A Good Jew
Martha Goldberg
"She’s drawing now, a picture of her Idol (indicates Sol) and I hate to disturb her when she’s in the middle of something beautiful. Who knows how much time she has."
"None of us belong anywhere anymore, Hilda. This is not a good place to be."
Abraham was an accomplished pianist and would play at home every evening. It is he whom our eldest son, Sol, takes after. There are several years between the births of our two children, and we thought that my childbearing years had passed, but then, a miracle, and along came Anya.
Abraham was always outspoken, and was beginning to come to the notice of the authorities. I tried to warn him to be careful who he argued with, but one day, he was dragged out of our apartment and, try as I might, I never could find him. I had to look after the children and protect them. Times were getting tougher as the Nazi regime was taking hold, but I did my best to keep the home as happy and normal as possible.
"Your father was always the liberal, Sol. And I carried the candles. Always the good Jew, Sol. Do you not think I might have wanted, just sometimes, to put them down?"
I am so proud of my talented children. Sol is an even better pianist than his father and has a lovely girlfriend whom he met at the Sinfonietta. He is teaching Anya piano and she is also becoming good at drawing and reciting her poetry.
I must stay strong and do everything I can to make sure they both survive this terrible time.
"Never come out from behind the wall, the wall you must build now, until you are safe."
My husband and I knew each other from childhood. We lived in the same district of Frankfurt and went to the same synagogue. Our families were friendly and so we grew up together. It somehow seemed inevitable that we would marry when we were old enough. I loved my Abraham, and we had a happy marriage. We both loved music and the arts, poetry and drama:
Chrissie White (Martha Goldberg / Red Cross Inspector): Film roles include Kathryn in Sleeping Dogs by More Better Films (film nominated at Raindance Festival), Mary in The Journey of Alfred Small by Old Lamp Productions, Nana in The Devil You Know by Mad Pig Productions, and Nurse in Romeo and Juliet with Venture Wolf. Stage Roles include Mary in The McGraths of Ballydaff by Eileen Pollock and Joe McGowan, Margo in Positive at Waterloo East Theatre and Anne in PIN at The White Bear Theatre, both by West Avenue Productions, and Mrs Candour in School For Scandal at The London Theatre with Venture Wolf. The role of Martha in The Good Jew is an exciting new venture for me. Having read the script I became immediately involved in the lives of this family and Martha’s role as matriarch, loving, nurturing and willing to sacrifice everything to keep her children safe.
