Showcase 16

Metal box in which part of the Oneg Shabbat archive was stored

1.

“I am writing my will during the deportation of Warsaw Jewry. It has been going on without interruption since 20 July. […] It is the 14th day of this cruel process. We have lost virtually all contact with our comrades. Everyone has to rely on themselves, to save themselves as best they can. There are three of us left: comrade Lichtensztejn, Grzywacz and myself. We decided to write our wills, to collect a little material about the deportation and to bury it. We must hurry because we are not sure how much time we have.We felt the responsibility. We were not afraid of taking a risk. We were aware that we were making history. And this was more important than our lives. […]

What we’ve been unable to shout out to the world, we have buried in the ground. I do not want any thanks. It is not for thanks that I have given my life and my energy. I would have liked to live to see the moment when the great treasure can be unearthed, and the truth shouted out so that the world might know everything and those who did not live through it might rejoice. [ … ] We will not live to see it, however, and it is for this reason that I am writing my will. May the treasure fall into good hands, survive into better times. May it alert the world about what happened in the 20th century. […] Now we can die in peace, We have fulfilled our mission, May history bear witness to us.

Dawid Graber, My last will, August 3, 1942

2.

“I was one of those who buried the treasure-the documents proving the persecution of Jewish people in the Nazi General Government. In the days when dozens of people were being killed for various reasons, I was digging the hole and securing this material for you to learn about suffering and distress, and about murders committed by the Nazi tyrants. […] I don’t know what the future will bring. I don’t know whether I will be given a chance to tell you what happened next. Remember, my name is Nachum Grzywacz.

Legacy of Nuchurn Grzywacz, 17 years old, August 3, 1942