Jan 11

Photo Credit: auspicious35.blogspot.com

 

 

Many times, when I ponder about the Holocaust - or any time of tragedy, for that matter - I usually wonder if there are two sides to what is commonly taught and learned.  Where was that one person who found it in his heart to do something about the cruelty?  Or even the "bad guy" who had enough compassion to stand up for what is right?  Even though most times I am let down, this scenario really does unfold in the memoir Love in a World of Sorrow; and that scenario comes in the form of Jan.  Jan is a Ukrainian soldier who soon becomes one of the most vital people to Fanya and her family.  She meets him while standing in a line to buy rotting cucumbers for her family.  She is harshly ordered to go home by a soldier (Jan), but something about his smile makes her want to trust him.  Strangely enough, he knocks on her door the next day with a fresh bag of cucumbers and the message, "Here are your cucumbers.  I'll bring better ones next time" (page 69).  From that day on, Jan returns to the Heller home over and over again, bringing a small sack of cornmeal here and a little bit of money there.  Fanya grows to respect and trust him very much, as he never once leaves her family's side.

 

I believe that Jan is a very compassionate person who has a wonderful personality and a warm heart.  Despite the burden and the danger of caring for the Heller family (not to mention the shunning from the non-Jewish people), he dutifully makes sure they are safe and always gets them what they need.  While I am unsure about what motivates him to carry out such a noble task, to me his intentions are clear.  I think he will be an extremely important part of Fanya's life.