Reflection: Three Sisters (3)

 

Summary for this week:

 

Cibi, the eldest sister. Magda, the middle. Livi, the youngest. Menachem, sisters’ father. Chaya, sisters’ mother. Yitzchak, sisters’ grandfather.

 

    Compared to Cibi and Livi, Magda's life with her mother and grandpa is a lot easier. However, every Sunday, due to Shabbat, she has to hide in a secret chamber of their neighbor's house so as to prevent the Nazis' recruitment. It has been a year since Cibi and Livi went to the camp for work. One day, another selection takes place again; it's grateful that a kapo (their supervisor) helps them overcome this inhumane event again for their useful knowledge. They made it, luckily, once again. However, some of their friends didn't. Typhus, selections, and bullets came to them without announcements. There were more to suffer from.

 

 

Reflection

Life was not easy for them day by day. They were living under death threat every minute; no one knows what was coming next. And for Magda, maybe this form of life would happen to her soon. She had thought of going with the Nazis to look for her sisters, but her mom and grandpa stopped her. I'm not sure if it's a good outcome for her or not. Maybe she cannot tolerate the jobs, or she might be fine with them. Also, once she leaves, Chaya and Yitzchak would have less pressure on the food shortage.

This week, I was touched and shocked by some expressions in the novel. One is during the selection. Originally, Cibi was going to be examined before Livi, but she change the sequence of Livi and her. After they both survived this turn, Livi asked Cibi about the intention why she did that. "If you were sent to the left then I would have followed you," said Cibi. (Those who were sent to the left would be executed)  Moreover, Livi asked what if Cibi were sent to the left beforehand. And she replied, "I would have made sure you were out of sight before I went to the left, that you wouldn't see me and couldn't follow." I almost cried in this part. I saw Cibi's determination to protect and even stay with Livi no matter what, even to her death. It wasn't just getting wounded, but the most fearful consequence. I believe that most people are afraid of death, not to mention dying for someone voluntarily.

Another one is about one of their friends, Hannah, who came alone. One day, they met one another on a square. They were killing the lice mutually. But Hannah responded, " I'll let my dice die with me." Cibi and Livi required her to ask her kapo for medicine to cure the sores. Hannah promised them and implored them to sit together in the sun with her. Next Sunday, more exactly, every Sunday, they never saw Hannah again. I was wondering, were they the "murderers" as they requested her to "ask?"  Because anyone who was found weak would become useless and got killed. Their lives have no difference with lice's. Sitting in the sun was the most luxurious thing they could do. I can hardly imagine the hardship they experienced while living with ease.