Arrests
began at the rabbi's house. We were prepared. We had our identification
papers, all papers for America, affidavits, and some money in
our attache' case. We walked right by the Nazis on the front steps.
They ignored us, not realizing we were Jews. We walked the whole
night through the city. I'll never forget the sight of fire burning
through the Magen David on top of the synagogue. I had
a feeling I can't describe to you. As we walked, people started
plundering stores and some said to me, "Young girl, why don't
you take anything for yourself?" People were taking whatever
was in the stores. . . . After walking all night, I went back
to our apartment. My husband would not go back. The apartment
was in shambles. When the Nazis had come to our door and nobody
answered, they were so mad that they kicked in the door. They
had smashed all our crystal and silver. I quickly packed two suitcases
of our belongings, and we left.
I was referred to a place on Broadway, a sweatshop on the fifth floor. This factory manufactured brassieres and was named Gay Paris. It was anything but gay and certainly didn't invite any comparison with Paris! There was a vacancy for someone who could run the office and sweep the floor, also do some errands and deliver merchandise. There was another candidate for that job, a doctor of law from Germany, but I got the job.
I stayed there for several weeks or maybe months. I wanted to get something better and more promising. Based on my studies in the making of ladies' purses while in London and waiting for a visa to the U.S., I considered myself as having some idea of how to make leather goods or manufacture them. I thought I might find work in such an enterprise. I looked for some companies that made bags. Where would I find such companies? In the Yellow Pages!
I looked for names that somehow were promising, that is, Jewish names. I saw there Friedman Bag Company. I thought it was worth trying. I called and said I would like to apply for a job. They didn't say no and didn't go into any details. I took the streetcar to Friedman Bag Company, looking for a firm that made bags. The bags were there, but they were bags for potatoes, onions, and other agricultural products! That was a disappointment. But since I was there, I asked about a job. What could I do? We talked about an office job. I couldn't tell Mr. Friedman that I had a doctor's degree in business economics because he would have sent me on my way. I just said that I had business experience and was willing to work hard. He hired me. . . .