Mala's Cat

Mala’s cat was originally published in 1995 with the title Alone in the Forest and therefore is written in an older style. The book was republished early in 2022 as Mala’s Cat. The book is an autobiography account of how Mala Kacenberg (nee Szorer) survived World War II. Mala writes from the perspective she had at the time the events happened.

Mala was born into a large observant Jewish family who lived in Tarnogrod, Poland. Her story began three years before the war when wild hailstorms ruined crops in her area, plunging the family into poverty. The worsening economic situation affected the whole nation and caused a rise in anti-Semitic fervour. Even before the German invasion, life had become financially and religiously difficult for Mala and her family. The German invasion quickly reduced Tarnogrod to a ghetto. However Mala, who was now 12 years old, was resourceful and resilient. She often wandered about the nearby countryside begging for food from local farms, sometimes in exchange for labour, to provide for her family. Mala’s complexion was much fairer than was usual for someone of Jewish descent, plus in the years leading up to the war, Mala had become fluent in Polish, unlike many Jews in her area. This meant she was often mistaken for being Polish which worked in her favour on many occasions.

In 1942, the Nazis shot the entire Jewish population in Tarnogrod and buried them in a mass grave. There was no longer any reason for Mala to return home. At this time, she learnt that many young Polish people were being called up to work on German farms and hotels. Mala managed to make her way to the Labour Exchange and was able to convince them she had lost her official paperwork when the Germans set fire to a nearby Polish town. She was assigned to a hotel, where she worked until the end of the war.
Unfortunately, Mala’s trouble didn’t end with the war. She found shelter with some kind-hearted people but she longed to be with her own people. Initially, she applied to travel to Palestine but when that took too long she applied to go to England. She was greatly relieved to arrive there after several more harrowing incidents. In England, she found some distant relatives who ultimately introduced her to the man who would become her husband. Like her, he was an observant Jew.
The presence of Mala’s cat is a puzzle. As a young child, the stray cat would follow Mala whenever she left home. When the war started the cat would accompany Mala during her foraging trips. Later when Mala moved to the hotel, the cat mysteriously reappeared even though it was 20km from Tarnogrod. Some feel the cat was a literary device or that it was an imaginative way of helping her cope with loneliness. Yet for Mala, the cat was real and gave her great comfort and sometimes guidance. Through all her experiences, Mala maintained her faith in her Jewish understanding of God. She escaped death numerous times and believed God protected and strengthen her. She even found reasons to be thankful and regularly prayed Jewish prayers. Mala’s autobiography is a fascinating insight into a young girl’s determination, ingenuity and compassion for others during severe trials.

World War II, Survival, Resilience, Jewish persecution, Tragedy, Judaism

1. Mala witnesses the shooting of a young child and also her brother. All of Mala’s immediate family and many members of her extended family and her friends are executed. However, the deaths aren’t graphically described. 2. Mala is Jewish, and this plays a large part in her story.