Object numberM2016/036:017
DescriptionThis letter was sent from Mietek (donor’s uncle) to Stenia (donor’s mother) dated 19/08/1939. It mentions the recipients mother, and youngest sister Fela, her other sisters Dorka and Mania, her brother Abramek who is going to join the army, and describes his visit to a hospital to get a polyp removed. The letter also contains information about war preparations in Warsaw, such as a government command that wooden fences everywhere were to be demolished in case of a gas attack. Mietek also warns Stenia not to believe everything that is said about Poland in the newspapers, saying that the situation may not be as bad as the papers say but it is still serious, and wonders if she has read about the Czekoslovakian Jews being forced to leave their homes.
Production date 1939-08-14 - 1939-08-14
Object nameletters
Dimensions
- height: 200.00 mm
width: 120.00 mm
Language
- Polish Dearests
I was sure that I would get this week in your letter photos of you all. We haven’t any photos of you since you left and now we have to wait another week. A year has passed since you left and here there is no change. Mamma last week came back from Midzeszyn and she looks very well and feels much better.
Felusia has grown up to a very nice lady and she is a very good student and at the first opportunity she will write you a few words. You were asking if Abramek went to the army. No, next year. Touch wood. He is a very handsome and nice young man and he still works at Raca. Abramek had a polyp in his nose and lately it was very difficult for him to breath so the doctor from the clinic sent him to the hospital ‘Czystem’ where he was operated on last week, poor boy. He suffered a lot and maybe they will let him out tomorrow and I’, sure he will be much better.
Dorka works with Mania and as usual she is not happy as she does not like to work and as usual it is very difficult for me to find work, and it is hard just to do nothing. In business (??) they are very busy. The government gave a command that all wooden fences everywhere have to be demolished in case of attack by gas.
Don’t believe everything you read about Poland in the newspapers as it may not be as bad as they say, but the situation is still serious. You must have read about the Czechoslovakian Jews are forced to leave as there are so called pogroms in the same pattern as in Germany. The times that some Jews are living through in some other countries are quite worrying but we didn’t have this up until now. We do hope that we shall live through it. Please don’t worry and don’t get upset about us. Be well, this letter you will probably get for New Year so we wish you all the best and I do hope that you will become very rich people so that you can all come to us for a quick visit.
Best regards and kisses to you, Ben and Romeczek
From us all
Mietek
PS. I’m sending you two photos mama with her sister Hela. They are not very good but in reality they look much, much better.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Prof Ron Penny AO