Letters from Lida

My dearests!

I have not written to you for a long time. Dorechka, it seems I am a big <unclear>, before the New Year few days I worked in the store and got a bad cold; imagine, I got an inflammation <of the throat>, even with a lesion in a middle. Today is already the 15^th day <since I was sick>. Just came from Dr. Pototsky <the last name is not clear>, he <periodically> comes from Vilno, and he totally calmed me down, said that the worst is over and in couple of days I can even go outside (1). But during these two weeks I endured a lot, and the pain was almost unbearable. However now I am writing <to you> in an absolutely different state of mind. All is well that ends well. You can imagine how mama was exhausted all this time. You asked about Gitel’s photo. I was planning to have her picture taken on her birthday, but she got sick a couple of days before I got ill, she had a high fever, and only today went outside for the first time since that. As soon as she and I get a little better, we will have our picture taken together. Gitel is such a wonderful girl, too bad that you cannot hear her lovely voice, but, Dorochka, the world is not without good people, and God will give you His blessings. God will help us and we all will be together again, only we have to be patient, and more patient…

What is new with you? How are you spending your time? Dorecjka, write me only the truth, you know well that I am not merely your sister but even more close than that. How is Fanechka? Our heads were so busy that not only we did not send a present for X (2) but even did not send our birthday wishes. Fanechka, we remember well that her birthday is on *** (2). With God’s help we will help her as she deserves it. God give you and all of you <unclear> and we wish her to be in a good health. Is Fanechka really planning to come for Passover or this is only her wishful thinking?

Dorechka, soon it’s going to be a year that you’ve lived in Palestine, but to me it seems like you left only yesterday. Write me about everything, I wish <to both of you> a lot of happiness and health. With kisses, your loving Frida.

Dear Fanechka, Manfred and X!

Our dearests, please accept our, although late but from all our hearts, birthday wishes to X. Frida already wrote about herself, so just imagine how we all were worrying and also so busy that we didn’t have time to think about anything. Dear Fanechka, thank you for your letter. It is too sad that you could not get out of these court cases. God help you to have more quite and happy life, and for X to grow up and have a flourishing life. Be healthy and have a lot of happiness from her, your loving mama Revecca.

(1) In the severe climate, being permitted to go outside meant that one was definitely over one’s illness.
(2) The name of the child & date of the child’s birthday have been removed for privacy reasons; the child may well still be alive. [2007]

Letters from Lida - 15