Kombinators

The chapters that we have been reading so far have been very interesting. We were asked the question of what do we think about the “Kombintaors”. Well, in my opinion they are trying to survive just like every Jew in Poland. It’s kind of hard to say that you think its right to support someone who has been working for the enemy. I believe you should not judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. I wonder for those that believe it was wrong to work for the enemy would believe it would be wrong to not fight to say alive. Come on, I would do anything in my power to the last breathe in my body to make sure I had a fighting chance to survive.

What comes to my mind is the example of a “Kombinator” Haskel Spiegelman on page 114-115. Families have now been separated. Families do not exist if you want a favor. The favor must be paid wither it is money or little treasures. It’s kind of sad that Vladek made arrangements for his in-laws to be saved but then to be double crossed by his own cousin. I know that Haskel gave him a warning and told him that the in-laws would never make it past the guards. I guess the cousin had to do what he had to do. We don’t hear his side of the story and maybe there was more to it. We can assume that maybe deep down he knew that they would not survive and played his cards as of to take a little while they still had some valuables because the elderly never had a chance in the camps.

Another example is on page 116- 117. Here we are shown how Haskel is known to the Gestapo. He plays cards with them and apparently loses large amounts of money so they can like him. Again, Haskel has adapted to do what he has to do to survive. He keeps the enemy close at hand like a symbiotic relationship. I wonder if he would treat his own family same as he did Vladek? I mean his brothers. It is said that just another of his brothers is also a “Kombinator” which is Pesach and the other brother is Miloch who is considered a fine fellow. Miloch is the one how gave him a job at the factory to make boots for the Germans. We have come learn that that factory became very useful for Vladek and his family thanks to Haskel. I guess you have to play a part as a double agent to get what you want.

The last instance I like ends on a funny note. Pesach the other brother of Haskel is featured in this example on page 119. He is also a “Kombinator” that works for the Jewish police. Pesach has spread the word that he has cake. Most of the Jews have not eaten or even seen any type of bread in a very long time. So they really want some of that cake no matter the cost. Now he sells the cake and wouldn’t you know the town becomes ill. What happened is that the ingredients were wrong the flour was dry laundry soap. It makes you wonder did he do it purposely just to make a buck or was he brainless. Nothing is mentioned if Pesach ate the cake and if he became ill. What is mention is the whole Ghetto fell ill. I feel that what has to be done wither it hurts people or not it must done. The” Kombinators” were looked upon by the Jews to be rotten but I think the Jews also knew they had to survive just like them.