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The cold winter wind cut them through the holes in their clothes, as Mendel helped his father to climb into the train's car, and put him to sit leaning against the wall. "Sit down father" He said gently. "You could rest through the voyage." "Thank you Mendel" Moshe said in a shivering voice. "You were a good son" He said and closed his eyes. Mendel looked at him; worry eats him from the inside. His father looked horrible. He wasn't 40 years old yet, but looked like 60. His hair was completely white, and deep wrinkles crossed his face. The concern and disease took all his youthful from him.
Soon the car was full of people. Too much people. The German soldiers pushed as much people as they could inside, using their boots and guns's butts. Mendel had to push some people himself, in order to stay close to his father.
"You know Mendel" Moshe said suddenly. "Lately I figured out that I was wrong" "What do you mean father?" Mendel said and knelt near him. "The Zionist" He said and opened his eyes, looking at Mendel. "Do you remember how I opposed them? How I laughed on them? I thought they were talking nonsense. That there is no reason for their actions. I thought we don't really need a country of our own. 'What is so bad in the countries we are already living at?' I said. 'And besides, no country will give us a land anyway'. But now I understand that they were right. We really have no more place in the world. The Germans, that we always considered as the most cultured nation in the world, appeared to be a beasts. The Polands aren't better than them. Every day they give away another Jewish to the Germans. Even the Americans aren't coming to our aid. No one really cares about us, or hates us. We really have no place in this world, unless we will make a place for us. But it's too late for us now. Now we are all going to our massacre" "Don't talk like that father!" Mendel said. "The Jewish are supplying the Germans cheap working force. They won't just throw it away! The Germans are not squanderers." "No Mendel" Moshe shook his head. "If they only took young, healthy people like you I would have thought like that too. But look around you. Elders. Sicks. Handicappeds. They all can't work. I can't work. There is no reason to transfer us like that but to kill us all." Moshe stopped for a moment. "Mendel" He said. "Do you remember how when you were younger I would have sent you to do errands for me?" Mendel nodded. He wasn't able to talk. "Then I have one last errand for you. First-When you will have the slightest moment-Escape!" "No!" Mendel said. "I won't leave you here father!" Moshe smiled a small, bitter smile. "Your loyalty to me warming my heart" He said. "But I am dying Mendel. It will be a wonder if I will even survive this travel. I stand no chance. But you do. Escape, Mendel. Escape and find a shelter. Then, after it will be safe again, try to find Sarah. Do you still remember the address?" Mendel nodded. "Good. Find Sarah. And then move both of you to the land of Israel. To our holy homeland. Help the Zionist to make a home for our people" "I..." Mendel mutes for a moment. "I will do it father" "Good" Moshe said. "One last thing. Is the bag still with you?" "Yes father" Mendel said. It was hidden under his clothes. "Good" Moshe said. "Do not give your life for it, but do your best to protect it" "Yes father" Mendel said, when suddenly they heard whispers.
"Hole! There is a hole in the car!"
"Quiet! The Germans will hear you!"
Moshe's eyes lightened. "This is your chance Mendel!" He whispered to him. "Run! Now! When you still have the chance!" Mendel opened his mouth, but no voice came out of it. Moshe grabbed Mendel's hand. "Do it" He said softly. "For me. For your mother. For Ethel. And above all-for Sarah" Mendel squeezed his father hand and got up, fighting the tears. He had no time for that. He pushed himself between the people, and tried to find the hole.
The hole appeared to be very small. Most people couldn't have gone through it. But Mendel was so thin that He might succeed. Mendel set on the floor and lowered his legs through the hall. Then he held the sides of the hole and tried to push himself slowly through the hole. It was dangerous. Very dangerous. Even if he will stay alive He might lose an arm or leg. He tried to go down slowly, but he was too weak to hold himself for too long.
Mendel felt arms holding his shoulders. For a second of horror he thought it was the Germans. But the hands didn't pulled him. Just held him in place. "We are holding you boy." He heard a voice. "Tell us when you will be ready for us to let go" Mendel couldn't find word strong enough to thank them. He just continue lowering himself, until only half of his torso was inside the car."Now" He whispered and fell down.
The landing made all the air run from his lungs. Luckily he fell into a pile of snow, and wasn't hurt badly. Mendel lied there for a few minutes, and then dig himself a way out.
The train was far away now. They won't see him from there. Mendel start feeling the joy of freedom, but not for long. Mendel looked to the other side and saw another train coming toward him. A wave of fear hit him. He got up on his feet and ran toward the forest. He ran and ran into the deeps of the woods, until he fell down, Breathless and powerless.
But fear didn't disappear. The forest weren't less dangerous than the roads. Thieves and burglars were common as the long War's years continue. And there were the partisans too. They were fighting the Germans alright. But most of them hate Jews too. For more than once, while working in the fields, he saw a Jewish's body, with a note attached to it's skin: Partisans did this. Not Germans. And even if no one will find him he had no food, and there was no food to gather. It will be months before nuts and berries will be ripen. He didn't even had enough clothes. When the night will fall he will probably freeze to death. There was only one thing Mendel could have do.
Mendel got up on his feet and took the bag out of his clothes. He opened it and took out a pair of Tefillin out of it. They were very old, and were in his family's property for generations. He was careful not to look at his family's picture that was also inside the bag. He wrapped one of them on his left arm, and place the other on his head. Then he took from the bag a small book-a Siddur which was also one of his family's treasures. He open it, careful not to damage the yellow pages, and start reading the priers silently, hoping no one will hear him.

((Can you please write a bigger font? it really hurt my eyes to read it))
Mendel was in the middle of the prayer, and didn't payed much attention to hs surrounding. Therfor he didn't notice anoyone coming to him before he heard the voice, right behind him.
Mendel jumped in the air and turned back, fear clearly showing in his eyes. Fear that only grew when he saw she was aiming.... a bow and arrow at him?! Who's using a bow and arrows?! Not that it mattered. She could still kill him with that fairly easily. There was nowhere for him to run in the open cleaing. And even if there were he was too weak to run now.
Mendel took a step back when she asked what he was doing there. "I-I was just trying to escape the Germans" He said with a shaky voice. "I-I-I didn't mean to harm you in any way.Please don't k-k-kill me."

Mendel blew with relief as she unsheated her arrow and claimed she isn't going to kill him. She offered him to go to her camp. Will there be others in the camp? Is she part of the partisans? Never mind, She probably didn't recognize him as a jewish or his Tefilin. Perhaps they would be wiling to help him. Mendel quickly unwrapped the Tefillin and put them in the bag, hiding the bag under his clothes. He then struggled to stand up. He rose to one knee. Alright, Not the other knee... Good and now stand..... Slowly...... Slowly..... That's it! He was standing before her on shaky legs. "Lead the way, I'll follow" He said,