Object numberM2001/001:112
DescriptionPostcard sent to Mrs Yanka Sapir in Kobe, Japan from Mariaa Steiman in Warsaw, handwritten in black ink. "At last after a long wait I have received news from you. I can’t describe my feelings when I read your card, especially when I see your handwriting."
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.
Production placeWarsaw, Poland
Production date circa 1940
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- height: 104.00
width: 147.00
Language
- Polish Postcard written by Mariaa Steiman to Mrs Yanka Sapir in Kobe Japan. The postcard was written from Warsaw during the German occupation of Poland. There is no indication of the date that it was written.
“At last after a long wait I have received news from you. I can’t describe my feelings when I read your card, especially when I see your handwriting. You don’t have to explain why you don’t write. If you knew how lonely I am with no one close to me. There is no free time when I don’t think of my mother and Bolek (i.e. the author constantly thinks of them). My situation here is not the best and is bad from every point of view. I would like you to write to me every two weeks. Materially things are very very bad. I sell whatever I can. My God, if only we could see each other, hug (squeeze) each other – everything is so scary. When I see little children your Peter’s age I touch his photo and think of him. I would probably not be able to recognize him now. Please squeeze him for me. With God’s help I might still see him. Yaszka’s parents are healthy and feel well and I visit them. I have had no news from Lvov and that worries me. I kiss you all and the child from all my heart”.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Peter Sapir