Object numberM2001/001:123
DescriptionPostcard to Mr J. Sapir in JewCom, Kobe, Japan from Zygmund in Vilno, Lithuania, postmarked 4 April 1941. It enquires of their health and their situation, asking "has it improved for the better?'. He writes about a dream that everything is very good, and the dream made him (us) a little happier. He begs Jasza to save them
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 date 1941
SubjectHolocaust, communications, desperation, signs of life
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 146.00 mm
height: 105.00 mm
Language
- Polish MO1.01.123
No Postal address of sender
The card is from Lithuania
Has a Russian stamp dated 4/4/1941
To: Mr. P SAPIR
JEWCOM KOBE, JAPAN, (Via Vladivostok)
My Dear Ones,
At the outset I would like to ask how is your health and your situation – has it improved for the better? I told you that I dreamt that everything is very good with you and Pietrus as he always was happy that Mrs Tecia was sad – she is missing us.
My dream made us a little happier. I am sure that it will become real.
Dear Mr Jasza, do you remember my acquaintance and his letter (Mr Swiecicki) the Englishman, use him if you need to. Greet him from me, he will help you with everything, I am sure of that.
Dear Jasza, save us, again save us, I beg you.
Mrs Tecia dear, don’t worry and smile just like in the dream - Keep your head high and everything will be good.
If Jasza helps things will change and I will be back to form (to my previous self).
Hanna is not adding anything to this letter as she is at work whilst I am writing it.
I kiss you all, Zygmund
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Peter Sapir