Letters from Lida - 29

My dearests!

This week, Dorechka, we did not receive any letter from you, that surprised me a lot, we know that you want us to write you, so you should write us too. Yesterday was a “Judgment Day” and thanks God, was uneventful for everybody. May God let New Year bring many-many happiness to us all. How was Yom Kippur for you? Was it easy to refrain from eating? You always feel bad at this time… How is your stomach working, do you still have constipation? Dorechka, without any doubt, you should have spent the Holidays in Tel Aviv, not in a village. You understand yourself that for you it is better to be in the city among other people, and incidentally Dorechka is in the city, so definitely you have to use this occasion. “Kver zach-nim” <Yiddish?>, enough, you are not a child anymore. We are all distressed about what is going on currently in Palestine, and God knows when everything will calm down.. However, let’s hope for changes for the best.  Possibly, Lisa and Boria may come two days in advance of Sukkoth. I have everything in order <for their visit>, the maid is relatively decent, and although I have to work a lot, she does the dirty and hard work. A few times I already made “your” cookies, and one time did “ponchiki” <sweet fried bread in a form of the bagel>, they came out well, but with the smell of olive oil. When I will do it again I will use butter <and not vegetable oil>. Everything is the same at home. Already it is getting cold over here. Today we started the stove <to warm the house>.  Today is a wedding of Chaim-David’s daughter at Masha’s <?>, she is marrying a widower with two grown children. Zlatnovich’s daughter  married Ostachinov <?>, I think you know them both. This is all our news, I think there is nothing else. Write us about everything. Heartfelt regards from everybody. With kisses, Frida.

Fanechka, do not think that it is enough that Dorechka writes <letters> home, and write us too. There is no other joy at home for our parents than your letters, do not forget about it in the New Year and write more often.

Dorechka, I forgot to write you that the sales in the store are so slow that Mama and Papa do not have any problem, still Mama even eats in the store. If she would want to, she could go home but you know that she is used to the hard life and never had another, so let it be this way.

Dear Dorechka

Last Wednesday we did not receive your letter but we got a letter from Fanny and also <?>. It is too bad that you spent money on this. Yom Kippur is over and soon we are going to have Sukkoth Holidays. May God give you a happy year. I responded to Fanny right away because if you delay something it is hard to get back to it. I wish you joyful Holidays and may God make peace over your place as well as everywhere. Be healthy and happy, loving you mama Revekka.

 

< missing part>

Lisa and Boria. Again I wish you all the best and also joyful Holidays. What did happen to Manfred? How do you live in Tel Aviv, does somebody cook the food or do you have to take charge of the kitchen? I would like to write about everything but feel sleepy. Be healthy and happy. With kisses toX (1),

Your mama Revekka

 

My dearest!

Please accept my best wishes for the New Year and may God let our family have only joy and happiness and that everybody would be healthy. <?> is singing.

Kiss you with love, loving you your Frida. Fanechka, dear, write us a little more. Dorechka, try to spent the Holidays in Tel Aviv, calm yourself.

 

Dear Manfred, Fanechka, and Xt!

I received your letter for which I am very grateful. I wrote to Papa <of Manfred?> few lines if you would be able to read them. Too bad that you spent money on <?>, I already wrote to Dora that this is not necessary. I gave everybody your regards and best wishes. May God permit that in the coming New Year you all will be healthy and everything calms down, especially in Palestine. We receive letters from Dora often, this week we haven’t yet. We did not receive the address in Tel Aviv, so we wrote to the Raanan address. We are waiting <for you? > at the Sukkoth.

 

<One page in Yiddish, translated by Reuven Poupko’s contacts>:

 

Very esteemed son-in-law,

I take this opportunity to wish you a happy new year with health and a lot of delight from your beloved children. May the Al-mighty bring peace in the world in general and especially in Eretz Yisrael [the Land of Israel].

We thank you so much for the esrog. (“Citron,” a special citrus fruit taken on the holiday of Sukkos (Leviticus 23:40). Obviously it’s more plentiful in Israel than in Belarus).

Regards from our whole family. With much concern,

Rivka Pupko

 

(1) Name of child removed for privacy reasons

 
This letter seems to continue from the previous ones (26 and 27), so was probably written in fall 1936.