Have Faith

Chapter 5: The Propaganda Continues

It finally happened.  The biggest part of my life was gone.  Today, they burned the synagogue. 

I guess I should have known this was coming.  Hitler and his Nazis had been publishing anti-Jew propaganda for weeks.  It was only a matter of time before they decided to act.  They didn't seem to care that there was a Christian family living right next door.  We had to evacuate and watch our house be scorched from a distance.  The Nazis even had the audacity to burn it in broad daylight, when everyone could see their faces and the act of unspeakable evil that they were committing.  I could only pray that the Lord might open their eyes to the evil of their acts, and that they might seek forgiveness.

The problem was that so many people were in agreement that Jews should not be tolerated, that we should be locked away, and all remnants of our religion destroyed.  Hitler had a way of charming anyone into doing what he wanted and thinking the way he did.  My only solace was that my father and Claire were on my side.  They were horrified that this had happened.

"They can't do this!" Claire raged.  "There has to be some kind of law that prevents this!"

"Claire, this is the law," I sighed.  "Hitler knows that no one can stop him now that he has this much support."

"There has to be something we can do," said Claire.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Dad warned.  "Every time someone speaks against Hitler, they disappear."

"Dad, how can you just sit by while they do this?"

"Look, Claire, I hate this as much as you do, but my first priority is your safety  It's just not safe for us to rebel against this."

But what about my safety?  He just said he would do anything to protect Claire, but what about protecting me?

* * *

The following morning, we assessed the damage to our home.  Because we were not the target, the damage was mostly contained on our wall that sat closest to the synagogue.

"The government has to help us pay for this damage!" Dad cried.  "After all, it was the government who damaged our house in the first place!"

"Something tells me they aren't going to help us out on this one," I said.

The repair took a few days.  During that time, I continued to go to school, where I found that Jewish teachers were dismissed.  Jewish children were not called on nearly as often as Christian children, and one of the Jewish kids in my class stopped showing up.  The other children told me that his family was running.

As I sat down in my science class, I thought about everything that was happening in our country, and I begged the Lord to help us.

"Now class, today we will be talking about Jews," the teacher began.  "As you all know, Jews are considered non-Aryan, racially impure.  Today, we will find out how many of you are racially pure."

What? Now we aren't considered pure?  How long until we aren't considered human?

"So class, why don't we begin with an example?  Kayla, why don't you come up front?"

I seethe with rage as I walk up to the front of the class.  I can't believe this teacher has the audacity to tell me I am not as good as my classmates!

"Now Kayla, if you would just stand still, I am going to measure the size of your skull and your nose.  This will determine if you are part of the master race."

I find myself silently praying as the teacher measures me.

"Ah, it is as I expected," the teacher sighs.  "Class, write down these measurements."  He proceeds to tell the class how long my nose is and the size of my skull.  "These measurements are unacceptable.  Kayla is not a part of the master race."  The class wrote this down in their notebooks.  "Now, class, break into groups and measure everyone in your group.  Find out who is one of us and who is not."

As I walked out of that class, I could hear snickering behind me.

"I knew Kayla wasn't one of us," a girl giggled as she told her friend.  "She's a dirty Jew."

"I know!," the friend replied.  "I'm so glad we aren't part of that disgusting religion!"

Please, Lord, please help me.  I know my faith is not wrong.  Help Germany to see that as well.