Sol Domowitz’s Boyhood Story of Lomza by Susan Itkin

My grandfather, Sol Domowitz told me this story when I was in grade school, about 45 years ago. It's the only time he spoke to me about his memories of Lomza. He thought it was a very funny story and shook with laughter while he told it. I thought it was a wonderful story and have remembered it ever since.

Sol was the youngest brother in the family. The Domowitzes published the Shtime, a Jewish newspaper, putting them in the public eye in the town. Secretly, the family also published Zionist literature, considered a treasonous act by the Polish government. The local officials had suspicions about the secret Zionist activity, but no proof. My grandfather explained that local officials would harass the family by jailing one brother or another from time to time because of the suspicions.

One day, when my grandfather was a little boy, he decided to visit one of his brothers who had been put in jail. He walked over to the jail on the outskirts of Lomza and called to his brother through the jail cell window, so they could talk. A jail guard heard them talking and saw my grandfather standing under the window. The jail guard began to chase my grandfather and my grandfather knew that if the guard caught him, he would beat him badly.

My grandfather took off running as fast as his legs would carry him. A cemetery was situated between the jail and the center of town. A military funeral with a brass band was in progress when my grandfather, followed by the jail guard came tearing through. My grandfather ran right along the edge of the open grave; his hat blew off his head and landed on top of the coffin!!

Sol just kept running, all the way to the home of Lomza's mayor, who knew my grandfather and liked him. My grandfather pounded on the door, which the mayor opened just before the guard caught up with him! My grandfather ran inside and stood behind the mayor, who told the guard to leave little Sol alone. My grandfather was delighted that he had out-foxed the guard, until he realized that his trouble was just beginning, because he now had to go home and tell his mother that he had lost his hat!