Narrative

Living a Child’s Nightmare

By: Paulina, Victoria, Carl-Philip, and Senada

    At age three, Roza Gorska was living a nightmare as a young Jew during WWII, hiding out in a monastery with great horror and grief haunting her mind. Everything she loved was taken away from her; Her home, her family, and her identity which she had to change a number of times, to protect herself. What was once a joyful childhood quickly turned into several sorrowful years for a toddler coping with deaths, disappointments, and fear. Despite all the torment that she experienced throughout her lifetime, Roza maintained the same personality with a positive attitude as a Holocaust survivor.

    The Holocaust survivor, Roza Gorska, was born in Lodz in the year 1939 just as the war commenced.She was born into a difficult year to be a Jew, and the consequences of being Jewish inflicted upon her when she was just three years old. At this age, her mother, father and grandfather decided to escape to Warsaw since the Germans were in close proximity of Lodz. Just as their journey was about to initiate, her father abandoned them at this time of distress because he took part in the rebellion against the cold-hearted anti-semitic Nazi's rejoining with the Soviet Union. After this horrible incident, they eventually arrived in Warsaw to discover that the Germans had already occupied Poland's capital.As they were Jewish, they were obliged to move into the Ghetto. At this time it was very problematic to be a Jewish child. This abhorrent situation became even worse when her mother died of what presumably was typhus "I don't remember much of the day, though I recall lying down in my bed and suddenly hearing the noises of my mother being sick. I was no longer was allowed to see her or enter her room. And when I did, I always hid. But one day, I came in her room, and it seemed different. The bed was made, and all her items weren't there That was the moment that I realized, my mom wasn't there." Her grandfather also died of an unknown disease right before her mother. An anonymous man fortuitously rescued Roza, and smuggled her out of the Warsaw Ghetto. This gesture saved her life, and she was later put in the monastery with a new identity as Marysia Kolakowska. This identity proved to contribute to Ilona's or Roza's survival.

    Throughout her life Roza Gorska went through many identities, as mentioned before. Ilona Fajnberg, the first identity she had, was her original name. The next name she was given was Marysia Kolakowska. A new name, a new life. This name was given to by her the un-named hero, to protect her from being labeled as Jewish and mercilessly murdered by the brutal Nazi's. The year 1943 was an extremely memorable year in Marysia's life This was also the time that Marysia was unwillingly moved to a monastery. At that monastery she incountered a sister (a nun that is part of a monastery) who took her in and cared for her like a mother would. Many families wanted to adopt the orphaned Marysia, but the sister that cared for her wouldn't let anybody take her away These were her words, "You will be by my side for your whole life". Marysia still commemorates this sister today and strongly acknowledges what she did for her. 

    The pleasant times at the monastery ended when Roza was about the age of 8-9 She then was sent to a different monastery. Once again it was a new place, with new people, and the eight-year old girl had to struggle to fit in. However, it wasn't easy for her because the monastery had one particular sister who despised her. Roza recalls being sent out of class sometimes for no apparent purpose. She also remembers being accused of wearing kilts that were too short even though the sisters dressed her. This sister would also humilate her in front of the entire class. She was not treated fairly by this sister and states that this was one of the worst times of her life. As she continuously took part in the monastery, she also attended a public school. Unfortunately, the Germans were closing in on the monastery. Her life was seriously threatened. Later on, the sisters in the monestary changed Pani Marysia's name to Roza Marysia Kolakowsa. The reason for this was because when the teacher or sister would call on Marysia to do something, approximately twenty Marysia's would stand up thinking they were being spoken to. Now, she prefers Roza over Marysia or Ilona because it has followed her throughout her life. 

    After the war finally ended, she continued living her life almost as though nothing happened. She completed high school, then went onto University in Lublin from she later graduated from. This was the most joyous period in her life. She absolutely adored university. She finally decided to move back to Warsaw and start a career there. Suddenly, one day, she met the man that was soon to be her husband.  To this day, she is Roza Gorska. She feels very blessed to be with her husband. 

    Even though Mrs.Gorska's family was killed or died during the war, she has managed to  contact her remaining relatives. She found her cousin who currently lives in Paris. This cousin told her the remaining parts that would complete Roza's puzzle of a life. Roza is quite thankful that she is in contact with her. She also feels blessed that there was someone to tell her about the story of her parents. Some of the things that the cousin told her was that, for many years Roza's father had been looking for her. He looked for her in the name of Ilona Fajnberg which this is why he didn't find her. Although Ilona Fajnberg was her original name, she never knew this since nobody clever told her. 

    Ilona Fajnberg or Roza Gorska. The names don't matter but her soul does. She shows what  "true survivor" really means. Even though she has experienced several horrifying things she still maintains a healthy mentality and is full of life. A variety of terrible events has happened to her though she is full of life. She doesn't let her troubles of the past interfere with her present life. We are all very thankful that she could share this amazing and powerful story with us and she is a person we will never forget, because her story will always be in our hearts.