A Jewish Story. Sheldon Cohen
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looked at her momma who nodded her head.
Emily dove in and did all four strokes, with the coach watching in rapt attention. Then she leaped out of the pool with a broad smile.
The coach turned to Leah and said, “That’s very good, Mrs. Frohman. She shows promise at such a young age. It will be a pleasure to work with her.”
When Emily heard the news, she let out a whoop and jumped backwards into the pool.
Leah was ecstatic. As long as her children were happy, she was happy. She could not wait to share the good news with her husband. They were on the threshold of a happier life—and she thanked God.
The last quarter of 1936 brought a personal peace to the Frohmans, but anxiety to most of the countries of the world. Since Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party had assumed control of Germany, major European countries, as well as other world powers, embarked upon far-reaching diplomatic activity to form alliances to counter this new threat to world peace. Smaller countries were quick to declare neutrality, stating that their countries’ policies would remain independent of any great power. This was naiveté to the extreme, and they knew it, but that is about all a minor power could do. In the minds of many, there was no doubt that Hitler was preparing for war, and the announcement of Hitler’s four-year economic plan in October of 1936 did nothing to alleviate that concern.
In the Same month, Germany and Italy announced the Rome-Berlin Axis. This would result in a close collaboration between Italy and Germany, something that the Italian leadership (Mussolini) avoided during the first three years of Hitler’s takeover of power, as he was fearful of Germany’s territorial goals.
As Leah had surmised, when Italy invaded Abyssinia in October of 1935, the relationship with democratic countries of the world suffered. When Hitler and Mussolini aided the Fascists during the Spanish Civil War, that relationship with the democratic countries worsened. The strained relationship between Mussolini and the democracies prompted Italy’s rapprochement with Germany. Mussolini at first did not identify with Hitler’s anti-Semitism, but, as Germany’s strength increased, he too issued anti-Jewish edicts.
The next important geopolitical development occurred in November of 1936, when Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Commintern Pact. Japan was concerned about the fact that they were not a force in the Pacific and they did not trust Russia. Germany was fearful of Soviet Communism, in Hitler’s mind, the direct antithesis of his Nazi dictatorship.
Lenin formed the Comintern in 1919, two years after he overthrew the Czar and established a Communistic state in Russia. Russia and many of the Socialist, Communist and left leaning organizations and countries of the world worked toward the establishment of Communist parties to “aid the international proletarian revolution,” or—spread Communism throughout the world.
The Anti-Commintern pact of Germany and Japan was to be a counter-weight to Communism.
With a month passing since their arrival in Minsk, the Frohmans continued to adjust well to their new life. The children’s language skills were increasing at a pace that astounded their parents. Best of all, Emily became less clingy with her mother as she integrated well at school and started her swimming lessons and practice. Leah would accompany her to the pool at least once or twice a week. It was a welcome release to swim with her daughter, watch her progress and, at the same time, get some relaxing, healthy and fulfilling exercise.
David was fully engaged in gymnastics and made the senior team. This honor depended only on one’s skill set; age was not a factor. Seniors competed with other seniors from other clubs. He made good friends with one of the gymnasts who also helped him improve his skills. This young man, Valery Gregov, was a year older and lived close to David’s new home, so they also spent time together away from the gym. Valery was a Christian, and other than telling David that he had had one pair of Jewish great grandparents, their difference in religion was never an issue. This was very different from what he had experienced in Germany. David took up the name of Val for his new friend.
Val took David home with him on one occasion and he met Val’s parents. The mother was at least a head shorter than her tall and well-built husband who stood six feet, weighed 200 pounds, and was forty-eight years old. He worked as an engineer responsible for the upkeep and smooth functioning of the Minsk civic building, the site of government for Byelorussia and the Minsk district, which housed the mayor of the town and other civic functionaries including Communists representatives beholden to Moscow.
Mikhail, Val’s father, said to David, “So you’re the new friend Val told me about. He said that you were a very good gymnast, and now the senior team has a chance at the title in the district. I’ll come to the gym some day and watch you guys work out.”
“That’ll be fine, sir,” said David, but I wish I was as good as Val.”
“Ah, a modest boy; I like that. Val told me that your family all came here from Germany.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Welcome to Minsk.”
“Thank you. We like it here.”
“Val says you have a sister?”
“Yes, sir, her name is Emily.”
“How old is she?”
“She’ll be nine soon, sir.”
“Do you have a telephone at home, David?”
“Yes sir.”
“Here. Write the number down on this of piece of paper. We’ll call your parents and have a get-together here some time. I already talked about this with Val’s mother. I still have old Jewish artifacts from my Jewish grandmother who got it from her ancestors. They’re very old. I’m very proud of them, and I would like to show them off and meet your family.”
“Thank you, sir. I know my mother and father would sure like to see them and meet you all too.”
When David returned home, he told his mother that he met Val’s mother and father. He said, “They’re very nice, and they want to have us over to their house sometime. The father said that he had Jewish grandparents and had some of their old Jewish stuff that he wanted to show off. He asked for our phone number.”
“That’s nice. I hope he calls. What kind of Jewish stuff did he say he had, David?” asked Leah.
“I don’t know. He called them artifacts and said they were very old. His grandmother got them from her ancestors. I bet they’re from the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries.”
“That would be very nice; I’d love to see them. I hope they call.”
Within a few days, Leah received the call from Mrs. Gregov, Val’s mother, Sonya, and Leah accepted her invitation to dinner at their house.
“I’ll have my husband’s sister’s nine year old daughter here to keep Emily Company, Mrs. Frohman.”
“Oh that’s thoughtful of you. I’m sure Emily will like that.”
“We’ll have a light dinner and then we’ll talk. I don’t know how religious you are, but you can be sure we won’t have any ham or pork…or milk with meat for that matter.”
Leah laughed. “We’re not super religious, but we never eat those, so thank you.”
“My husband has told me all about his Jewish Grandmother. He has such fond memories of her,” said Sonya.
“That’s wonderful. I’m anxious to learn all about your family. David and Val have developed a great friendship. He tells me that Val’s the best gymnast on the team.”
“That’s nice of David. He’s a fine boy.”
Leah said, “Thank you again for the invitation and we’ll see you Saturday evening. We look forward to it.”
The Frohmans arrived at the Gregov home anxious to establish a good friendship with the family. This was the first hoped for close relationship with other