Robert SzuchtaDawid Rubinowicz was born on July 27th, 1927. His father, Josek (Józef) was a milkman in Krajno, a village close to Kielce. Dawids mother, Tauba, stayed at home and took care of the children. Very often she gave the people in the neighbourhood area medical help. She was a accoucheuse, could treat wounds and less serious medical illnesses. The inhabitants of Krajno had good relationship with the Rubinowicz Family. There were not many Jewish families living in the villages around Kielce. Until 1942 there were only seven Jewish families living in Krajno.
Dawid went to the Polish school and from the maintained testimonials we know, that he was a good student. His school mates said, he was an open, forthright and outspoken boy, helpful and most of all- very curious about the world. Both the students and the teachers liked him a lot. He was as a role model of a good student. When he was supposed to go to 7th class, on September 1st, 1939 but the war started. Dawid was 12 at that time. The experience of that time was for the world- curious boy new and interesting. He started to write down his observations in a diary. The diary of Dawid Rubinowicz was written down in 5 school- notebooks. The notes from 1940 take only 8 and a half pages. They are written with a not yet well trained handwriting, but they are very orderly, accurate and readable. The notes are short and direct, written in a laconic, childish style.
The first page of the Diary of Dawid Rubinowicz
Dawid started writing on March 21st, 1940- he was not even 13 at that time. 1941 he takes the notes more often and more regularly. The discriptions of situations become longer and the observations are deeper and more personal. Dawids' handwriting is less accurate and careful, smaller and more trained.
The cover of Dawid’s siter school notebook with his notes
On the cover of the 5th notebook there is a seal, that says: "D. Rubinowicz Bodzentyn Kielecka Street Number 13". This is the new address of the family, after the displacement into the ghetto in Bodzentyn. The notes from 5 months of 1942 are placed in the last notebook, of which 5 last pages are missing. The last line, in which the events from June 1st, 1942 are described, ends with the beginning of the new sentence. Maybe Dawid has written this diary further on? Unfortunately, we do not know it.
