Object numberM2001/001:073
DescriptionHandwritten letter, in Polish, written in the Warsaw Ghetto by Aniela to her sister Tecinko (Tecia; Tola), undated, on paper folded in half to create four small pages filled with text. The letter is filled with anxiety and desperation at the conditions and deprivations in the Ghetto, and the longing for news of Bolek, "... I have been waiting for nine months without any sign of life from Bolek, this is terrible dear Tacia because life is empty and unimportant without him".
Jakob Sapir, his wife Tola and son Peter, travelled in the late 1930s from Poland to Vilno in Lithuania, then on to Moscow. They then travelled from Vladivostock to Kobe, Japan and eventually arrived in Shanghai in 1941. They lived in the French quarter in Shanghai, but were later moved into the Hongkew ghetto. Peter Sapir attended St. Francis Xavier's school, run by English priests, which was outside the ghetto boundary. Jakob Sapir earned a living in Shanghai running a Polish kitchen. The family left Shanghai in 1947, aboard the "Hwa Lien" ship, migrating to Sydney, Australia.
Jakob Sapir, his wife Tola and son Peter, travelled in the late 1930s from Poland to Vilno in Lithuania, then on to Moscow. They then travelled from Vladivostock to Kobe, Japan and eventually arrived in Shanghai in 1941. They lived in the French quarter in Shanghai, but were later moved into the Hongkew ghetto. Peter Sapir attended St. Francis Xavier's school, run by English priests, which was outside the ghetto boundary. Jakob Sapir earned a living in Shanghai running a Polish kitchen. The family left Shanghai in 1947, aboard the "Hwa Lien" ship, migrating to Sydney, Australia.
SubjectHolocaust, communications, signs of life, desperation
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 125.00 mm
height: 19380.00 mm
Language
- Polish M2001/001:073
Dear Tecinko!
Your postcard with your wishes I received a while back and I was touched that you remember about them. I can’t even tell you my dear how sad they were and what’s happening in my soul.
On Friday exactly three months ago it was the last time that I spoke to and saw mummy and I didn’t imagine that Saturday morning she will not be alive. I will for certain as long as I live never forget these days and they will always remain in my memory.
Beloved Tecienko, when one loses a mother forever it is then one realizes how she is loved and how little time one had for her and how her good deeds, which she always carried out, were never valued. Because of this reason I constantly feel guilt but unfortunately this will not bring her back.
Can you imagine my birthday without Bolek and without you? We recalled with Janusia my birthday two years ago when I had to beg you to come but you wanted to miss it because you had some office work, do you remember. We did not imagine that this would be the last birthday together – and who knows when we will again celebrate a birthday together.
There is not any news from Bolek. I have no peace neither during the day nor at night because of this. I constantly think about this, maybe the next day will bring some news about him and I live like this day after day with great tension and highly strung nerves in anticipation. How long will my nerves last. I don’t know, I know that I have been waiting for nine months without any sign of life from Bolek, this is terrible dear Tacia because life is empty and unimportant without him. All my very close ones are far away from me.
Tacia, you ask me from what I live – I sell whatever I can and I try to obtain any type of work. We were promised work as waitresses. Janusia is a big girl and everyone says that she is a beautiful girl and is the only happiness in my miserable life.
All my aunts are here but live in bad conditions and I can’t depend on anyone’s help. I ask God that Bolek will be with me then it would be easier for me to withstand all this.
Did you receive my large letter at the beginning of December? Why don’t you reply straight away? Don’t take notice of me and write at least once a week. I get into such moods that I am not always able to write but you please write to me. I can’t even tell you how much happiness your letters bring me so please don’t deny me this happiness, please understand me.
How is Piatrus? His is delicate and is frequently unwell. Feed him often with whatever you can, with what he has an appetite for, he will then put on weight. In every letter I moralize to you, don’t see it as being bad, but I love the child and worry about his welfare, and I would like him to be healthy.
My Gold (dearest) please write with whom you will be during the six days when you will be on your own. Do you have close friends? Do you still do gymnastics? I was told here that you still do.
I kiss you strongly from all my heart
Best regards from dad. Aniela.
Janela sends her kisses to everyone.
New Year greetings to you all from my heart – I wish you success and the fulfilment of whatever you wish yourselves.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Peter Sapir