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Far Above Rubies: A Holocaust Story

© Lynda Ochsner

First-time author Cindy Polansky brings a story that is born out of the horrific event of the Holocaust. Far Above Rubies shares some common themes with other such works as Schindler's List, The Diary of Anne Frank, Miep Gies' Anne Frank Remembered, and Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place. This work tells the reportedly true story of Sofie Rijnfeld, who went voluntarily to a concentration camp to be with her six step-daughters who were "called up."

Available as a paperback from Booklocker.com, this novella reads comparable to a sustained short story: well developed on narration of chronological events, but light on character development or dialogue. The author learned of Sofie's story during a lecture at the "Anne Frank In the World" exhibit, at which a woman told stories of her Aunt Sofie, or "Tante Soof." Because Sofie had since passed away, details of her actual life were unobtainable. As the author notes up front, what began as a short story evolved to include things that did happen to holocaust victims, though not necessarily to Sofie or her family.

Sofie's story begins in Holland in the late 1930s, when she marries Jan Rijnfeld, a widower with six teenage daughters (Jopie, Carla, Lena, Anneke, Elli, and Marjam). The story traces the holocaust experiences as well as subsequent events of at least the next twenty years. The Nazi invasion in 1940, and subsequent restrictions imposed on Jews, is briefly described. In April 1942, all six Rijnfeld girls receive the summons for "resettlement." And remarkably all willingly agree to go. Although Sofie decides to join them, it is commonly believed that many Jews of Amsterdam (and elsewhere) went into hiding. This is not brought out in Far Above Rubies and would probably gain validation if this point were addressed.

The seven Rijnfeld women, with no objection from Mr. Rijnfeld, meekly submit to the authorities and dutifully show up at the train station to be taken away. It would have helped credibility to have the characters consider hiding or specify that many Jews did react according to human nature. The ever naïve Sofie fails to see the Nazi menace, believing that they are merely being sent to some work camp where they will help build weapons for the war effort.

Throughout their ordeals, first at Westerbork and then at Auschwitz, Sofie exudes a protector-complex as she stoically remembers her promise to Jan to protect and take care of the girls (the youngest of whom is now almost 16). Yet she harbors many self-doubts as to her ability to do so. The girls in turn see through her hypocrisy, as when Sofie decides to observe the Yom Kippur fast when they're practically fasting, and starving, as it is. Though Sofie professes concern for others, she risks death by smuggling in a watch but then trades it for a smaller than normal tattoo. As even the woman who receives the watch realizes, the item could instead have been used to acquire much-needed food or clothing later on. Sofie also forgets the conditions back home, believing that Jan continues to live a normal life free from danger.

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