Mania Genislav (nee Green) about live in Częstochowa's ghetto, stay in Poland after war and emigration to Israel (in 1950)
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An English resume of an interview in Hebrew that took plcae in Israel as a part of the Polish Roots in israel Project. interviewee name: Mania Genislav
Date of Birth: 1926
Father’s name: Avraham Green.
Mother’s name: Bluma Green, born Schacher.
Brothers and sisters: Sally, Daniel and Manya.
Husband’s name: Pinhas Genislav.
Children: Bluma and Shmuel.
Grandcihldren: Alon, Sharon and Avichai.
Grand-grandchildren: Bar, Hilly, Tamara, Rona and Eviatar.
Manya was born in 1926 to her parents Bluma (born Schacher) and Abrahm Green, in Częstochowa, Poland. The city was a big industrial center and a sacred city for Catholics because of “The Black Virgin” ikon at the "Jasna Gora” Monastery.
Before the war broke out, about 28,500 Jews lived in the city.
Manya’s father Avraham was a merchant who provided well for his wife and his children.
According to Manya’s testimony, they were a wonderful family composed of both her parents and their three children: their eldest daughter Sally, their son Daniel and their youngest child, Manya. They lived happily and maintained good relations with all their neighbors.
Manya studied through 7 classes at the Elementary State-run School, in the Polish language.
Word War II broke out in September 1st, 1939, and the German Army entered Częstochowa, which was close to the border, two days later.
The Jewish population was oppressed in several ways, such as: they were limited in their movements, their money and property were confiscated, their businesses were closed and their children were expelled from the educational institutions. There were hundreds of Jews who were murdered already during the first days of the occupation.
One Saturday at the beginning of the occupation, Manya’s father Avraham Green was kidnapped and taken to forced labor.
Her mother Bluma and the children didn’t know what happened to him. During the first weeks of the occupation, Manya’s mother still continued running her grocery shop, but most of the foodstuff and merchandise ran out. It was very hard then to obtain food for personal consumption, not to mention commerce. The Germans and Poles did not allow Jews to buy in the shops in town, and most shops hanged signs like: “We don’t sell to Jews” or “Entry is forbidden for dogs and Jews”.
After several weeks Avraham Green returned home from the forced labor camp. It was really hard to recognize him. He looked like the shadow of himself. He lost weight and seemed exhausted, he was bruised all over his body and he could hardly walk.
The Ghetto in Częstochowa was established in April 1941 and was divided in two different parts: the Big Ghetto and the Small Ghetto.
The entire Jewish population from all parts of town was required to gather inside. Those who were caught hiding outside, in the city itself, without having a permit from the Occupation Headquarters, were shot on the spot, without pardon. The Ghetto Wall was built just in front of Manya’s parents house and they remained outside the Ghetto walls.
In June 22nd, 1941, Germany invaded the territories of the Soviet Union. The entire German rear front enlisted to the huge German war effort. The Jews were taken to forced labor in dozens of factories and workshops, which were meant to serve the German armed forces fighting in Russia.
In September 1942, an oppressive action took place in the Ghetto of Częstochowa with the participation of many soldiers and Polish policemen, during which they gathered the grownup Jewish population, as well as women, children and sick people, all those who were defined as “unproductive”. During the deportation, dozens of Jews were shot in an indescribable bloodbath, and the rest were sent for extermination in the Treblinka concentration camp.
Manya’s father Avraham Green was deported during that action.
Manya’s mother Bluma hid her children in a narrow roof-attic where they lied down for days and nights without moving, without eating, fearing to be noticed. They drank dirty laundry water from a giant tank that was accidentally forgotten there and this saved them.
At a certain point her mother understood that they could not hide there like that forever, and they were due to be discovered by the Germans or by one of the neighbors. The easiest was to penetrate into the Ghetto and try to survive there like everyone else. She managed to bribe a policeman who enabled them to enter inside the Ghetto. “Mother was a unique woman”, Manya says. “She knew that father was no longer alive and now the family burden was entirely thrown on her shoulders alone. She guarded us children closely and actually protected us with her body and took care that we get some food and she washed our clothes and tried to keep us clean…”
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