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Elijah’s father contacted a former business associate to assist in removing not only his own family but also some patients and fellow hospital personnel from Vienna and Austria itself. Dr Grossman had heard there was a new Central Office for Jewish Immigration and freedom could be won but at a high cost. Benjamin Felsch, a friend of Elijah’s father had met with a man second-in-charge of the Office, a Mr Hans Wexler who could arrange passage for those wealthy and prominent Jewish residents of Vienna including the Grossman family. Mr Felsch explained the arrangements when he came to the Grossman’s living quarters later that evening. The Rabbi Kandell was there offering spiritual support to one of his congregation and his friend.

“I met with Hans Wexler this morning,” Mr Felsch told the Rabbi, Dr Grossman and his wife. “He says he can help you but his price is high. Mr Wexler wants your wife’s jewellery he had seen her wearing at last year’s gala benefit, your monies and all other valuables you may have or he will not provide passage for you or any of your family.”

“This man plans to extort you, my dearest.” Mrs Grossman looked at her husband with fearful concern for their safety and future.

Dr Grossman knew this to be true. There was little choice of what else to do. To extradite themselves from the new Nazi government the family would need to gather all their belongings and place their hopes in a businessman corrupt as he was, who supported the Nazi Party and to whom the benefits of arranging passage out of Austria he would gain admirable recognition from his German counterparts. Mr Felsch sat down to take the coffee offered by Mrs Grossman and explained the details of what had transpired earlier that day. Dr Grossman asked that his wife leave them so they could discuss the specifics of their proposed travel arrangements.

“It is best if you leave these matters, my dear. I do