Amerkait 'elvish Periodical Carter 6 Friday, April 12, 1946 CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110 DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle Page Thirteen Meeting with "Number 278" (Continued from Page 3) At the gate he heard the guard was supposed to be too ill. Some- ask the driver what was in the times we do get a little ahead of box. "Oh, just a dead Jew," was the e kit- ourselves when we try to fool the casual reply. "Go anead, get rid Y of the dirty Jew," came the word it was the re-enactment in from that stalwart member of the life of the justly celebrated "herrenvolk," who were busy at "coup de maitre" of the Count of that time demonstrating their "su- JI) to isfonte Cristo — playing the part per-race" qualities by attacking there. of a dead man to escape prison helpless minorities. At present, I — that got me. This was too much understand, their full time and meek for the courage of a mere Navy attention is given to more press- cople Chaplain in whom the spark of ing personal problems. We Several miles out in the country 4 adventure burns so feebly. auth- With two older friends and the the driver stopped the truck and got assistance of a truck driver, the tapped on the box. This was the 1 for fabled trick of Monte Cristo was signal that all was clear. Number them accomplished in true Dumas fa- 278 removed the lid from the box C se- shion. He had met his benefactors with the monkey-wrench. He was vices in the hospital. It was their task close to freedom, for the point of We to make rough burial boxes in his escape was not far from the )read the carpenter shop for the inter- French border. To a lad who had edu- nees who died. They explained played with life and death to es- their plan to him; they would cape from prison, avoiding the make an extra burial box against German border guards was not the day when the opportunity difficult. The French officials prov- would present itself. It was to be ed indifferent, if not friendly, and his means of escaping. Number 278 soon made his way "But why me?" asked Number to the home of his brother in 278, who was eager but skeptical. France. , "Because you are young and we are old," they replied. "You still have your life before you. You can stand the difficult voyage to a new land. You can carry on for our people. We need youth as never before. And maybe you can fight again some place at some time." So it was agreed. Number 278 does not know how, nor does he care. No doubt he was to be the beneficiary of an organized effort to help as many as possible of the younger men to escape. Finally came the day he looked forward to, yet feared. He had been told to watch for a certain truck. As it entered the gate he ran to the carpenter shop with the news. He hid himself until the box was passed through the win- dow. He quickly got into the box, a monkey wrench was placed in with him, and the lid nailed on, leaving a crack for air. Number 278 did not know the full plan, but he could feel and hear what took place. He had reached that point where he did not care what happened to him. "I made up my mind to die if necessary to get away. It didn't matter any more." E. Passover Greetings are extended to our many friends and patrons, will: sincerest wishes for Happy and Joyous PASSOVER .1 Someone has likened a coffin to a conduit, a channel through which we pass from life to death. For Number 278, his rough coffin proved to be the channel through which he passed from a living death to freedom of life. From France to New York, and to re-habilitation in the new land, was the work of the Jewish Refu- gee Committee. Volunteering into the Army of the United States long before he became a citizen was his own idea. In the Army he learned to read, write and speak English. And now he is in our Amphibious Transport plowing westward through the clear blue waters of the Pacific . . . even westward into the setting sun What lies ahead? I wish I could complete the story of Number 278. I should like to tell you how he distinguished himself in battle against the forces let loose in the world by the mad men of his own land and Japan. I should like to write about how he returned to his adopted coun- try, and became a useful and dis- tinguished citizen. But we had to part before the story of Number 278 was finished. Indeed, the pattern of his life was not yet definite enough to predict an ending. I do know this much, however — that wherever he goes and whatever he does, he will carry with him his un- bounded faith in his God. He will wear one Tephillin on his head and the other on his left arm, and he will read the ancient pray- ers just as father did back home so long ago. "Hitler thought he could stop prayers by burning our synagogues and bibles. He forgot that we car- ry our prayers in our hearts," said Number 278, with that far- away, back-home look in his eyes. "My father taught me how to say prayers, and I'll never forget." "Prepare for debarkation," came over the ship's loud speaker on the morning of that hot Pacific day. Small boats were lowered in- to the water, while naval guns all around us spoke defiance against the would-be world conquerors. One after another the small boats were called to the loading ladders, where the men with names which had come from every corner of the earth were climbing down with grim determination. The melting pot of the world had spo- ken again! I stood at the ladder with both pride and humility. I could not help feeling proud. Our men were answering the call of the hour. But I was humble, too; perhaps the word is "ashamed." Twenty- seven years ago I had witnessed the same determination on the faces of the young men of that day, going into battle against the same forces. But the lesson we then should have learned was not heeded. My generation had per- mitted this thing to happen again! Yes, I was ashamed as I looked into the .faces of those young men going over the side to make up for our mistakes. _.• fr PASSOVER GREETINGS • GREGORY, MAYER 8 THOM CO. Office Equipment and Supplies CADILLAC SQUARE CADILLAC 9330 SINCEREST PASSOVER GREETINGS! DETROIT CITY ICE Fd FUEL CO. 6247 GRAND RIVER AVE. TYler 6-9300 A VERY JOYOUS PASSOVER TO Perry Feigenson ALL' Ben Feigenson Number 278 stood before me. It was now his turn to go down the ladder. He was smiling. Perhaps my generation had been forgiven. I hoped so. He and I clasped hands, but neither spoke. There are times wnen words are not necessary. 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