She Lived to Tell

By Suzan Nana Tarablus

"She Lived to Tell" is a poignant journey into the untold history of exiles, migrations, and silent sufferings in the Balkans during the transformative years of World Wars I and II. At the heart of this captivating narrative is the remarkable life of Miriam Saltiel Friedmann, affectionately known as "Mimica".
Set amidst the Bulgaria-Greece-Turkey triangle, Mimica's family becomes an integral part of Turkey's recent history, entwined with the echoes of the Ottoman Empire's beating heart. Amid Greece's declaration of independence and the rise of Bulgarian guerrilla organizations, Mimica's family adventure unfolds, echoing the unyielding spirit of the region.
The shadows of World War II cast a grim pallor, but Turkey's compassionate "prudent policy" extends hope to Jewish immigrants fleeing Nazi persecution. Through the pages, the captivating city of Salonica comes alive, once a sanctuary for Sephardic Jews escaping Spain's forced immigration.
Through candid narrations, Mimica's unwavering spirit and acceptance of life's tragedies shine, inspiring readers with tales of heroism, love, and resilience. "She Lived to Tell" interweaves ordinary emotions with extraordinary events, preserving the indomitable human spirit passed down through generations.
With each page, Mimica's extraordinary journey unfolds, a testament to the power of oral history, a gift from the past that imparts meaning and wisdom to our present. 

Suzan Nana Tarablus was born in Istanbul. She graduated from the Arnavutköy American College for Girls and studied American Language and Literature at Istanbul University. During the years 1995-1997, she was the first professional editor-in-chief of Şalom Newspaper. Her research and travel articles have been published in Şalom Magazine where she has also been working as the 
editor-in-chief since 2016. She is the author of four other books, Bir Sabah Galata’da Uyandım (One Morning I Woke Up at Galata), Çek Kayıkçı Balat’a (Boatman row to Balat!), Kuşaktan kuşağa Kuzguncuk yolculuğum (My Kuzguncuk journey through generations) and Baba bize neden Dönme diyorlar? (Daddy why do they call us Dönmeh?) all published by Varlık Yayıncılık. She has been a member of the Press Council since 2020 and is the mother of two sons, Eyal and Eytan. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Europa Edizioni
• Release date: Oct 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9791220147293

Book preview

Suzan Nana Tarablus

13 October 2022

There are experiences that haunt us, that we cannot forget… Memories that have dominated our lives, that we cannot go on without sharing, that we can never say goodbye to without immortalizing them… Especially, if the reason for the existence of those who experience sorrow is to turn memories into stories, we would move forward knowing that telling is what connects them to life. The narrative of Miriam Saltiel Friedmann's journey, who I will call Mimica throughout my book, is one of them. Just like in Gabriel Garcia Márquez's expression in one of his masterpieces, ‘Living to tell the story’:

"Life is not what one lives;

What matters is what one remembers and how one tells about it."

Lili Polikar at her wedding to Hayim Saltiel (Sofia, 1935)

MIMIKA'S MOTHER LILI

Lili, the daughter of Mari and Sami Polikar, a Sephardic family from Istanbul, was Mimica's mother… Her loved ones used to call her Lilica. She was born in Istanbul in 1915 as the second daughter of Polikars. She had a joyful childhood and a relaxed and carefree youth in an intellectual, wealthy and loving family environment. She studied at the French High School, Notre Dame de Sion. From the "Naccarat à Violette, that is the first grade with burgundy belts, to the baccalauréat" with violet belts, until high school graduation she studied the most sophisticated works of world literature. By also taking piano and ballet lessons, she acquired a good family girl upbringing.

The years of Lilica's youth were also the first years of the Turkish Republic. All the young girls and women of the period were under the influence of Atatürk's charisma. They admired him not only for his heroism and statesmanship, but also for his good looks. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's adopted daughter Rukiye got married in Dolmabahçe on May 22, 1930, the news and photographs of the wedding, reflecting the elegance and splendor of the time, adorned the dreams of young girls. Some of Lili's classmates were the pasha and the ministers' daughters, who were under the protection of Gazi³. An unforgettable event among Lili's memories was her best friend's wedding held at Dolmabahçe Palace. Lili was very excited to be so close to the Great Man while Gazi danced and had his pictures taken with the bride's friends.

Born into an educated and wealthy home with a Western lifestyle, Lili loved music, travels abroad and dresses. Fashion was her passion and she wore the dresses made by famous tailors very well. In fact, the upbringing she received made her not like a heroine, but rather prepared her for a good marriage. Like all young girls who were brought up like princesses, she dreamed of her handsome prince. However, the first love she had experienced lost its magic very quickly and ended with a great disappointment. In those days, Italian singer Rina Ketty’s⁴ lyrics: "Plaisirs d’amour ne durent qu’un instant; chagrins d’amour durent toute la vie"⁵ were in vogue and Lili could not get over the sadness of the disappointment for a long time, the same way as it was in the song. However, around the same time, the rush of her sister Nora's wedding preparations in Sofia and the intense excitement of this journey could comfort her a little. This is how the Balkan adventure in the Istanbul-Salonica-Sofia triangle began.

After the Great Depression, in 1933 Atatürk, who assumed the duty of Sofia Military Attaché as the lieutenant colonel of the Ottoman army during World War I, attached great importance to his relations with the Bulgarian King Boris of the time. Social life, cafes, tea parties, balls and operas during Atatürk's tenure were in full swing in Sofia's European life. It was in such an environment that the wedding journey to Sofia had been a period of convalescence and healing for Lili.

The arrival of a young girl in Sofia made a sensation. As soon as she arrived, she was surrounded by men who admired her beauty, elegance and wit. She had a talismanic charm and refined tastes, but the Bulgarian youth, whom she found rude and uneducated, did not get close to her wounded heart.

The holiday in Sofia, which continued with the splendid wedding preparations and the enthusiasm of the festivities, was about to come to an end. While the family was returning to Istanbul, the new bride Nora, Norica as the family called her, asked, "Please let my sister stay with me for a while," and Lili's stay in Sofia was extended. While her parents, who returned to Istanbul, were waiting for their daughter, Lili's fans, who were fond of ornaments and attention, did not give up. To get rid of some courtship, out of a little coquetry and teasing, Lili broke the news: The only person I will accept a marriage proposal from is Hayim Saltiel!

The lucky future groom, Hayim Saltiel, had moved to Sofia after receiving a good job offer while working in the tobacco business in Salonica. Hayim Saltiel had undertaken the organization of the Polikars’ family trip to the wedding in Sofia, at the request of a friend, Jack Hayimoff, Norica's new husband... There was already a line of "Hayim'' in the family for some reason. They were probably distant cousins… Although it is not known exactly how and where they had met with Nora… Jack had asked Hayim Saltiel My future family will come from Istanbul, please take care of them as my best man. Lili's parents met Hayim Saltiel when the Polikars were in Sofia for the wedding, and he stood out visibly among the rude country Bulgarians because he could speak French to Lili. He was not handsome, and much older than Lili, but he was a true "homme du monde" (French: Man of the world). He knew how to treat women well. He was from Salonica, not from Bulgaria. He was a graduate of Alliance Universelle Israélite⁶ and highly cultured and knowledgeable. Lili had enjoyed his company during Sofia days and became more and more attached to him. They went together to balls, parties and the opera… Then the days passed, it was time for Lili to return to Istanbul. Hayim had done his best to keep her there, but on the other hand, he probably wasn't very confident.

Before her trip back to Istanbul, Lili said goodbye to her sister, Hayim, and all her family there. She arrived at the station on time for the train. Hayim was devastated! He was 35 years old yet head over heels in love like a young boy. He was already at the train station at the time Lili was supposed to leave. He made a deal with the conductor, had the other passengers vacate with requests, filled the wagon with baskets of red roses, and was waiting for Lili on the platform. While accompanying her on the train until she reached the Turkish border, he proposed marriage to her, first softly and then persistently. Lili couldn't take this elegant and emotional call any longer and said "yes. At her arrival to the Sirkeci Train Station in Istanbul, Lili announced her engagement to her parents. The Polikars were delighted to learn of Hayim's interest in their daughter, Lili. Most of all, they were glad that she had forgotten about the young Hoffer, who had hurt her so much, and whom she had loved so deeply. Lilica's first love was the owner of the first advertising company, Samanon⁷ in Turkey. It is not known whether it was a question of the dowry, but it did not work. The Polikar family researched the groom-to-be, Hayim Saltiel, and they were delighted with the positive information. After learning that their daughter's grief was relieved and that the future groom was a first-class husband candidate", they did not mind the fourteen years of age difference very much, which was overlooked in those times. Hayim Saltiel, admired by Mari and Sami Polikar, was indeed the perfect spouse; he was good-natured, generous and sensitive, well-educated. He was the general manager and junior partner of the Sofia branch of the Fernandez Tobacco Company. He was also a loved and respected charitable member of the congregation; moreover, he was the defender and donor of the Zionist movements that started in the Balkans at that time.

MIMIKA'S FATHER HAYIM SALTIEL

Hayim's family followed the tradition of the time when choosing their surnames. In the Ottoman period, the father's name, place of birth or the tribe to which he belonged were written next to the person's name. But, the family chose the name of their eldest son, Saltiel, as their surname.

Hayim Saltiel had been offered to teach at the school he graduated from because of his talent for mathematics. During his three years of teaching, he also worked as an accountant. In 1921, he received a good offer from the Fernandez family business and moved to Sofia. He was accepted into the Sofia Jewish community. The marriage of his close friend, Jack Hayimoff, to Nora Polikar in 1934 would change his life as well. Nora and Jack had a son, named Moris, but they called him Mutsi… among themselves. Having married twice after her husband Hayimoff, Nora would continue her fashion career in Zurich.

Hayim Saltiel was born in 1900 in Salonica. In 1912, during the establishment of Greece, he became a Greek citizen. Since his father died when he was very young, he was raised by his older brother, Saltiel Saltiel. It was his own choice for his brother to have the same name and surname. Their youngest brother was Hanino. Hanino is not a name… it was a nickname! (Author's note: His name was probably Hananya!) It is highly probable that they were doing well, as the older brother Saltiel was able to enroll his sibling to Alliance Israélite Universelle⁸.

              Hayim Saltiel

The famous Allatini Family⁹ had initiated the establishment of this school in Salonica. Just like the Camondo Family¹⁰ did in Istanbul… At that time, the Alliance Israélite Universelle society established schools almost all around the Ottoman Empire, and a Western style education was provided by teaching French and Turkish to the children of the Jewish community. Hayim studied French, trade and vocational subjects at school, and started to work immediately after graduation. Known as a math genius in high school, Hayim's first job was to be an accountant for a tobacco company. The Commercial Company of Salonica Ltd. owned by the Fernandez family, which had commercial relations with Greece - the Ottoman Empire and later with Turkey since its establishment was the last company that the young man worked for after World War II.

Hayim did not want a dowry from Lili's father, Sami Polikar: "Je ne veux rien, comme elle est, comme ça je la veux," he had said. (I don't want anything, I just want her as she is.) Je l'ammène à Paris et je lui fais le plus beau trousseau... (I'll take her to Paris and make the most beautiful dowry…)

These were exactly the words Lili wanted to hear, pleasing not only to her ears but also to her soul.

Two years after her elder sister Nora's wedding to Jack Hayimoff, Sofia high society would once again witness a magnificent wedding with the marriage of Hayim and Lili. The gorgeous wedding dress was from a famous fashion designer in Paris. They got married with a legendary wedding in February 1936. Lili Polikar became the most beautiful bride Sofia had ever seen. After a princess-like honeymoon in Paris, Lili caused a new sensation by returning to Sofia with suitcases full of spring creations from the biggest fashion houses. While it was snowing outside at the end of March, the floral wide-brimmed hat she wore on one of the nights they went to the opera became the talk of Sofia high society for weeks. Everything she did was appreciated. Herself, her older sister Nora, and her cousin Rejin, introduced a hitherto unprecedented lifestyle to Sofia’s high society.

With refined invitations, meals prepared with fresh butter and cream, fashionable clothes, French conversations, private lodges in theater and opera, they became the representatives of the lifestyle that Istanbul’s European style French society described as La Belle Époque¹¹.

Lili's mother's name was Mari, Hayim's mother's name was Miriam; so they named their daughter, born in 1936, Mimi Miriam. Throughout her life, this baby would always be called Mimica, except in official settings. A short time later, her sister Arlette, who would become Mimica's lifelong companion, was born. She was known as Arlettica in the family. Lili was now used to Sofia, where she disliked living in