Letters from Lida

October 22, 1925

Olenka, my dear!

I sent you a letter through Ch. Karpisky but don’t know if you received it yet. Before that I sent you rather long letter and I think you received that one. But, you see, I am not waiting for <response> and I hurry to write you another one. First, to correct something in the letter, and second, there is something (for us) to write about <unclear>. I ask you very much, when you receive my letters, read them yourself, that is, I am writing to you, and I will write you things only in relation to both of us (as <unclear> comrades, I, you, <unclear> and God), remember Olenka, on what occasion she told you this? Before starting on the subject matter, I have to write you that I received the photo of you and Fanechka from Fainstein; which made me endlessly happy. I keep it with me all the time in my purse, wrapped in tissue paper, and today I bought a little frame and put it next to my bed in my new room. Meilach gave me your letter, I think he visited him and got your wonderful letters from him <?>. Olenka, you are so pale! (On the picture you look very pretty, but pale and a little tired). Your scarf becomes you wonderfully. Fanechka looks very pretty too. It looks like she lost weight<?> but it becomes her. On the photo you look like Fanechka’s older sister, so caring. She, leaning to you, looks more careless but trying to please you – this is how I see your photo! But I know that you are quite interested in knowing this, that is, what impression this picture made on me. Unfortunately, I did not receive your presents, but do not get upset, it’s the thought that counts Although because you already bought it, it is painful and a pity to lose it, also it is very interesting to get even a very little thing from Palestine. But to do it one needs money, Olenka, and how could you spend any extra money? Well, just don’t get angry with me! By the way, when your mama was at Feinstein and he told her that you wanted to send some kind of doll, your mama was very surprised and could not figure it out, to whom you would send it, but later, when Mama and Papa came home, and saw me at your place (I was waiting for them at your house), I told them who is this for, and everybody liked it and laughed hysterically. Chaia P<?>, Sonia’s friend, was there, and Viniackays’ grandma and others. Your Tanya, by the way, was upset that you don’t write to her, and Sonya was also. Olenka, one time I talked with Rachele Rabinovich about Rosa Poliachek, and she said that she found her false <not truthfully behaved>, I was surprised by that, so please write her a letter, and you and I will decide about it later. You, surely, are interested in how I settled in the room, and that would be interesting to describe, but I, my dear, had such problems that I even lost all interest in writing. You remember, probably, that Schmuel had that <damn> wardrobe, that caused the scandal in time of V<?>. So this scandal repeated with me, only on a smaller scale. I was ready to faint, just imagine when this type of person makes a scandal in the full sense of this word. When he asked me (it was about the time when I almost put everything in place) where his wardrobe will go, I allowed myself to say, in the dining room (how do you like my fireworks?) What did I say? But, can you imagine, he sure won, I did not say a word, but you know, to me <uvor kyry geret –Yiddish?> after that. He came to me and asked where would I want to put it, because I agreed, that is <Azonchen vey – to heck with it> , but I did not have any other way to put it in my room. I asked Yidel Iabl. if he could talk with him. He talked with him and did not get anything from this <Akchan>. I asked to talk with him so just not put it in the most visible place. Anyway, I did not talk with him, and he did not like that I did not talk with him, and he asked me in a good way where do I want to put it. I showed to him. He was going to leave that day and he asked would it be good if he will put it in that place after he comes back. I agreed. Up to now he still did not come. It seems he could not part <poka farkot>! But from her side, I doubt. Listen, how I have everything in my room. My bed, mama’s big one, is on the right side from the window. Opposite from it, that is in another corner, where the little bathroom door is, his unhappy wardrobe, next to it, on the <sewing> machine covered with a beautiful tablecloth, there is a little napkin. On this napkin, there is an album with pictures and beautiful pens. <Unclear> books and <unclear> next to my bed there is a nightstand, <unclear>, and your photo is on the top. Behind my bed there is a glass case with linens, that used to be in the dining room <unclear> I put there

<unclear> the best friend and the most pleasant meetings that could only be. Not like that person – a fool <feminine> - who sometimes forget, after some unhappiness, and relationship responds to good relationships in a same way, although not always, but it is bad for her to struggle. Currently, it is not too bad. There were very nice meetings but she always knew about all the meetings in advance. I am afraid to write about this person!….. My hand already hurts terribly. I visit your family sometimes often, sometimes rarely. Everything is in order, and everything is the same. I think about you very often. Papa misses you a lot. He is in Warsaw now. When he was in Lida, sometimes he talks about you and he always has tears in his eyes.

P.S. It looks like Meilach misses you very much. At first, he did not go out at all, now he goes out a little, but mostly stays at home. I see how often he writes to you. Remember <unclear> count that I am now a mistress of the house. Write me more often. I can write you less often but in detail instead. When I am writing to you, to me it is like I am talking with you, the only difference is that my hand hurts

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Letters from Lida - 62