Sydney Jewish Museum Collection

Sidebar content	Main content
Actions Displays	Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberM2019/031:054 DescriptionCollection of letters and postcards from Zyndel Roth from the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to his son Henryk Gostin and his wife Rosalie Gostin (nee Roth) in Kobe, Japan in 1941. Following the invasion of Poland by German forced in 1939, Rosalie and Henryk along with their daughter Liz, and Rosalie’s brother Henry, decided to flee from Lublin. Rosalie convinced her sister Helen Swartzberg (nee Roth) and her three-year-old son George to stay in Lublin with their father Zyndel Roth and wait for her husband to return from service. In March 1941, the Lublin Ghetto was formed and Zyndel, George and Helen were forced to live there. These letters were sent during their time in the Ghetto. They were all murdered in the Holocaust. Postcard (M2019/031:054a) from Zyndel Roth in Lublin, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan on 16 April 1941. In this letter, Zyndel describes his current living situation and updates on the rest of the family in Poland. He expresses his excitement for being reunited with Henryk and Rosalie again in the future, ‘let’s hope for god to give us an end to the war now, and that we can all meet again in the best of health’. Postcard (M2019/031:054a) from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan on 21 May 1941. In this letter, Zyndel enquires about the health and state of Henry, Rosalie and their daughter Liz. He expresses concern at the fact that the letter he had received from them was sent from Yokohama and not from Kobe. He mentions that Jozeczek (George, Liz Sapir’s cousin) is eager to learn to write so that he may to write to Elzunia (Liz Sapir). He also refers to a letter sent by Henryk’s parents that contains useful addresses, which is in this collection (M2019/031:044b). Letter (M2019/031:054c) from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan “Jewcom” on 12 May, 1941. This letter is written in Polish and is yet to be translated. Postcard (M2019/031:054d) from from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in the Jewish community in Kobe, Japan on 29 May, 1941. This letter is written in Polish and is yet to be translated. This object is a part of a larger collection donated by Liz Sapir (formally Elizabeth/ Elzbieta) (nee Gostynski/Gostin), born 3 July 1937 in Poland. Her mother, Rosalie (Rosalia/ Rozalja) Zuinta Gostin (formally Gostynski) (nee Roth), was born 5 July 1911 in Lublin. Her father Henryk (Henry/ Hillee) Gostin (formally Gostynski), was born 15 July 1908 in Tomazow Mazowiecki, Poland. Rosalie and Henry met in Lublin following their individual studies and were married in 1934. In 1937 they had their only child, Elizabeth. In 1939, with the invasion of Poland by German forces and the outbreak of the Second World War, the family accompanied by Rosalie’s brother, Henry Roth (also known as Hirsz), fled Poland. The family travelled to the Romanian border, however bad weather and heavy security prevented them from crossing. They attempted to return to Poland with Russian troops but were only able to make it as far as Lvov where they remained from September 1939 to January 1940. From Lvov, the group travelled separately to Wilna, Lithuania. In Wilna they secured visas to Japan from the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara. From Wilna, they went by train via the Trans-Siberian Railway, before boarding a boat to Japan, landing in Tsuruga in 1941. On 3 July 1941, they left Kobe and immigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney 9 August 1941. Once in Australia and for the duration of the war, Henry secured a job as an Australian correspondent for two polish newspapers, ‘Nowy Swiat’ or ‘New World’ published in New York and ‘Dziennik Polski’ published in London. The family settled in Bellevue Hill in Sydney, where they remained until their death. Production placeLublin, Poland Production date 1941 - 1941 Subjectkeeping in touch, signs of life, ghettos Object nameletters Materialpaper Dimensions width: 143.00 mm height: 105.00 mm Language Polish M2019/031:054a Lublin, 16th April 1941 My Dearest, I received your letter today dated the 5th March, for which I sincerely thank you. Thank god everyone here is healthy. Leon is working and Chela helps out at the farmhouse. We live in an old apartment, paying a local monthly rent of 51 zloty. I received the entirety of the debt from Szmelka and Ciesia. Thanks to that, I hope to see you all again during my lifetime. The parcel from beloved Henek arrived just before the holiday, and came in very handy. I often receive news from Henek’s father and I send him the money that he needs. There was a letter from Rykel Twelska, he writes that he keeps in touch with you. Brylowa is helping out at the farmhouse. How are you? How are you all coping in exile? What are the Henkowie up to? I am very happy that Elunia is looking healthy, growing and that the Japanese climate serves her well. Jozeczek is also looking healthy. He is a pupil at the kindergarten. It’s a shame that we can’t send you his photo. Nothing else to report, let’s hope for god to give us an end to the war now, and that we can all meet again in the best of health. Your loving father, who wishes you happiness Zyndel Greetings and kisses from aunty! I often receive letters from aunt Regina. Please write to us frequently as this is out only source of happiness. M2019/031:054b Lublin, 21st May 1941 My Dearest! What’s new with you? How is your health? How is my beloved Elzunia? I am very worried about you, as I don’t know how you are coping in exile. Did beloved Henek receive the papers from Luba already? And will he be able to travel with her? I wrote to Luba and asked her to help you as much as possible with organising the papers. For this I’ll take care of her family over here. Maybe she’ll succeed. The parcel of tea you sent arrived yesterday. The fact that it was sent from Yokohama made me worry, why wasn’t it sent from Kobe? Write to me in detail about how you are coping and about your state of health. No news at this end. Thank god everyone over here is healthy. We thank you sincerely for the tea. Jozeczek is very eager to learn how to write, so he can write to lovely Elzunia. From Tomaszow, I often receive cards from Henek’s parents, they informed me that they sent you a list of useful addresses and that they are all healthy. We also often receive news from Aunt Regina, are you in touch with her? We receive news from the whole family, everyone is healthy, only Taller and Fajgati have been stuck up, BUT, they do visit us. We are hopeful that the war will end and that they will apologise to us, and that we will see each other in the best of health. Wishing you all the best Your loving father Zyndel Salutations and kisses from aunty Pesi Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Liz Sapir

Object numberM2019/031:054

DescriptionCollection of letters and postcards from Zyndel Roth from the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to his son Henryk Gostin and his wife Rosalie Gostin (nee Roth) in Kobe, Japan in 1941. Following the invasion of Poland by German forced in 1939, Rosalie and Henryk along with their daughter Liz, and Rosalie’s brother Henry, decided to flee from Lublin. Rosalie convinced her sister Helen Swartzberg (nee Roth) and her three-year-old son George to stay in Lublin with their father Zyndel Roth and wait for her husband to return from service. In March 1941, the Lublin Ghetto was formed and Zyndel, George and Helen were forced to live there. These letters were sent during their time in the Ghetto. They were all murdered in the Holocaust.

Postcard (M2019/031:054a) from Zyndel Roth in Lublin, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan on 16 April 1941. In this letter, Zyndel describes his current living situation and updates on the rest of the family in Poland. He expresses his excitement for being reunited with Henryk and Rosalie again in the future, ‘let’s hope for god to give us an end to the war now, and that we can all meet again in the best of health’.

Postcard (M2019/031:054a) from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan on 21 May 1941. In this letter, Zyndel enquires about the health and state of Henry, Rosalie and their daughter Liz. He expresses concern at the fact that the letter he had received from them was sent from Yokohama and not from Kobe. He mentions that Jozeczek (George, Liz Sapir’s cousin) is eager to learn to write so that he may to write to Elzunia (Liz Sapir). He also refers to a letter sent by Henryk’s parents that contains useful addresses, which is in this collection (M2019/031:044b).

Letter (M2019/031:054c) from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in Kobe, Japan “Jewcom” on 12 May, 1941. This letter is written in Polish and is yet to be translated.

Postcard (M2019/031:054d) from from Zyndel Roth in the Lublin Ghetto, Poland to Henryk and Rosalie Gostin in the Jewish community in Kobe, Japan on 29 May, 1941. This letter is written in Polish and is yet to be translated.

This object is a part of a larger collection donated by Liz Sapir (formally Elizabeth/ Elzbieta) (nee Gostynski/Gostin), born 3 July 1937 in Poland. Her mother, Rosalie (Rosalia/ Rozalja) Zuinta Gostin (formally Gostynski) (nee Roth), was born 5 July 1911 in Lublin. Her father Henryk (Henry/ Hillee) Gostin (formally Gostynski), was born 15 July 1908 in Tomazow Mazowiecki, Poland. Rosalie and Henry met in Lublin following their individual studies and were married in 1934. In 1937 they had their only child, Elizabeth. In 1939, with the invasion of Poland by German forces and the outbreak of the Second World War, the family accompanied by Rosalie’s brother, Henry Roth (also known as Hirsz), fled Poland. The family travelled to the Romanian border, however bad weather and heavy security prevented them from crossing. They attempted to return to Poland with Russian troops but were only able to make it as far as Lvov where they remained from September 1939 to January 1940. From Lvov, the group travelled separately to Wilna, Lithuania. In Wilna they secured visas to Japan from the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara. From Wilna, they went by train via the Trans-Siberian Railway, before boarding a boat to Japan, landing in Tsuruga in 1941. On 3 July 1941, they left Kobe and immigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney 9 August 1941. Once in Australia and for the duration of the war, Henry secured a job as an Australian correspondent for two polish newspapers, ‘Nowy Swiat’ or ‘New World’ published in New York and ‘Dziennik Polski’ published in London. The family settled in Bellevue Hill in Sydney, where they remained until their death.

Production placeLublin, Poland

Production date 1941 - 1941

Subjectkeeping in touch, signs of life, ghettos

Object nameletters

Materialpaper

Dimensions

Language

Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Liz Sapir

Item request date
Expected return date
Destination