Sabac 4 March 1941                   ב"ה  

 

My fervently beloved children עמ"ש!  

I received your dear letter of 26 December 1940 after exactly two months. I was extremely happy with the sweet little picture of my dearest Surale תחי'. It is very nice. Next time please enclose pictures of dear Tuli נ"י and dear Esterl תחי'. 

This week, the woman with whom I wrote the three previous letters received a 20 page registered letter direct from London. However it was also 2 months en route. I hope that, in the meantime, you received my letters, and also wrote several pages.

After the latest events, travelling has become impossible for Zwi נ"י.  The certificates have been extended till June. I did write to you in the last letter that he would travel in a few days. As long as I am not also able to travel, I am glad that he is here, even though the company here leaves much to be desired with regard to frumkeit.

So we are living here ב"ה quietly and have what we need.  One does not need much here. Most people use the communal kitchen. I receive the money every week and cook for us two; we are much better off like that. I spend the afternoons learning. I am already reading English books with the help of a dictionary, and I read Hebrew newspapers. We meet 4 times a week in an Ivrit club where we speak only עברית .  There are also English get-togethers three times a week, but since they are at the same time, I don’t attend them. That is my only diversion here. It helps me get over my great pain and yearning.  One cannot work here; it is forbidden.

You, my beloved children, are not writing to me with sufficient detail. What work is dear Tuli נ"י doing with the engineer? Is he learning anything at the same time? If you my 2 sweet girls were in a position to support him I would be very much in favour of the idea that he should still learn, because he has still learned far too little.

It pains me that you have to trouble yourselves so much with getting up early, but I am nevertheless more than happy that you are ב"ה earning money and can contribute. See to it that you buy fruit for yourselves during the day.

What is the arrangement for the apartment and the housekeeping? Who cooks?  When do you have time to help?  Please write to me absolutely everything. How are the dear relatives? How does Aunt Surale ת' feel health-wise?  She really could write to me more. Aunt Recha ת' should also write to me? How is Marta ת' learning in school?

Warmest greetings and kisses to all from

Mama

​

Weinstock London NW11

Hill Rise 24

[In English:] Kind regards to you all from yours truely,

Zwi

 

No post has come from Eretz to Yugoslavia for some weeks now.  Please write to me what you hear?  Please arrange for me a letter from Esterl ת' and a picture without fail.

I am curious as to the reason why dear Feigale תחי' is no longer staying at Gusti תחי'?  It is naturally much better when all 3 of you are together.

Ask dear Srulek נ"י to look after Naftoli נ"י when possible ….

Many greetings to everyone.

 

Our address: Zanatliska 3 Sabac.

 

------------------------------------------

​

        This no doubt refers to the entry of German troops from Romania to Bulgaria, by crossing the Danube, on 2 March 1941.  The route for Zvi and the others who were to travel had been intended to be through Bulgaria and was changed to be through Greece, as is made clear in the letter of 16 March 1941.

        Zvi’s is stamped on 8 March 1941 as being extended to 30 June 1941.  Chaye must have already been told that this was due to happen.

        Religious observance.

        Ivrit – Hebrew.

        The Land of Israel.