Nancy Fordonski - July 29, 1982
Relations with Non-Jews
Did you encounter any anti-Semitism before the war?
Very much so. And there are incidents that you can never forget in your life. Because we were together with Polish kids in the same class, day after day, but on Shabbos, on Sabbath, we didn't go to school. And they did. So on Friday, on, on--excuse me--on Sha...Sabbath when they left, when, when they were dismissed from the class, it was um, one o'clock. So once in awhile we knew from, from the week days that we might have some more homework, that the teachers gave us some more homework for uh, for Saturday that we will have to do it on Sunday…
[interruption in interview] So you used to--we used to stay in front of the school and wait for them when they came out, to ask them what was the homework for uh, you know, for Monday, because on Sunday was no school. So they used to say, should I say it in Polish? Because I know sometime maybe some kids will listen to it and they will better understand, maybe in Polish…
Why don't you say it in Polish…
Yes.
and then you can translate it.
"Dlaczego sama nie idziesz do szoko?e bo b?dziesz wiedzia? co jest padane."
How does that translate?
This means, "You dirty Jew, why don't you go by yourself to school so you will know what homework you have." This was so heartbreaking you know, being together with them all week, day after day, playing with them together. And then--I won't say that all of them were like this, but some of them were just like uh, uh, you didn't go to school? Good. Now you won't know what homework you have, so on Monday you will get already the lowest mark. You will fail, so this will teach you a lesson that you come to school.
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