You walk along a wide boulevard. Turning left onto a smaller street, you stand before the Great Synagogue of Pest, topped by two towers with onion-shaped domes. Next to it stands the Jewish community building with its beautiful, pillared arcade. It is in this annex that the Judenrat, headed by Rudolf Kastner, meets. Kastner has a reputation for helping Jews escape from the Nazis. The story is told that he even traded money and trucks to get some Jews out of the concentration camp at Bergen- Belsen. In many other cities, the members of the Judenrat have used their power and position to save themselves and their families, disregarding the needs of the community. That does not seem to be the case in Budapest.
You stand in a long line, awaiting your turn for an interview. When Kastner finally sees you, you learn that the stories about him are true. He offers you two possible ways to save yourself: sneaking out of the city and getting to Russia where you would be much safer or traveling across Hungary and hiding with a Christian family, disguised as a relative.
If you choose to leave Budapest for Russia, continue to page 50.
If you decide to travel across Hungary, facing the danger of German military occupiers, and hide with a Christian family, continue to page 51.