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Beth Strasser: Um, do you remember the first organization of Jewish people
being organized when you came to America?
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Dr. Pauline Reinkrant: Uh, well, no.
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Reinkrant: We got in touch with the so-called federation. I don't know.
Because you know, what The Federation. Of course, because they took care of
us. They gave us rent. The money for rent and a dollar a day for food,
which was absolutely adequate. And because it was Depression time, and if
one could not buy meat, and eat the meat at once.
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Reinkrant: And the other thing would come from Europe with-- it's not
necessary meat, it could be a vegetable, eggs, and this was always, alwats
enough.
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Reinkrant: We met a few people who came-- had came with some, some time
and had formed the so-called Friendship Club of Pittsburgh. It's a club of
newcomers who in many ways are helpful. But are we-- it's all our-- it's
really our fault that we never got a little bit more involved in this
Friendship Club. Because it's really good club. It takes care of many
people, but my husband is not very social. He doesn't like to go places
much. Besides, when one is young, one picks a house and it turns out later
on when they get older that public transportation is very difficult. So, of
course, this this Friendship Club meets once a week on Saturday evenings on
Forbes Avenue, but we go first three blocks, which is 73. No, three blocks
is Liberty and then take the Squirrel Hill bus that runs every 20 minutes
or one half hours. It's very difficult. One never considers it's best to
move together [audio cuts]
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Reinkrant: To know that we are all very courageous. We all worked hard to
make a living here. We all raised her children. Send them to college and
graduate school if necesary. And acquire a little home for them to live in.
Where they live now practically rent free because they take out their
mortgage on the house. That might be very hard fact. I remember one who was
a salesman of Singer Sewing machines. Of course, a salesman in this
country. They have to consider [??]. And he had all kinds of odd jobs and
his wife sewed night and day. But they got it done and lived a--
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Reinkrant: Comfortable life. They are not ill. And so it's-- really this
community of people of the-- of Pittsburgh, of the newcomers. People
somehow could do it. There's a tremendous energy of doing things and
there's no bad person. But it is persistence and survival. It's safe to do
so. The idea that you're going to live as long as one does not assist. As
long as you live. You're going to try to live. Of course, even if you are
annihilated. 6 million Jews were in those concentration camps.
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Reinkrant: Half of my husband's family was sent to Auschwitz. And the one
____________________________________________. His brother, and
_____________________________.
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Reinkrant: So what is the next question. Is this an adequate answer?
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Strasser: Do you-- is the friendship organization still around?
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Reinkrant: In-- now they meet on Forbes Avenue in the back, what do you
call it. The veterans--
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Strasser: Sailors and Soldiers's memorial
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Reinkrant: Oh, no, no, no, no. That's on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.
Would you like to know? I know exactly where it. On Forbes Avenue between
Shady and Murray, which is part of Squirrel Hill with all the stores but
also the Veterans of Foreign Wars have a house there with a bar and rear
end of an assembly member. Someone can rent and have meetings there.
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Strasser: They made help available in bringing families over here didn't
they? Did you ever-- Reinkrant: I don't know anything about this. Strasser:
You never went through them, for that. Did you bring anyone over from
Europe to come over?
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Reinkrant: No. The only one who tried to come over was his mother. When
the war broke out. It's nearly impossible nowadays. We tried. We have very
nice young Swiss friend. When I hit my illegal in 1966, I think it was, we
went to Switzerland and settled in the city of Basel. Basel we called it.
And befriended a family there. We lived in that house and tried to get them
over. And it turned out they are very nice and very highly educated people.
Have been trying to get the son of his. This is [??] is widowed and she has
two children. One girl _______________. The son was much younger and for
reasons not really well. We would like to bring him here but it's nearly
impossible. Strasser: Really. Reinkrant: It's nearly impossible. To get a
visa for him to work here.
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Reinkrant: First, he has to have some work here before we can give him a
Visa.
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Strasser: Well, that's, that's the way most countries are now.
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Reinkrant: It was not the case in the United States. You only came in if
you paid some $5,000 or $10,000 to an agent. Who brings-- who gets to
Congress. To give them all for the special interest-- special. We couldn't
try this. He is an architectural draftsman they call it. But he has a bad
reputation in investments. That he is not a full architect. And try to
interest the Swiss family here to live in. And he's Swiss and his wife is
Swiss. And he come to the United States still in managerial positions. Very
well off, very capable. I sent him all the papers, all the curriculum
vitae. But I never heard anything. [??] from day to day. I was postponed to
call up because I disliked it so much. I set myself really the limit of
time this afternoon. I'm going to call him up and ask whether he [??] or
his information [??].
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Strasser: Why does this Swiss boy want to come here then?
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Reinkrant: It's very difficult to live in Switzerland for young people.
It's such a narrow-minded people. There are so, the best [??]. They think
so highly of themselves because, well, they owe their existence only to the
fact that they have the important passes across the Alps. Not all in
Switzerland. Without them, also in the _____________________. It would not
exist because France wanted it to fall in the hands of the Austrians. It's
a matter of [??]. Now the Austrians want the French to get hold of it. So
they are the products of history? And they-- they are very industrious and
they have many good ideas. But a real young person would like to get out of
this narrow-minded environment and try something. Now, I wrote in my last
letter, Why doesn't he try the near East where they are looking out for
[??]?
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Reinkrant: I has a very strange experience. Some-- it must have been a
month ago. He called me up 2, 3 times from Marseille. And I told and I
said, But listen, Rolf is his name. How can you do that? That costs a lot
of money. I said, No, it does not. There are 3 or 4 places in Marseille
which-- where some disturbance, and [??] called up for just local fees. But
then it was corrected it seems because he never really called anymore. For
Christmas I wrote them a letter and sent some Christmas pictures. So it's
very hard to get from there. Young people would like to break out of this
narrow-minded social setup with the distance between. Some are quite
satisfied. It depends more than any other country knowing people who can do
something for you. If you don't know people who want to do something for--
came, not to do. ______________________________________.
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Reinkrant: And so this [??]. So now it's actually that I must call up this
week. There is-- who is also a newcomer. He entered in 1938, 39. Reason
that he wouldn't want to stay in Japan. He was originally from Berlin.
That's why his wife was first. It was too narrow for him.
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Reinkrant: Yeah, he is in a managerial position in United States too. A
wonderful thing. But he could never have been [??] because of bad
connections. _____________ such an important job. Anyway, they came to
United States. Um, about the same time as we and we have known them but
since forever. They are not in [??] anymore, which I don't mind at all. You
see, I can understand, but it's annoying for people to see this man looking
vaguely-- but I know. And I know more Jewish people who--
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Reinkrant: Wish I could fly. I would have given it to be-- once, yes once
many years ago. Some 20 or more than 20. I tried to get into this country
and _______________________. She lived in England. Yeah, she lived in
England.
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Reinkrant: She lost her husband who had a stroke when she was still in
England and survived it for ten years. She had to take care of him all
these years but didn't mind at all. But then he passed away. I said, when
he had the opportunity to get a good friend to cross to you and you did
everything he did. And today we come back and she came and I never--. So I
said, the surprise which was sitting there moments away. And she looked at
me and said, you didn't know that I am ill. You know that I am Epileptic.
But I should have known, because afterall to come to America this means it
could have been a tremendous burden on us financially.
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Reinkrant: I said as long as you came, what I had mentioned. I think she
had a PhD in math and was a board examination in Physics and taught
mathematics and Physics in the school where I was teaching.
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Reinkrant: I thought I might be a good position to gain a
___________________________________ after all.
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Reinkrant: We could only overcome the drawbacks of Epilepsy by strong
medication. And this medication wouldn't help all the time. And since we
had to tell her, you couldn't stay with us until you are established. And
the only thing she could
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Reinkrant: This was my only offense. She came. I don't know what ever
happened to her. When she went to New York where she had two cousins. The
last thing I heard of her was that a medical doctor somehow took her in his
house as a servant. At the same time
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
It was not that I was scared of her. She thought that most everybody seems
to know, but I never know. And I never know things about people. I know
very little. I don't know about myself. I'm never curious. I'm never asking
you to tell me something. To ask for them for this and that. I just didn't
know. I don't know if I'm--
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Reinkrant: brother wrote from New York and I said I wanted to give an
interview. She should rather stay in England than go to the hospital. And
then after 2 or 3 months, she told me they were
____________________________. Was not saying.
_______________________________________________.
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Reinkrant: She she was, you know [??]. And she got married to a very nice
man. To think they could have [??]. It did not work out. It was a
tremendous problem for us. She called me freely. That it was-- she always
fainted. ___________________. I didn't not. I just don't know these things
about people. People seem to know so much about me. I don't know anything.
[laughter]
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Reinkrant: So this was [??]. And now I've cleaned out the drawer which I
haven't looked into for 20 years. And yes, so much about John sending a
letter. And I came to this papers I had forgotten all
about.__________________________. She wasn't a highly intelligent person.
Very, very intelligent.
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Reinkrant: One can only contain letters. Contain like others. But this was
a problem. How could I know anything? ______________________________
Unconscious that can control the bodily functions.
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Reinkrant: And if somebody can __________________________. Exterior one
satisfied? State of unconsciousness. She's all like, you know, from bottles
or some. ___________________________________ swallowed up like an onion.
It's a family thing. That's what.
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Strasser: Did you remember the most important member or worker or
organizer was in the Federation or the Friendship Club?
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Reinkrant: Uh, the main organizer. The federation is different from the
Friendship Club. They don't have anything to do. I do not really-- I do not
remember who the people were when we. When we left for the United States,
we had a description how to go to the Federation which was at this time
[??] Street, which doesn't exist anymore. This was the ghetto. Strasser:
Fernando?
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Reinkrant: Hernando Street it was called. There are two churches there.
One church has been raised meanwhile, in the Lower Hill district now. It's
called developed the whole of the arena and this great American [??]. And
keep in mind that a friend of ours in New York had gotten us a room in New
York. And we stayed in New York for a week until we got in touch with this
organization.
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Reinkrant: And they said, come to Pittsburgh. They got us a-- we came
here. I don't know how it happened, but it was-- well we went there and we
were highly welcome. They were all so friendly and helpful. I don't know
when we met the people at the Friendship Club who also suppose.
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Strasser: You don't remember any names of people coming?
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Reinkrant: No. I remember names in the Friendship club, of course. You
have-- they have-- that's an older organization. There's a president. A
vice president. Position of vice president. We offered them-- most of the
members, of the members who are in attendance are the officers so they
understood what was coming. I belong to this council of people who accept
little favors like Friendship Club. [??] start an interesting discussion
with them, but otherwise it's not taken care of. So last time we were there
Christmas Day. I had the little slippers and the president said, well the
next meeting is going to be this and that. And the next game is the
telephone booth next to me. But no coffee will be served after this one.
They're all connected and should ____________________. Especially since
everybody who belongs to the Friendship club lives in Squirrel Hill or has
a car or in Point Breeze and has a car and all their travels--
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Strasser: Remember, the most important organization for Jewish people was
when you were growing up? or did you have no contact with--
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Reinkrant: What-- the three people I knew in Vienna belong to the upper
class. My father an was important historian. And he is now in every
encyclopedia, even the newest editions. His name is there because he knew
basic history and I knew many of this upper class Jewish people. Then,
especially as long as you live. Later on I got married to my husband who
was a musician. Had an opportunity to play for 1 or 2 million people. This
upper class just doesn't exist. Because they were the ones who could save
themselves more, more easily because they had the money. And the others--
all that. What was the question? Yeah. And I did not belong. We did not
belong to an organization. We didn't belong to a synagogue. We didn't know
the difference between Jews and gentiles in Vienna.
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Reinkrant: This was an idea that was brought up after the First World War.
There was always antisemitism. I cannot remember what [??]. Maybe I ran
into trouble insofar that it was very difficult to find it, a husband.
Aside from other reasons, I was Jewish-- was a Gentile and then was a
Gentile who was a Jew. I was raised in the catholic church but finally we
married in a synagogue because his people are not strictly Jewish. But when
it came to me they were very Jewish, and of course I was a Shiksa. It's all
so complex. I don't know people
_______________________________________________________________________.
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Strasser: Did you have any friends that now belong to the Friendship Club
or the Federation?
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Reinkrant: Oh, sure, I had many of them. Friends, I don't know. When it
comes to [??], there are always some problems people because there is some
lack of understanding one way or another. So some of the people whom you
see once in a while have all kinds of feelings. The most important one
being that we have two successful daughters. Married well and loving
children. But we know a couple who is very unhappy because the son who is
an architect and has a PhD in the fine arts. But he's restless. Restless.
And doesn't want to live in Germany or in the United States. He's now 41
years old, married to a Swedish girl. And who would like that. Who is so
uncertain about everyone. Who never writes to his parents. So there are a
little frustrations which I really don't understand, because well everybody
has advantages and disadvantages that could help. They have enough money to
travel and not to have-- they bought his an apartment in Vienna. Spent some
time in Vienna. Right now they are in Vienna and they are going to be back
this week. We have other problems. You have this [??] Very hard. Very hard.
That's fantastic [??]. The only advantage of not asking, not being able to
speak is that you do not fight. But why is this a little incident that just
happened. Saturday night one of our grandchildren-- Friday night, one of
our grandchildren was here. They come every Friday night. One comes over
Friday night and stays until Saturday. Young children, it's very lovely
talking. It's very peaceful. And we wanted to do certain things that look
forward to, Kevin and I. __________________________. Sure. I'm going to put
it on. and it was at this time 10 to 8. He [??] to me and said that this
was not the program he wanted. This program before the program is not over.
I repeated 3 or 4 times until he grasped that. And instead he shouted out.
_____________________________________________________.
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Reinkrant: So everybody has something out of life. What I have in the
first place was like is my [??]. Very practical. I can never get enough
with. This is ___________________________________. Because the reading is
also a skill. I didn't know anything so I had to read. So of course what a
great skill, to read and read very fast. As I said, probably I never tried
like the family of his sons. There we did get an education, but not
everybody can have education. Some get it. Some don't get it.
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Reinkrant: Well, we might be just as gifted as I was. Maybe medium gifted
once was with the education and kept on reading and had to change to go to
the [??]. And there are other outlets, but they are endless that I have
this reading skill. So there are these little frustrations in life which
you could put together, hundreds if you happen to be. And this is what
makes it so hard to create an understanding.
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Reinkrant: I tried really hard to be frank with people. There's no
possiblity.
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Strasser: Were you or your husband a member of a fraternal. Reinkrant: Of
what? Strasser: A Fraternal. Reinkrant: What is it? Strasser: Uh, like the
Masons. Was your husband a member of a labor union? Reinkrant: No, not [??]
at this time when he died--
