What was it
like to be a Jew in Lodz?
"No problem.
It was the same thing to be a Jew in Brooklyn, the same
thing. We didn't feel much anti-Semitism because we
lived in a Jewish section. Lodz had a very big Jewish
population.
One time I
did get harassed. I was about twelve or thirteen; I
think it was in 1936 or 1937. I was going to my aunt's
wedding, and I had to go to a children's tailor to get
measured. My father (a tailor) either didn't make
children's clothing or was too busy. The children's
tailor was in a Polish section of the city. So I went to
get measured for the suit. I think I had to go twice to
get measured. All of a sudden, three goyim jumped
on me and they tried to beat me. I defended myself. But
one almost scratched my eye out. And they ran away, the
Poles. I went home. My cousin--he's now in Canada--and
my dad said, 'Come, show me what happened.' I said,
'Dad, they ran away. It's no use to go there now. You
won't find them.' So I almost got a licking from my dad
because he didn't think I defended myself. I think I
still have a scratch on my eye somewhere..."
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