Object numberM2018/004:012
DescriptionLetter to Gilden and Palmbaum family in Australia from Zvi Szyiowicz, Palestine, in September 1945. He writes to congratulate his cousin Minni on having a baby daughter and conveys his hopes she becomes “a good human being and a proud Jewish person”. Having escaped Nazi occupied Europe, Zvi relates his experience of living in Kibbutz in Palestine. He reflects on the importance of religious instruction and prayer, sending his regards for the New Year and upcoming Festivals.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
Production date 1945-09 - 1945-09
Subjectfamilies, immigration, signs of life, WWII, kibbutz, settlements, aliyah
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 120.00 mm
height: 99.00 mm
width: 240.00 mm
height: 195.00 mm
Language
- Hebrew My Dear Ones, Greetings in Hebrew. September 1945.
I got your Air Letter and am delighted. A pity I am not with you and can’t shake your hand. How can I express what I felt as I heard that you have become a mother, a mother in Israel (in Hebrew). This is something great the more so in present times. And what do these words have to say. And as I remember how small you used to be at school in Rylse Street (by the way have you still got the two small snaps?) And now you yourself have got a daughter, blue eyes, blond hair, resembling you - and myself (send me a snap). So wishing you all the best as well as the little one and all the rest and hoping you’ll manage to achieve with her to become a good human being and a proud Jewish person (today this means a Zionist, but this is only a word, it means more). It means intertwining in Jewish culture, old and new and also means strength through realization. That is indeed the main claim in Judaism (religious and…)… (Hebrew biblical quotation)…This sentence just dawned on me, because I have heard it every day from the children in the older group when they recited the morning prayer: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy spirit, with all thine might” And they recited it so cutely, with a children like emphasis, that I always wanted to listen to. This emphasis on the Hebrew word for “All” was especially nice.
By the way, these religious customs and prayers, which they used to make familiar to children from early childhood, have me clearly aware how important and precious religious education (traditional handing down) is, if not exaggerated of course, as it happened in the Cheder lessons. Of course it can’t be one-sided (from the Jewish point of view) and not neglect the general context. But the original roots have to be in Judaism. After all you have still got a lot of time to get involved in these things. A fundamental condition is the Hebrew language, because without language it is very difficult to overcome everything. You will however say I have fallen into a style. But they are so many present-day important things that can’t be dismissed. I am hoping that all of us will meet again, but here in this country. The fact, that I have written so little about this matter, which must be surprising, is simply explained by the fact that I have not myself felt quite convinced for personal reasons and not guilty feelings about Israel. But about these things some other time in detail, and so there is no point.
How are things really with you? Have you adapted and got used to it? You did at one time complain that you would never feel at home in a strange country. How are things with…? (By the way I am now a Palestinian citizen).Unfortunately I don’t have one of your earlier letters with me and can’t reply in details and now to the Kibbutz again. I did want to tell you that in general the Kibbutz is no paradise. It has the same commitment to struggle as the world outside; in some areas more, in some less, as the special conditions demand. I have tried to explain. And people are just as difficult as elsewhere. And the more you expect, the more difficult it is. And if one leaves the Kibbutz you are not called for a long time. If he is disappointed with today, he would he have chosen another life style. There are many people in the Kibbutz who are less convinced as Zionists. To sum up in one sentence: Eretz Yisrael …it is not here always…my life as a Jew can only be realized here. And with this…I never want to say that I…Kibbutz. I
(2)
myself am in the Kibbutz and put up a fight for improvement and realization. And now back to the daughter; with your permission at last to call her Leah. It is after all familiar and full of expression and I believe close to Leie as granny was called. I always have to have a good laugh to remember that I used to be called Hermann and hope that Leah will laugh about this one day.
And now the letter has again turned out rather long and so once again wishing you all the best for the New Year, Happy New Year and a final a good signature…Simchath Torah festival. Actually how are you spending the Festivals? Do you have a Succah? In my opinion, these Festivals from Rosh Hashanah till Simchath Torah are serious and important in their delight and happiness and the most beautiful in the whole year. And what beautiful blessings commandments and melodies full of beautiful meaning!! You have to meaningfully participate. Hope things with you are good. Promise to write about it, especially about the life in Sydney.
Shalom and blessings Zvi.
(Some inscription resembling Hebrew date)
German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Phillip Palmer