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February 10, 1938 Letter with no envelope
Written by: Gutka Szmuklarewicz (nee Rozental), Zelda's sister, her husband Szmul
and her daughters Chaya and Nechama, Bialystok
Dear Sister and family,
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Gutka Szmuklarewicz,
son Moshe and
daughters Chaya and Nechama |
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I received and was delighted to read your letter. I implore you to answer
my letter without delay. On arrival in Melbourne please contact Tuvieh
Szejnberg and Chaim Bertshein about Rebecca, Tuvieh's daughter. She is already
a fully-grown young lady and they should worry about her because she has
nowhere to live. I did not intend to write to you about it but I must. [Tuvieh
left his daughter Rebecca behind in Szczuczyn when he came to Australia. He
later brought her and her brother to Australia, but his wife
remained in Szczuczyn.]
We once had an auntie in Szczuczyn - our father's sister - but regrettably
she is no more. Muki Farber of Szczuczyn visited us today and told us that his
sister Zelda will leave shortly for Palestine. Yaakov Farber, our uncle, may
follow her shortly. He (Muki) did not tell us anything about Rebecca, which you
surely understand means that she will have to continue staying with him. I'm
asking you to inform Tuvieh and Chaim Bertshein in my name.
As for ourselves, we are all well. If business were better, everything would
be OK. Regrettably things are getting worse from day to day. Let us hope that
time will bring a change for the better.
Our children are well. Moshe finished school already and now studies
accountancy and typewriting. In time he will emigrate, though we don't know yet
where, as there is no future here [Moshe studied in Vilna and then managed to
migrate to England. He also lived for a time in Columbia, in Israel and in the
United States]. Next year Chayale will finish school, she is now in the 7th
class and does well. Our youngest daughter Nechama however is particularly
gifted and excels in her studies. As to your suggestion that our children could
learn to sew, you will be glad to know that they learn sewing at school and
Chayale has already some small sewn articles to her credit.
No other news. Please send our regards to Lozer and the children, and to the
Rosenbaum family for their kindness towards you. The Frydman family sends their
regards, also our auntie Malka and the Lachover family. My mother-in-law sends
her regards and thanks you for remembering her.
Your sister,
Gutka
[THIS ADDENDUM IS PROBABLY WRITTEN BY GUTKA'S HUSBAND, SZMUL]
Dear Zelda,
I intended to write in our previous letter but it didn't work out so I'm
adding a few words now. We are happy for you that you made the right choice and
you will now start a safer and easier life. Who could have anticipated at the
beginning that everything would fall into place? I'm envious that you find
yourself in such a great land, and you surely understand how thirsty we are for
such an atmosphere. I can't believe that little Nechemia is already at school
and the little fellow is almost a little mench [person of substance]. I can't
write much, kiss the children for me. I hope that in time they will be able to
write themselves.
Dear Zelda,
I spent this vacation in Szczuczyn and I missed you. As you know, we always
enjoyed staying with you - your food was so tasty. This time I had to stay
somewhere else. On the other hand, I was happy that you are no longer in a state
of need and I am pleased to hear good news from you. I hope that one day we will
visit you in your comfortable home and enjoy it together. If
possible attach a picture of yourselves in your next letter. We are keen to see
how you look there.
Best wishes,
Chaya
Mother mentioned in her letter about sewing. I intend to learn a trade after
finishing school. Everybody advises me to do it.
Regards,
Nechama
Maybe you are learning English. I would love to attempt to correspond with you
in English and see whether or not I'm capable of doing so. Probably not in the
near future, though.
WRITTEN IN THE MARGIN, IN ENGLISH: "Good night my dear." |
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