Adara's Diary

1942

April 29, 1942

Dear Journal,

There is a new order we must wear the star of David. We received them and must always have them on a jackets and clothes. Yesterday I left for work and I was walking, I had the star on and everybody would look then avert there eyes from me. Some gave me a dirty look and screamed "Vuile Jood" at me I wanted to cry. I reached home and saw Gerrit. "What happened Adie" he asked me I responded "I was called a dirty Jew, and people were staring at me, some looked away". I cried Gerrit took me in his arms and I was relieved. He spent some time and returned to his home. My parents have been very distraught this month, we were forced to put our money into a  designated banks by the Germans.

I feel simply outraged about this we have no rights anymore,and we have to walk around with the star of David on our Jackets. Not only are we being identified but now we are easily being ridiculed on the streets now. Father has also lost his job at the clinic, and works at a friend's store.Mama has been very stressed, Bekah also very worried. She doesn't leave the apartment except to visit Flora a crossed the hall and when she does go out she is frightened especially that she has to wear the star now.

Today I went to see Hester, I knocked on the door and she promptly answered. "Hello, Adie I got good news, you are not going to believe." I looked at her puzzled "Where's Hans, and what news" she giggled "Oh he is at work, and the news we are going to have a baby." she smiled and we hugged "Oh Hes, I am so happy for you, when will it be born". We sat "oh I think most likely sometime in October."

After the news we started talking  of the new regulations, Hes told me " I hate that we have to wear the star, it is like a target on our backs". I agreed "I know I get nothing but dirty looks and names like dirty Jew and such" I uttered. 

"It makes me not want to leave the apartment, and I worry over Hans, Flora and Mama" she voiced " Flora and your mama are well, I worry to especially about Bekah she is so scared." 

After talking I left Hes' and returned home and read, to get this mess out of my mind.

May 31, 1942

Dear Journal,

We have been forced to hand in our bicycles and our radio. Rebekah is pretty upset, she loves hearing the BBC. Now we cannot get much news of allies.However we go to Gerrit's for the news of war. Today I got on the streetcar and got to Gerrit's house in 20 minutes.  I knocked and Verena answered "Hey Adie, Gerrit is not home, he's working" I smiled.

"Actually I came here to listen to the radio with you"  answered she ushered me into the house and we both listened to the radio. We talked of the shooting of Heydrich.

"Well it is about time we got someone got a Nazis, do you think he'll die" she asked I responded "I don't know, if he does it will mean more trouble, even though I'd like nothing more" I sighed "I surely wish the big push would happen already." Verena hissed "Oh it will happen, those Nazis can't win and they never will". I smiled to that Verena always knew how to make me feel better. She is the friend that I live closets to since Hester married she lives quite far off from us and her mind is occupied with the baby on the way. "What do you think Hes will have" Verena inquired " I think honestly a girl, she has no brother and Maria had many sisters" I laughed "yes I think so too" Verena muttered.

"I know she is scared for herself and Hans, with a baby coming and the conditions" Verena nodded we talk a lot and I left for home, when I returned Mama met me at the door she said panicked "I need you take care of your brother he is ill and I have to go a cross the hall to Maria's for a bit" I nodded and went to my parents room to see Azzie in his bed he screamed "Ad" he drooled "Hi Azzie, your not feeling good today" I asked he nodded and I picked up a book and read to him until he fell asleep.