Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 30 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Tuesday 2.11.93

I would like to sincerely request that you enable Elka Kush to make up the hours she has missed from work due to feeling unwell, so that she can get her regular monthly salary.

With respect,

Dr. Annie Katzburg

The doctor raised her head from the pen and paper and looked at Sara Liba. “In the normal world, before the rise of the Reich,” she spat out in an angry whisper, “there were workers’ rights. Rights! Basic ones! Someone who was sick had sick days, and was paid by his employer for those days!”

“I heard about it,” Sara Liba said. “My father, Hashem yinkom damo, had a shoe store, so those rules probably didn’t apply to him. But for people who worked for someone else, I’m sure it was significant.”

“Very, very significant.” The doctor shook her head. “I imagine that there were conditions, and you couldn’t announce that you were sick every day and get paid as if you worked normally. But it was a basic law that favored the workers. And here? People are choking themselves not to miss even one hour of work. It’s dreadful.”

Babbe sighed and took the sheet of paper. “They choke themselves?” she asked quietly. Was Elky choking? There had been something strange in her eyes when they’d spoken about the party and the work she would be missing. Was it possible that they were simply starving for bread at home? But why? He worked, she worked…why shouldn’t the money be enough for them to buy food?

“Choking, definitely. Should I give you an example? If Bilhah, the preschool teacher, would have been able to rest a bit more over the years, she wouldn’t be in the state that she’s in today.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 29 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

In exchange for this document, products and merchandise will be supplied for a value of up to 5 Reichsmarks.
Supply of the merchandise is conditioned on the original document being complete, and affirmed by a stamp from the lager management and the signature of an authorized person.

The letters were not prominent or etched onto a highly valuable piece of paper, but Elky passed her finger over them as if she could actually feel them. She slipped the last paper in the pile into the new bag her mother-in-law had given her and stood up. Now where would be the right place for this to go?

Until now, the vouchers she’d gotten from Naomi were squirrelled away in a cabinet under the Shabbos towel. But it made much more sense to store them in a good handbag with a solid clasp, like the one she’d received just right now. Maybe she’d put the handbag with the vouchers in it at the bottom of her linen chest.

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 28 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Dearest Elky!

Embroidered with the loving hand and heart of a shvigger, in honor of your promotion at the office!

Mama (Mottel’s Mother)

Elky rubbed a finger over the small leather bag and the buttons that closed it, and raised shining eyes to Chaya Kush. “Thank you!” she said. “It’s so beautiful!”

“I’m happy you like it,” Mottel’s mother replied with a smile. “I saw a few of the younger women with such handbags in the last two weeks, so I thought it could be a good gift for you.”

“Yes, Katarina has been giving handbags as payment for embroidery and sewing work that she likes. They must have bought stock somewhere, so she can distribute them.”

“Do you like that style better?” her mother-in-law asked, somewhat hesitantly.

“No, this is much more special. It’s wider and more comfortable on the shoulder, and your stitching…” She studied the tiny, perfect, maroon stitching, and the satin flower affixed to the strap. “It’s gorgeous. Thanks so much again! It really makes me happy!”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 27 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Amoxicillin – Dosage Instructions:

Speak with a doctor or healthcare professional regarding dosages. The normal dose is three times a day, one tablet with each meal, for ten days. Do not take medication without explicit instructions from a doctor; the damage may be worse than the benefits. This is a warning!

“But there are only eight pills here,” Naomi said to her grandmother as they stood in a dark corner in the yard of the infirmary, her hand shaking as she proffered the little carton. “Based on what the package says, Zuska needs thirty!”

“Not her, she’s a little girl,” Babbe replied, studying the tiny letters written in German. “It’s amazing to see this disgusting writing dripping with compassion and concern for our health… Anyway, we’ll give her one pill a day. It will be enough for eight days.”

“The nes of the pach shemen…” Naomi murmured, but there was no smile.