My parents took me in order to raise me, not just for “safekeeping”. They wanted to give me the best of everything
I was taken care of by Stefania and Albin Dubinieccy. I was baptised as their daughter. Documents for me were prepared in Father Baudouin’s Orphanage. In case of need my parents could explain why all of a sudden they were in possession of a eight month baby. After the war my parents moved to Siemianowice Śląskie — there I spent the happiest part of my life. I had a loving family, my mother and father took care of me, even pampered me.
Between 1947 and 1951 my parents sent me for some time to the orphanage in Tuszynek, and to other places. I missed them very much and simulated various illnesses in order to return home. Now I know that these trips related to searches for Jewish children saved by Polish families. Later we moved to Katowice and father started being ill. He died, when I was nine. Mother, wife of a pre-war officer, who had never before worked, now had to support us both. As a widow of a war disabled she obtained
a newspaper stand franchise.
After father’s death I started to receive anonymous letters.
I learned from them that I am a Jewish child, a foundling, etc. Their authors believed that I should not be raised by a Polish family, but return “to my own”, meaning I should return to Israel. My mother denied everything, and maintained that I am her own child. I felt that she was not telling me the truth, but I did not want to annoy her. For a moment she even considered leaving Poland.
At the end of the fifties mother started to have serious cardiac problems, she often went to hospital. We did not have any family to request help fom. She died in November 1958. I had 16 years then and was left all alone in the world.