Antisemitic Incidents in Romania

[Text: Rita was a child living with her family in Bacău, Romania, when she was forced to wear a yellow star. She recalls her experiences of antisemitic incidents among fellow children.] 

Interviewer: In all this time during the war, the restrictions were gradually enforced. Did that include wearing a yellow star?  

Rita Akselrod: Yes. I remember my mother sewing it. Yes. I remember I hated that. And I remember we were not supposed to go out after six o’clock, but I liked to see my friends. So, we used to climb fences to go and see our friends.  

Interviewer: Did you take off the star or wear it all the time?  

Rita Akselrod: I had to wear it. My mother said I cannot take it out. See, at that time, if your mother or father told you no, you didn’t ask questions. Plus, I don’t remember asking why. My mother said you can’t take it off, you have to wear it. So, we wore it. But I remember when I wore it the first day, I had some people throw some crystal stones at us just passing through a public garden in the centre of the city. And then we started having groups. So, when they started throwing stones, we just hid behind the fence. We were throwing stones back. I always like to fight back. I was always a fighter.  

Interviewer: So, you didn’t just take that?  

Rita Akselrod: No, I just threw stones back. I don’t think I hurt anybody. Nobody hurt me either. But I’ve always tried to fight back.