Some Jews hide in the forests of Corrèze, but you
choose a cave near the town of Bergerac, above the Dordogne River, sharing
it with several other Jews. You even try your hand at writing poetry, like
another famous resident of Bergerac, Cyrano. Unfortunately, your verse is
not of the quality of his, and you return your thoughts to the urgent
matter of survival. Fortunately, the
Organization Juive de Combat
(Jewish Fighting Organization) has
excellent spies who always alert you to a coming German raid. With the
organization's help, you are able to leave the cave in time and
scramble up the hill to new hiding places.
Having survived the war, you reflect upon your experience. Recognizing that you could not have managed without the help of many generous people, you decide to return this favor by working to help other refugees. You journey to Geneva, Switzerland, and find a job with the International Refugee Organization, part of the United Nations.
The rest of your life is spent trying to help refugees find new homes and
settle into productive lives. You find this totally satisfying. It is as
though you were trying to fulfill the Torah commandment in Leviticus
19:16: Do not stand idle while your neighbor bleeds.
END