Letters from Lida

October 1928

Dear Fanechka!

My silence is easily explainable if you would think about how I spent my time in Jerusalem. For 2 weeks I was in a camp and there, sure, there was no way to concentrate and write you a good, detailed letter, and I did not want to write you just a couple of words. On another hand, I learned that you are in Tel Aviv, but I did not have your address. Fanya, really, my nearest future is unknown to me, I know nothing about a job for the next year, but I know what I am preparing myself for, <unclear> the goal that I am trying to reach. Our group <Hebrew> is taking form, we are trying to reach a known and common goal. Our camp life for these 2 weeks showed what the communal life is in its full sense. I emphasize it, because our camp was not about sports or toys, but just regular life. We worked for 8 hours, we were taking care of the house, we had a common store, a little hospital for the seriously ill, we had common conversations after the work, and walks, and rest, and joy. Fanya, I hope we will meet during the Holidays and then I will tell you everything in detail. When I lived in the camp, I thought that I am starting my independent life, how I started in <II –III or P.T. unclear> but more fully and holy. Sure, there were many difficulties and errors but I learned a lot. And now in Lenino (1) life is full and I am working at least 5-6 hours a day. Everybody is healthy at home and are sending you their regards. I don’t understand why you want to go to <T.A. ?> to study, why would not you come here? I think, it would decrease your expenses. Anyway, I think you have to write a letter home, strong and with pepper, if they don’t understand that you are choosing a job not by how hard or easy it is, but by your calling, you must write them about it. And, if there are no economic constraints then decide!!!

My heartfelt regards to Braudo and Boruch. I think I will write them separately and I will send them money as soon as I get some. Ask them to forgive me, I am very sorry. If Boruch is thinking of coming for the Holidays, we will be happy.

Fanya, do it!

I will write to Mendel separately.

Give my regards to Raeva.

Give regards to Samson from all mine and, sure, from me.

We are very sorry! … <Hebrew>

Farewell, Fanya, write me

Kissing you with love, your Adasia.

My handwriting is so childish. My head is cracking apart.

(1) Lenino: thanks to several members of Belarus SIG. There are 4 Leninos in MapQuest as of 2007:

1. 20 miles SE Gomel
2. 13 miles WNW Slutsk, once called Romanovo
3. 40 miles S Slutsk. There is a Yizkor book for this Lenino, which states the town’s name predates Lenin & has its roots in the Russian word for flax. It was on the Polish/Russian border between 1920 and 1939.
4. 30 miles NE Mogilev

Lenino #3 is probably the one meant in this letter, as it was most accessible to someone outside the USSR in 1928. If you look at its Yizkor book, several articles were written by Mordechai Zaytshik, a sound-alike for Olia’s family, the Zajczyks. This may or may not be more than a coincidence.

(2) Possibly Fanya’s cousin Adassa, who moved to Mexico.

second page of the letter, with Adassa's signature.

Letters from Lida - 64