More Gruber (3 cents)

The second Ruth Gruber book I read was called "Haven", and I recommend it highly, although I think it reads best if you first read her memoirs, "Ahead of Time". She has now finished her education, is back in the United States, and has moved to Washington work for Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes. World War II is raging, and the government has done little to assist the Jews who are trapped and being liquidated. In fact, no country is doing very much, and England has closed Palestine to further refugees.

Bowing from pressure on both sides of the issue, the administration decides to make a concession and admit 1000 refugees. A selection committee is appointed, and Gruber (now in her late 20s) is the Interior Department's representative. She is also asked, particularly because of travel experience and linquistic ability to accompany the refugee on the passage to America.

900+ individuals, mainly but not all Jewish, young, old, with families, alone board the ship in Italy for a harrowing two week passage. Not only is the ship crowded, but they need to (they are part of a convoy) fight of German air and submarine attacks. They land safely in New York.

The refugees are not being admitted to the country as immigrants, only to wait out the war and then be returned to their homes (of course, most don't have homes any more), and they are moved by train to Oswego NY, where they will stay on a decommissioned military base for over a year, their fate unknown, their situation better than in Europe, but not good.

Finally, additional litigation is passed allowing them to be permitted to come into the country on immigrant visas.

Throughout all of this, Gruber has collected their individual stories, has asssited them adjust, and has lobbied for them in Washington.

She wrote the book (which has recently come out as a re-issue) in the early 1980's, thirty five years after Oswego was closed, and following a reunion with many of the refugees.

What a difference 35 years makes: lawyers, doctors, professors, business executives. Virtually everyone remained in the country and at least a large number of them did very well indeed.