Letters from Lida - 46

  

June 28, 1936

Dear Dorechka!

I am very surprised that we don’t receive letters from you regularly, because we always write you on Sundays, and what day are you writing your letters? It happened that we received a letter written a day before much later than the letter written after that. We all, thank God, are well. But in Poznan (1), as well as where you are, things are not too good. May God let us have quiet and peaceful days. Sales in the store are fair, it’s grain harvest  now, and there’s other summer produce. Meilach (2) is not busy at Shimshin for a whole day, and his work does not take too long, so he manages to work at the store too. We have a <unclear> maid, but no renter, cannot find a suitable person. Our <unclear, debtors?> are almost the same, only Chudiko doesn’t come any more <from the store> and about 50 zl. that he still owes us probably will be lost. Mitzkevichevna <a wife of Mitzkevich> is interested in your letters and asked to give you her regards. Actually, many clients have asked about you. As I understand, you have different fashions over there, because Fanya bought a lot of fabric to sew for you. On the photo you look not bad.  Last Saturday I went to visit  Pasha Kamenckaya who was sick, talked with her, and she was asking about your letters. Chernia also was there, she came a week earlier. On Sunday Taiba and Revekka left for the dacha in Miniti (3). We said our goodbye to her and, imagine, in two hours she died. She was buried the same day. Chernia is leaving today. A few days ago Chaya and Revekka left for Chechacenuk (4), and Dora and Olia are leaving for Novosilno (5) soon, and Sonia also. They only wait for Yuzia, who should come any time now. I am very–very happy that you feel good and that are getting used to everybody. The next letter must be have news about the court decision. Be healthy and happy by the wish of your loving mother Revekka.

Heartfelt regards from all relatives and friends.

 

My pen broke so I cannot write well, besides I am very tired <unclear> from Vilno where I was with Meilach for a day. He went to the doctor with his nose problem, and they closed <unclear> in his nose. The doctor said that the bleedings should stop now (6). We will see. Then I stopped at Abramovich and he said that I must wear glasses otherwise my vision will go completely bad. I sure bought the glasses and wore them right away. Dorechka, how are your eyes? Don’t be embarrassed and wear the glasses, save your vision. How are you all doing? Papa again suffers from his facial nerve. May God make everything peaceful when you receive of <this> letter. It is not so quiet here too. Dorechka, what is with you? Did you get to know more people and do you have some joy? Fanechka, may God reward you for everything you do, so you always will have a good life. We are waiting impatiently for the resolution of the court case. It is already, thank God, warm over here, the summer really started. There is nobody in the city, everybody got away. Gitele plays all day next to the house. She is a very nice girl but does not eat at all. Be healthy. Kissing you with love, Frida.

Dorechka, I am so unlucky with a renter,  <unclear>, it is hard to find someone. My pen is awful, I was hardly able to write you this letter. Loving you, Frida.

How is X (7), if she got over her sickness? How does she eat?  Did she make friends with Dorochka?

Fanechka, Dorochka, write to us.

 

Dear children!

 

I understand very well that you will receive this letter after everything is over, e.g. after the court hearing, laundry, and even the dressmaker. May the end to all these will come, and also of the unrest. Why did you have to spend all this money on Dora? She should not be in need of anything yet. Maybe you just have different fashions. In Lida they say that the letter of Maslovatiy says that Dorgion bought some commodity from Arabs for 50 zl. and ours <Jews? Polish? Relatives?> destroyed them, e.g. stepped on them or burned it. Are they continue to <unclear, maybe “guard”>. And when will the end to all this be? The newspapers are sold immediately, but it seems that not reading them at all is much better for your health. About our news you will learn from the letter to Dora, to her it is all still very interesting. We are waiting impatiently for the letter with the court decision. Fanechka and Manfred, how do you feel yourself? How is X, does she remember us still? Frida and Meilach went to Vilno yesterday and Gitele even did not mention them, only once she asked me if Frida went to get bread, and that was it. Be you all healthy and happy, loving you mama Revekka.

 

(1) If anyone understands this reference, please let me know
(2) Brother-in-law Meilach Trotsky, working for his wife’s uncle Shimshon, is also moonlighting at his parents-in-law’s store
(3)  Minoti :  Minoyty, a town 6.4 miles southsoutheast of Lida.
(4) Chechacenuk: Ciechocinek, a spa town in Poland, which has a Wikipedia entry  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciechocinek
(5) Novoselno: don’t know
(6) Possibly they cauterized his nose; the resulting scar tissue making future bleeding less likely.
(7) Name removed for privacy reasons