Notes from Interview with Alec Muts

Overview of Interview with Alec Muts

• Date of Interview: 11/07/1995
• Interviewer: Leah Zazulier
• Location: Rochester, New York, USA
• Subject: Alec Muts, born 06/18/1930 in Tarnovszek, Poland

Early Life

• Jewish Community:

  • Population: Approximately 3,800 Jews in Tarnovszek.
  • Lifestyle: Self-imposed ghetto; occupations included tailors, tanners, and shoemakers.
  • Daily Life: Relatively quiet and content, but with incidents of anti-Semitism.

• Family Background:

  • Father: Tailor, employed up to 12 workers during busy times.
  • Family Structure: Oldest brother, a sister, and his parents.

School & Education

• Education:

  • Attended three separate schools: public school, Chader, and Hebrew school.
  • Languages Spoken: Mainly Polish at school, Hebrew in Hebrew school, Yiddish, and German at home.

• Activities:

  • Learning: Involved in singing, choir; strict family emphasis on education and religious studies.
  • Family Gatherings: Celebrated holidays such as Pesach with family traditions.

Family Dynamics & Home Life

• Home Description:

  • Combination of father's shop and living space; customer interactions for tailoring.
  • Sleeping Arrangements: Shared space with a mattress made of straw-filled burlap bags.

• Family Interactions:

  • Family gatherings for holidays, particularly during Seder.
  • Grandfather taught prayers and scripture; utilized raisins as a reward for correct recitals.

Personal Experiences with Antisemitism

• Incidents:
  • Experienced name-calling and bullying due to Jewish identity; recounts one personal incident where he was attacked.

Cultural and Religious Life

• Religious Practices:

  • Attended synagogue regularly; learned from both grandfather and father, both dedicated to religious observance.

• Special Foods:

  • Enjoyed mother’s cooking: strudel and blueberry pastries derived from local resources.
  • Family customs included specific dishes for Shabbat.

World War II Onset

• Pre-War Context:

  • Father's perspective on rising tensions; reassured family regarding German occupation.
  • Complacency toward early warnings of impending troubles.

• Initial Changes:

  • Experience of attending school halted unexpectedly; faced with new restrictions on Jewish movements.
  • Noticed posters indicating Jewish segregation and restrictions on gatherings.

Closing Reflections

• Recollections:
  • Alec Muts recalls vivid memories of his childhood environment, familial bonds, and early experiences with prejudice leading into the turbulent times of World War II.
  • Reflects on childhood joy, significant activities, religious upbringing, and the ominous changes brought by war.