This letter is earlier than letter 5.
Dear Olia!
I received all your letters. I did not write you much
lately. Mostly because usually I am staying too late at V.. And I always write
to you at night. Besides sometimes I am starting to write, or rather to think
what and how to write to you, and, you know, nothing good comes out of it. You
sure know how hard it is for me to write the letters but now I decided to write
everything without thinking, that is what is needed and regardless how it comes
out, good or not good, in order or not. It is only important that you would
understand and nothing else. Between us we don’t have to worry about anything
else, right? So I will start from my coming to Palestine.
I cannot go yet because of the following: first, of cause, my glasses. I cannot
get them <not clear> earlier than in 2 months. Then what I am going to do
about money. Now I just cannot ask my father for money to travel. The time now
is that not only for this but even if I need something I have to make money
myself. And now think, Olen’ka, if I came, would I be able to make a living?
Although you write that I will have a good job there but maybe you are writing
this because you just want me to come. Maybe on one day I would make good money
and few other days I would be without any job, as Olia’s husband. Think about
it and find out all very well, and write me. On another hand, whatever it is, in
any case I am not going of course going to stay in Lida and will try to get out
of here soon. I am stopping by V. not even every day but sometimes twice a day.
I often spend time with mama talking about you. She told me that she wrote to
you that she would send you money if you decide to go somewhere to study. Mama
sent you money with Benia’s <Note: the name is not clear> brother. She
wanted to send more with the rabbi’s sister but she (rabbi’s sister) postponed
her departure for one more month. However I was told that Kaplan from the farm
<Note: not clear> is going soon (whose sister I showed to you few times)
and the money could be sent with her. Also I will send with her a textbook that
you were asking about, but only if she wants to take it. Last week I was at
<not clear>. Mama was busy and
asked me to go. I had to stay there for 3 hours because now you cannot find out
anything from the principal but have to go to every single teacher. First I went
to Kissner. For the whole ½ hour he gave me a lecture and then said that he
gave him (Robert) a 2 <Note: 2 is a low grade> for this semester. Besides
he <Robert> has 2 in Polish and 2 in Nature. When I said this to mama
(what else could I do?) she sure made Robert a scandal, but you know how it
helps. Mama started studying with me < music> but what kind of study it is
if I have nowhere to practice? By the way, mama said that your Sonia started to
study with her. I will tell you another thing that you will be very interested
in. As you know, Lida does not have a childcare anymore (<not clear> Govl
for some reason does not want to). What to do? There were a few parents’
meetings and they elected some disabled teacher. I think she is not from Lida
but you probably know her. But this is nothing yet, listen further. Last
Saturday I stopped at Geigl for tsimus <Note: Jewish delicacy food with
carrots and fruits> and she said that besides this childcare another
childcare will be opened in Polish. And guess who opens it? Nobody else but mademoiselle Esia Poliachek!
Interesting, is not it? With my
“borvice” <Note: artists in Yiddish?>
I meet very rarely. Only lately they stopped at my place few times. They
are working on a play and want me to make “special effects,” that is to be
responsible for the electricity, to increase and decrease the lights slowly,
make electric thunder and lightening, and so on, and without it
they could not present the play. I don’t really know what to do.
To Merka I don’t go and don’t see her at all. Only once I
met her on the street. She stopped me and asked what are you writing about, so
I told her of course that everything is good and you are very happy, although
to everybody else I am responding that the climate does not like you. As your
mama told me, papa was offered a lot of business but he likely got into the
business <not clear> with Cherniak. Olenka, you should not get upset that
mama spent extra money, she did not do any repair work at all, only painted the
floor one time. Saturday night Avreml is going to have a wedding. I do not
visit them. Since you left I was there for 2 times. One time Udel dragged me,
and another time I stopped to ask what Fania is writing. 15th is my
birthday, 28 by the new style <Note: In pre-revolutionary Russia
the Julian calendar was still used, and called “old style,” while the modern
Gregorian calendar was called “new style”>. Imagine, I had to argue about
your photo. I was saying that you are sitting on the right and they were saying
in the middle. How could anybody say this nonsense? Once I am staying in the
mechanical department of our factory and Alfonse came to me, you know, a worker
who lives near us, and saying, “And where is a girl that you always were with?”
<Note: written with Polish accent> How would you like this scene? Mama gave me sheet music to copy. One student brought her a
book with Hungarian dance for 4 hands, La Traviatta, Rigoletto, and others. You
can imagine what boring work it is. I am
writing and writing and copied only 2 pages. But there is nothing to do about
it – surely I could not tell her “no.”
Now, Olechka, there is nothing else to write. I wrote you
all, all, all, it seems I did not miss anything. And be sure to write me also
in the tiniest details. Say hello to Fanechka. At Avreml’s wedding I will
somehow deal with your <unclear> (that is with Dvoira<?> and
Tan.). And you Olenka, don’t get angry
at me. I even forgot the taste of <not clear>. Be healthy. I wish you all
the best.
Meishl
I am sending to you my little photo.
The tobacco leaves did not taste good, cigarettes are
probably good but I don’t want to smoke them and waste them.
Schmuel-Udel already for 2 weeks is not home, he sure spends
his time at his bride.
Letters from Lida - 6