Rachel & Nechemia
Tante Paulina's Doll
Tante Paulina’s doll had long hair (like no other) and was treasured, first by Rachel, and later by her sister, Chanah. Rachel received the doll from her father who said it was from Tante Paulina. Rachel’s father Traian traveled to New York in 1947, explained Rachel, and brought her the doll. Rachel was born in 1944 and in the summer of 1944 she immigrated to Palestine with her parents. Rachel said that she, and in turn her sister Chanah both loved that doll. They cherished Tante Paulina’s gift. Did Traian talk with Paulina or his cousins (my grandmother) about the travesty of Iasi, their survival and escape from Romania? My mother remembers the Romanians living in her grandmother Paulina’s apartment—names are lost. The flashpoints of inconsistency become points of more research, delving deep into the many stories.
I first met Rachel Stern via zoom, with her husband Nechemia. I could tell from the brief correspondence we had so far that Rachel was also intrigued by our connection. There was, immediately, a relaxed open feeling, and it was as if I were sitting in the apartment of an aunt or a cousin, yet we were just on video with each other. Rachel is the granddaughter of Paulina’s older brother Bernard Weisman and his second wife, Rochelle or Reisel.
