Michaela+and+Kim

Ariella Gillerman (Michaela) Born: August 9, 1920 Ariella Gillerman was born August 9, 1921. She is about 15 years old during the awful times of Hitler. She lives in Warsaw, Poland. Ariella has a big family with two brothers and two sisters. Her youngest sister, Riva, is 5 years old. Her other sister, Shaina, is 8 years old. Her brother that is closest in age to her, Jonatan, is 14 years old. He is very protective over her and they spend a lot of time together. They are very close. They understood each other than anybody else. He understood her and she understood him. They where each other’s best friends. They did everything together. Her other brother, Aaron, is 6 years old. They are all younger than her. She has a lot of responsibility around the house looking after her siblings. But she loves them dearly and always haves a good time with them. Her father, Adam Gillerman, works for a living and studies medicine. He is on the way of becoming a doctor. She does not really see her father often, but when her father does come home, he tells her amazing stories about his discoveries. She is always vert interested in his stories. Her father got her to study medicine and history, which are her favorite subjects to study in school. Her mother, Dailia Gillerman, is a house wife. She stays home and teaches Ariella ways of being a lady. Ariella is very close to her mother and if often with her for most of the day. Her mother teaches her how to cook and be a good house wife. Ariella got her great personality from her mother. Ariella and her mother always joke around with each other and make the best of each day. She has a big house and good amount of money. Ariella and her siblings loved to play hide-and-go-seek in their house. Everyday they each would have no hiding places that no one would find. Ariella has a very good life. She goes to school everyday. She enjoys school and is very intelligent. She always gets good grades and studies very hard. Ariella loves to read and write. She hopes to discovery something later on in her life like her father. She also loves to go outside with her siblings a goof around. They go outside together everyday and go and explore. They try and find new things everyday. All of them just love to be together. She is very close to her cousin Maya Mandell. She lives in London, Great Britain and lives the same life as Ariella.Their mothers are sister but they do not have a good relationship. They have gotten into fights and they hate each other. Maya had to move away because of this. They keep in touch by writing each other letters often and visiting each other as much as they can. Their relationship is a close as a best friend’s relationship. They write each other every day. Maya will talk about her life in Great Britain and how each day is a new beginning for her. Ariella will tell Maya about her life in Poland and how everyday it would get a little tougher for her. Maya would help her with her inspirational words. Maya was just like a older sister that was always there for her when she need her. Ariella was effected greatly by the Hitler era. She lost everything. She lost her father, brother, 2 sisters and her house. Most of all she lost her life. Through it all she kept in touch with Maya. Maya gave her words of comfort through the tough time. Maya’s letters helped Ariella through it all.

Maya Mandel (Kim) Maya Mandel was born on May 8, 1920. She is 16 years old, and lives in Great Britain. One of her relatives lives in Warsaw, Poland, and is greatly affected by Hitler coming to power. Her closest relative, Ariel Gillerman, has two brothers and two sisters and worries about being separated from them. Maya has a great life in Great Britain, but is constantly thinking about Ariella. Maya’s house in Great Britain is large and extravagant. They lived in London. Right off a main road was Maya’s house, and her huge yard that never seemed to end. She loved to go exploring, especially down by their river. Growing up, she had anything she wanted. Ever since her two brothers moved out, Maya has had the biggest bed room, and all the clothes she could ever want. Her father was a very successful merchant, and brought home many things from other countries. She never got to see her father much, but when she did, he always had the most amazing stories to tell. Maya’s mother was always out at tea parties, or with her friends. Since Maya was the youngest, and was now considered old enough to care for herself, she was mostly left on her own. Although she has two older brothers, she was never close to them because of the nine year age difference. They joined the army, and weren’t around much anymore. Maya’s father or mother often just left her money, and she would mostly take care of herself. Since she was never that close to anyone in her family, she constantly wrote to her closest relative, Ariella. Her and Ariella were much alike, and always had the best stories to tell each other. Most of the stories were about their father’s latest trip or discovery, how their family is doing, or how life was in their town. They would never talk about how different their lives were, until a little later in the year, when things really began to go downhill. Maya really began to worry about her closest cousin in Poland. Maya’s mother and Ariella’s mother were sisters, but hated each other. Whenever they were little, they would always be together, until there was a fight between their mothers. Ever since then, Maya had been living in Great Britain. Ariella was still Maya’s best friend. Thanks to the letters they had been constantly sending back and forth. The two girls never knew why their mothers hated each other, but it was something they had to live with; there was nothing they could do about it. Maya always wondered what it was like to have a sister she was close to. She never had anyone to go to school with, or to talk to like a best friend. Her two older brothers were never with her, and she would always feel lonely. Maya had a lot of friends at school, but they would never be allowed to come over her house because her parents were never home. Maya would always have to find something to keep her occupied. When she had any free time, she would write to Ariella. As the months passed, Maya and Ariella became closer than ever, sharing unforgettable stories, and wondering if their new life style will ever go back to normal.

Dear Maya,
 * Letter 1**

Happy birthday! I can’t believe you are 16! I hope today was really special for you. I thought about you all day. What did you get? Did your parents throw you a sweet sixteen? Did your father come home? Are your brothers finally home safe? I always think about them. I am always afraid that one day I will get a letter from you saying that they are gone. I know it won’t happen, but I can’t help but be nervous. Anyways I hope you had a really special day you deserved every minute of it. I wish I was there to see you. I promise as soon as I get the chance I will come and visit. I will bring gifts along too. But you know how mother is, so I don’t think it will be sometime soon. I will talk to her though, believe me I will.

My father finally returned from China. I was so happy. He told us all about his wonderful discoveries. Jonatan and I listened to every word he said. While the others were distracted by the somewhat interesting toys he had brought them. But I am not going to lie the toys are very weird. If I was their age I would love them, honestly. Anyways, father told Jonatan and I about how a man who was brutally beaten lost a ton of blood. My father said he did everything he could to help him. The man would go in and out of consciousness. Finally, my father had enough and told the other doctors to hook him up to something. The doctors did not want to but he made them do it. The machine, he said, was a machine that would take blood out of him. After he took some blood at of my father, they put it in the man. My father said within a few days the man was back on his feet. This really surprised me because I had no idea that you could do something like that and that my father was one of the first to do it. It was also so cool to hear that my father saved someone. My father also brought Jonatan and I home something, it wasn’t toys or anything like that. It was something that Jonatan and I would appreciate it, it was an ancient artifact from back in the 1600s. I wish you were here to see it, you would appreciate it too. You understand me so much it is ridiculous; I don’t even know how we are so close but yet so far away. It is strange to me, but I love it.

But my father also told me something that I am worried about and for some reason I want it to come. A guy in Germany is rising to power and my father told me that things might get difficult for us. This guy calls himself Hitler. My father said that it would get real difficult and we might have to even move. Maybe I’ll move near you, which would be so wonderful. I could see you all the time. But my dad said that we would have to do it soon, really soon and it wouldn’t be the easiest thing to do. He sounded real nervous when he told us this. I am real nervous with this too, what if something bad really happens? I wouldn’t know what to do. But what if this guy is doing change for the good? I asked my father about it, but he just looked at me and said honey I doubt any of this is for the good. After that I was really worried. I wish I was in Great Britain with you right now. Things will be easier for us there. Hopefully we will get on the road soon. I really need you. Love, Ariella

Dear Ariella, Thank you for remembering my birthday! I had a long day; my brothers were on leave, and came to visit me! They tell me to send their best wishes over to you in Poland. I guess they know a lot about what’s going on with war times, but they’re not allowed to tell us anything. As far as things are here, life is as normal as it has always been. This week has been extra busy because of my 16th birthday. i didnt exactly get a huge sweet 16 party, but i was able to be with some family friends. The most favorite gift I got was the diamond earrings that dad brought across sea. I he had just gotten back from Canada, and brought us so much stuff! He said that was his last trip for a while though. Things are no longer as safe as they had been, he explained to me. Are people in Poland constantly worrying about everyone’s safety? It seems like everyone is in a rush to do something these days, and not too many people are out much. Are the people in Poland like that to? I don’t know much of what’s happening, so if you have any information on that, please let me know.
 * letter 2**

Other than that, nothing exciting had really happened here in Great Britain. How are grandma and grandpa? I haven’t see or talked to them for a while, so I hope they’re doing well. I miss living over in Poland. How are all of your brothers and sisters? My two brothers are spending most of their time out with their other war friends who have also came back here to visit their families. They have beem acting really different from the last time they came to visit. My father says that they have seen too many horrible things in their short lives. I guess thats what you get from joining the army. They say that this is their last trip for a while; they’re going to be stationed somewhere much further away, and won’t be able to visit on their next leave. I always wonder where they are, or will be going, but for safety issues they are not allowed to give out any information. Maybe they know this new leader Hitler; i really wish that they could tell me these things. I hope things will be easy for them, wherever they're going. When they leave, I always worry about them. You never know where they could be at that point; in a battle, or just sitting around playing cards. Mom and Dad constantly worry about them also. I don’t think they like the idea of both of their sons being in the war.

Other than all of that, my life has been boring. Like I said before, not too many people are out on the streets anymore, and there is no one to hang out with. I’ve been off from school this week, but should be going back soon. I am very happy that I had a vacation during my birthday...and really wish you could come visit Great Britian soon, and I hope everyone is doing well. I feel like I havent see you in such a long time, and hope for things to change between our famlies. Love, Maya


 * letter 3**

Dear Maya,

Its been awhile since I wrote...sorry about that. My father was right, things have gotten really tough. We never got the chance to get out of Poland and move away. My father can not be a doctor anymore, he said its too dangerous for him and the family. I not going to school anymore either. I am home all the time now. It may seem like I have more time to write you letters, but I really don’t. We are so busy trying to keep our identity a secret. I really don’t know why we have to, but what father says goes. I like how my father is always home now, but I hate the scared look he has on his face everyday. The scared, nervous look he has on his face is the same look he had on when he was telling Jonatan and I how life would get tough for us. My mother is the same too, she looks frail now and she is pale as a ghost. I believe she is scared too, more scared than my father. It is the first time I have seen them both like this. Neither one of them will tell me what exactly is going on, which can be so frustrating. I want to be able to stop all this nervousness in my house, it is too much for me. Riva, Shaina, and Aaron don’t know what is really going on. Jonatan and I understand how our parents are acting. Grandpa and Grandma are the same way, they are always nervous too. That makes me more nervous knowing they are. Beside them always being nervous and scared, they are very healthy.

I’ve over heard my parents talking about rumors of Hitler and his Nazi gang thinking of invading Poland. It is probably not true, but then again I did not believe the first thing my father told me too. And look how well my prediction came true. But then I heard them say that it will not happen for awhile. So that is the plus side of another great thing going on in Poland.

Anyways since Riva, Shaina, and Aaron do not go to school anymore Jonatan and I are stuck home teaching them...great. We teach them how to write letters and read books. Riva told me that one day she wants to start writing letters to you too. I laughed a little and said I hope so too. Shaina and Aaron always ask how you are doing and I tell them. I tell them that each letter I get is just another happy day for Maya in Great Britain, they smile once I say that. Jonatan always ask about you too, and your brothers as well. Sometimes he says he wants to be like them and go into the army. I tell him that is not something you would really want to do, but I guess you can never stop a dream. Riva is doing really well on writing and she always laughs now. It is so nice to always see her smile. Shaina is not a little jerk anymore. She has been really nice lately and she always tells me that she loves spending time with me. I guess staying home is actually paying off, I've gotten a lot closer to her and I really like that. Aaron is still the same, terrorizing everybody. But I'm not going to lie it is really funny. Jonatan is the same as always. No change in him. They all miss you dearly.

I really hope you are doing well in Great Britain. Hope school is going well for you and your friends are great. I hope your brothers are still home and safe. If they aren’t I am sure they are fine where ever they are stationed. You have nothing to worry about with them. They are strong, tough and everything in between. Have a great day, I’ll be thinking of you always. I miss you dearly and wish I was there with you every day. Letters from me will not be as often as they were, sorry. But I promise I will try and send one at least once a week. Love, Ariella

**Letter 4**

Dear Ariella, I am very sorry to hear about things over in Poland. I guess everything has to get worse before it gets better. I haven’t heard much more about Hitler, but I don’t have a good feeling about him coming to power. I do know that after the First World War, there was a great opportunity for a fresh start, so he decided that it was a great chance to help Germany become a superior county, with him in power. My guess is he will be a dictator, and have everything in his control. I hope things won’t change that much more though. I want everything to go back to normal.

Over here in Great Britain, I haven’t been going to school, women are to say home and take care of things at the house. I know how you feel about not having any time for anything; I am at home now, and things are also going downhill. I hope everyone soon has nothing to worry about, so no one will be so constantly nervous. My father is always out, tying to help the poor, and all of the others who are stuck on the streets now; most of the time I go with him to help. It is so sad to see all of these people with no homes or food. I feel bad that I still get to like in a huge elegant house when these people have nothing. Mom and dad also haven’t been the same. They are always acting nervous and restless. There are some nights when I can hear them fighting. They talk about how my father can’t keep giving always all of our money and food. She says that he needs to go out and find a job. My father claims that there is enough food and money in this family and that others need our help.

Is it too late for you to leave the country and live with us? I think it would be better for your family if you come live in Great Britain. From what I hear, things are really not going to be much safer in Poland. I’ve been hearing the news from this new invention called the radio. It didn’t come out very long ago, but it is still very new to everyone. Have you seen one? Its really quite interesting for those voices to just come right out of a box. It’s as if the person in the room is standing right next to you. The voices call themselves reporters, and they know the latest news on everything. Some of them say that Hitler is for the good of Germany, and everyone should worship him. Others say that Hitler coming to power is nothing but trouble. I don’t know which one to believe. People say that Hitler is having his Nazi’s teach people to love and support him. Is that really true? He is against religion and I think he produced a new religion called atheism. I’ve been told that this means people don’t worship any god. Can you believe that? I don’t think he would be a good leader if he is taking so much control of everything.

Everyone here is more anxious by the day, with everyone trying to find jobs and places to live and eat. Are things any worse over in Poland? Please write back as soon as possible...I’m still trying to put all these things together. Please stay safe.

Love, Maya

Dear Maya, Sorry about everything that is going on over there, I guess it is just as bad as it is over here. I guess they call this whole thing The Great Depression now because it has hit world wide. The same exact thing is going on over here, people need money, food, and jobs all of which nobody can give. It is just so hard to see everything fall apart. Our lives especially. Everything that you said about Hitler is true. People needed a fresh start and he is now right there to give it to them. You are right about the news saying that some people think it is good, others think it is bad. I personally don’t think it is so good. I think this because my father isn’t the same man anymore. It is all just so weird to me. I wish everything will just stop and get back to normal too. I want my life back. Mother told me the same thing you told me, it is only going to get worst before it gets better. I just wonder what will be the worst part of all this madness?
 * Letter 5**

Father said it is too late to move to Great Britain. He doesn’t want us going through Germany at all and the only way to your house from Poland is through Germany. Father believes it is too dangerous, which I think it might be. I miss you terrible and I wish I was there. It is difficult here and there, but I would have a better life there. As soon as all this madness stops I am leaving right away to come visit.

Money is starting to get difficult for us. We stocked up on a lot of food, water, toiletries, and anything else we needed desperately. We got plane tickets too, but right after we got them we found out that we could no longer leave. They never gave the money back either. So money is pretty tight right now. We all want to help the other people but we know that we just can not right now. That is the worst feeling in the world, knowing that no matter what you do to try and help someone it isn’t good enough. Well, right now at least. Sorry to here about your father and mother fighting. Nothing serious will happen between them. They love each other both very much. They love you and your brothers as well.

Jonatan sneaks out every morning bringing a loaf of bread, water, and cheese with him, he goes over to the people with needs and gives it to them. I went with him once and I loved seeing him like that. He was so happy to help others in need. Anything he could do he said would mean everything in world to him. He loves it. Father and mother know nothing about this, and Jonatan would love to keep it that way.

I’ve heard about this new invention called the radio it does sound pretty cool. We were going to get one but father said money is too tight right now, we will have to stick with newspapers from now on. It doesn’t bother me though I like reading. Though I have never seen a radio and I sure would love to see it. They way you described it sounds so cool. Miss you and please stay safe too. Love, Ariella

​ Dear Ariella, I can’t believe that in the last few months and even days, our lives have become completely different. Things have changed so much that I would have never guessed things would come to this. Every day I’m out helping others. These times are so hard. Father can’t find a job, and mother is becoming depressed. They don’t talk much anymore, and it worries me. Im so sorry to hear about your plane tickets. Thats horrible that they wouldnt give your money back. I wish my family could help you, but money here is also not easy to find. So many people dont have jobs. No one is really making money these days.
 * Letter 6**

I heard from the Radio that these times are called the Great Depression. No one has any money, and the People are being highly taxed. The standard of living is going down, and there is now a greater difference between the higher and lower classes. Things have gotten so bad, and I have a feeling that it’s not over. I heard that Hitler is still making changes and fighting for power. I am beginning to really doubt him, and I have a feeling that he is going to bring so much more danger to so many people’s lives.

I haven’t been able to do much besides help my mother and father. My mother spends all day either cooking for the homeless, or cleaning out extra rooms for people to stay in. Our house is now a Bed and Breakfast and there are constantly people in and out of here daily. You would not believe some of the stories I’ve heard. One man I particular I remember had traveled from Ireland. He too had other family in Poland, and was going to get them out of there. He explained to me that there were horrible things about to happen, and that I should stay with my mother inside all day, rather than going out to help my father. He claims that many dangerous people are out there and I need to keep myself safe. I listened very carefully to all that this man said to me. He seemed to know much more than anyone else around here. He was different. He had two younger girls and a wife who were visiting Poland to see some old friends. He hadn’t heard from them for a very long time and was on him way to find them. I wished him luck and he was on his way. I hope he gets there safely. When he was telling me all about Poland, it reminded me that you were over there, and I began to worry that you wouldn’t be safe anymore. I hope you and everyone else is still doing well. I also hope things haven’t changed as much as they have over here. Please write back as soon as you can. I hope everyone is ok.

Love, Maya


 * Letter 7**

Dear Maya,

Everything has changed, I can’t believe how it went from a happy letter to one day sending you a letter saying I could no longer send them as often. To me it doesn’t even seem real. You are right too about it all changing so fast. I can’t believe it either. I am so happy to hear that you are helping out others. I’m sorry to hear about your father and mother, they will be happy again I promise you. It is just a tough time for everybody and once it is all over they will love you and each other more because they have been through the worst with each other. Thank you about the plane tickets and I know how it is over there too so you don’t have to do anything for us we will be fine.

The real reason I wrote back so fast is because Jonatan is no longer with us. He died Tuesday night. I didn’t know it could be any tougher than this, but once my father came home that night it suddenly was a lot tougher. He is no longer there to calm me down when I need him most. He was always there for me just like you are always here. We got that call from my father Tuesday afternoon and my mother dropped the phone and started screaming. Right away I knew something bad happened. We drove to the hospital to find Jonatan in surgery, the surgeons came out and said "We are sorry, we tried everything. He didn’t make it." I didn’t know what to do, I stood there in shock. I didn’t cry and I didn’t scream. I stood there. When we got home I went into his room laid on his bed and cried the whole night. There was nothing I could do and that is what hurt the most. I miss he so much Maya. Now I just don’t know what to do. I need you now more than ever.

Yesterday, father finally told me how he died... I didn’t know you could die doing a good thing. My father found out about Jonatan’s sneak outs and Tuesday he decided to go with him. Father thought it was great that Jonatan was helping out. Anyways, when they got there there was a crowed bigger than usually. I guess the word got out that there was a nice young boy helping the needy. Father took them down in the car because they just got enough money to get gas. They got there and it was good at first. Until people in line started getting restless and wanting the food faster. Then a guy out of no where appears and he has a gun. He points it at Jonatan and says give me the car and no one gets hurt. My father told him in a nice calm manner, just put down the gun and I’ll give you the keys. My father started to get his keys out of his pocket, the guy thought he was getting something else. He panicked and the trigger went off twice, hitting Jonatan both times. He then panicked more and saw my brother there laying helpless bleeding to death. He couldn’t take it...he then shot himself in the head. My father immediately ran over to Jonatan and saw that he was going to die. He threw Jonatan into the car and rushed to the hospital. He went in surgery and was latter pronounced dead. My brother died helping out people in need, I just don’t believe it. I can’t it doesn’t make sense to me. All I know is that he is gone.

Money is even more tight now. With all the hospital bills my father said that he doesn’t know if he can afford the food anymore. He also told me that he doesn’t know is can afford stamps...without stamps I can’t write to you. We need food and water. I’m sorry but this will be the last letter I write to you. I promise as soon as things get better I will write to you again and come visit. I’m sorry you had to read all of that too, I just needed to tell you. Please write one more letter back to me. I really just want to read your letter one more time. I am so sorry about all of this. Father also told me things will get worse. Hitler is gaining more power and things are going to get really difficult with us. All we do now is sit here and wait for him to come. Scared, nervous, and afraid I don’t know if I can make it through the next years too come. We might have to go into hiding, which makes me more afraid than ever. But I will make it, I will do everything I can to make it through. I will try my best and hope for the best. I’ll always think of you. Love always, Ariella


 * Letter 8**

Dear Ariella, I am so sorry to hear about Jonatan. I don’t know how people could be so cruel. He was such a good kid, and it’s a shame to hear about this tragedy. The Great Depression has gotten the best of us, and nothing seems to be going right. I send my sympathy to all of your family. I’m always here when you need me; and thank you for always being there when I needed you the most. Don’t ever give up; we will all make it through this.

From all the information I know of, the best advice I can give is that you need to stay inside and keep you identity absolutely secret. The Nazi’s will come, and you must not let them know your there. Try and save all of your food, and make it last as long as you can. Things are no longer safe anywhere, so you have to stay a secret.

Nothing you descried was how I remember living over in Poland. I guess things will get way worse until they get better, but don’t worry, they will. I can only imagine living through all of those horrible things, and I wish I could help. I understand how the Nazis censor all of the mail and other things that go out of the country. I don’t want to get you or your family in any further trouble. Whatever challenges you may soon face, I wish you luck, and just remember to never stop trying. Love always, Maya

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