
I shrugged. “I’m not sure if those are the right words. Personal satisfaction? What satisfaction can there really be in taking a life when it won’t bring back the ones who are lost?” I shook my head. “I must admit that sometimes during the war I would think of the terrible things the Nazis did to my family and friends, and it would fill me with a tremendous anger—a righteous rage. This staggering hate would spur me on, giving me the power to usurp whatever conscience I had left and pull the trigger on my enemy or choke the life from him!”
I realized I was standing, my fists clenched at my side. Regaining control, I sat back down.
“I made those choices,” I said and looked up at Zvi. “I do not regret them.”
I fell silent, and Zvi spoke up again. “And now, tell me, do you see different choices ahead?” His tone was surprisingly gentle.
I shrugged. “Someday, perhaps? If I get the chance one day, I’d like to live a quiet life with Shoshana, to study, and to find a career that doesn’t involve fighting and killing. I hope that comes true one day.”
Zvi nodded and gave me a small salute with his glass of wine. “Education and career are important for a young man,” he said. “In my civilian life, I’m a furniture manufacturer—not a big one, but successful. After the British leave and we defeat the Arabs, I would like you to consider joining me. Perhaps we could even be partners.”
His offer touched me. “I appreciate the faith you have in me,” I said. “And when we have no more enemies to fight, I will gladly take you up on your offer.”
We finished our wine and then shook hands. I had much to think about as Shimon drove me back to Café Pinsk.
THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED PROGRESSED just as Zvi had foreseen. With attacks on military vehicles, command posts, various British buildings, and the oil refineries in Haifa, the Irgun and Lehi continued to make the lives of the Mandate authorities miserable.
And then came November 19, 1947. Max closed the restaurant early, and Shoshana and I went with him to his apartment, where we listened anxiously to the live radio broadcast of the vote of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Partition Plan for Palestine. It called for an end to the British Mandate and the establishment of two independent states—one Jewish and one Arab.
When the resolution was adopted by the required two-thirds majority—albeit just barely—the center of Jerusalem filled with people dancing in the streets. I had never before seen such massive crowds of happy people.
Max beamed at us. “Tomorrow night, my friends, I will close the restaurant to outside guests at ten o’clock—and all of our close friends will be invited to come and celebrate! But tonight—tonight let us all go to Ben Yehuda Street to dance!”
Shoshana and I walked with our friends, her hand tucked in mine, all the way to the intersection of Ben Yehuda Street and King George Street. At first, we all simply watched the celebration but then, two by two, joined the dancing.
“Are you happy, my love?” Shoshana whispered.
I smiled. “Whenever I’m with you,” I said, “I am beyond content.”
The next night we all gathered at Café Pinsk—Max and Nelka; Avrum and Hannah; Alec and Eva; Shimon; Zvi; Brigita; Misha and Magda; my landlords, Varda and Binyamin; and Shoshana and me. We pushed several tables together while Max set out bottles of wine, vodka, brandy, and champagne and many small plates filled with assorted delicacies.
When everyone was finally seated at the table with a full glass, Max asked all of us to raise our glasses for a toast. “I’m moved to tears,” he said. “Let’s drink to our new state and to all of our futures!”
After the toast, it was time to eat, but before we could, Shoshana clinked her glass against mine. “With your permission,” she said, rising from her seat, “I’d like to say a few words.”
Shoshana was normally quiet and reserved in a group, and it was not like her to make a speech. I gazed up at her, as did the others around me, curious to hear what she would say.
“My dear friends, this is a very happy day for all of us,” she began. “It’s a wonderful day for all Jewish people, but for those of us whose families were murdered in Europe during the war, this day heralds something extraordinary. After the Germans occupied Belarus and murdered my entire family, I gave up all hope.” She fell silent a moment, her gaze on the glass in her hand. Then she looked up with a smile.
“But not only have I survived, I am also witnessing the realization of an age-old dream: the dream of renewed Jewish sovereignty in our homeland. And this dream has come true thanks to people like Max, Zvi, Alec, Shimon, Avrum, Misha, and”—her voice softened—“David.” She gave me a warm smile and then turned back to our friends. “Our nation is rich in people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of our homeland.” She glanced over at me again. “At first, it was terrifying for me to watch David risk his life. I knew that if he were killed, my life wouldn’t be worth living. At the same time, I always deeply admired what he was doing.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Brigita watching Shoshana with a big smile. I smiled myself, guessing that we were both thinking how Shoshana was stronger than either of us had ever known.
“I’m not the only one here who has lost family,” Shoshana continued, “but when I look around, I feel like I’ve gained a new family in all of you. David and I are not alone, and I know you feel the same way I do.” She lifted her glass to everyone.
Max, Nelka, and I blew her kisses, and all the others applauded. I was proud of her. I had always known Shoshana was smart and sensitive, even though she wasn’t much of a talker—though she had proved me wrong on that score tonight—and I was happy everyone else could now see how amazing she was too. She took her seat, and I leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“Who knew?” I whispered, and she blushed.
Max asked Zvi to say a few words as well, and he obliged.
“Today is truly a great day for all of us,” he said. “We got here thanks to the Jewish nation’s soldiers, fighters like Shimon, David, Alec, Misha, Avrum, and Shoshana. Today, we are celebrating our huge political achievement, but we’ll soon be facing a war with the Arabs.” He frowned. “They are determined to strangle our nation in the crib. It won’t be an easy war, and we’ll suffer losses, but I can assure you now that we will triumph!” We all cheered and lifted our glasses high!
The eating and drinking went on for another two hours. Later, when Shoshana and I were lying in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, I turned to her and said, “I can’t stop thinking about the words from ‘Song of the Partisans’—‘As the hour that we longed for is so near, our step beats out the message: We are here!’ ”
“We are here,” she echoed and then kissed my neck. My soul soared.
“You and I will never forget our parents and siblings who were murdered,” I said, holding her close, “and we will always remember that we are the lucky ones. We are among the first Jews in two thousand years to be free in our ancient homeland. But as Zvi said, the battle hasn’t ended with the British, and we are going to face a war with the Arabs.”
“I have faith that you’ll triumph, my hero, and I’ll do my best to play my part,” Shoshana said. “Just promise that you’ll come back to me when the battle is over.”
“I promise,” I said, “if you’ll do the same.”
She smiled and kissed my cheek softly. “I will.”
We made love, and afterward, Shoshana fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. I struggled to quiet my wandering mind and turned to gaze at the woman lying in my arms.
We have overcome thus far, I thought. We have survived hell. We have come to the end of a perilous journey, down a long and treacherous road. Now we need to ready ourselves for a new chapter and a new challenge. After all we have been through, with Shoshana at my side, I have no doubt we will prevail.
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External References
32. Ahavat Yerushalayim [Love of Jerusalem] website and Rafi Kfir tours
33. The Etzel [Irgun] website
34. The Haganah website
35. Wikipedia