Keila Hamed-Ramos, Lippman Day School

One Heart

March 1, 1940

Class was good today. Science is still going terribly. I helped mama bake cookies. Chocolate chip and sugar. Yum. Time to go, dinner is ready.

The sky is blue.

The grass is green.

Everyone gets along.

One family. One love.

One heart.

June 22, 1940

Hannah and I were walking home from school today and we saw strange men dressed in black on the street. They stopped us and asked where we were going. I said that we were going home. They gave us cold looks and let us go. We ran like our pants were on fire! I still have homework to do. Bye!

The Nazis come.

Invade France.

They want all the Jews.

Should we help save them?

One family. One task.

One heart.

April 5, 1941

Our next door neighbors are Jewish. Mama and Papa are talking about helping them. My brother Ralf is a leader in the Nazi youth group. I’m not allowed to tell him what I heard Mama and Papa talking about. How silly it is not being allowed to tell your own brother how you are helping others. Mama says it is a big risk. I pray that no one will find out. I must go now. See you tomorrow.

To love is an amazing adventure.

To do what is right,

Is even more.

One religion. One prayer.

Torn heart.

My brother is a Nazi.

I am scared.

Will he tell on us?

I feel broken apart.

My thoughts. My brother.

My heart

March 17, 1942

Ralf told on us. His own family! I can’t believe it! We are being sent to a concentration camp. We can only pack a few belongings. I am going to pack you, of course. I’m so scared. Mama says everything is going to be fine, but I don’t think so. Bye.

 My brother has

Betrayed us.

Concentration camp.

One family. Endless Nazis.

One heart.

May 8, 1943

We are at the concentration camp. It’s very scary. Everyone here is sick. Even my own strong Mama is sick. I feel very scared and sad. They give us little food and we heard about people being sent to gas chambers! I must go. The Nazi guards are calling us for a roll call.

My mother is dying.

I can see it in her eyes.

She tries to be strong.

Will she make it?

One mother. One camp.

One heart.

June 19,1944

People have been saying Germany is losing the war. I am excited. Is it true? I sure hope it is. I am sick of being at this terrible place for so long. I want to be free again. Oh, I must go. Mama needs something. I’m so happy she is still alive!

There are rumors.

Is Germany losing?

What will I do?

Where will the future take me?

My mother? My brother?

My heart?

August 15th 1945

We are free! All of us. I’m so happy. Papa says that we are going to go to America – the land of freedom. I’m afraid Ralf can’t come though, putting all those people in danger. Even his own family. I will miss him. We don’t even know what happened to him. I’m too happy to be sad so I won’t think about it. America. Just the sound of the word gives me the jitters. Oh, I must go. I will write down all my adventures on your pages. Bye! Next time in America!

I am free!

We are all free!

What now?

Father says America.

No Hitler. No Holocaust.