One afternoon, my paternal cousin phoned me. He had found a letter written in Hungarian to his late father from Germany in 1946. Would I translate it for him? I found it historically fascinating.
To make sense of it, let me explain. My father had two brothers. The oldest, Yaakov Shie, was caught in London by the outbreak of the Second World War. He tried time and time again to get a visa for his wife and children, but time and again it was refused. By the time he received the visas, the Hungarian authorities refused to let their Jews go. His complete family perished in Bergen Belsen.
Ainring, Germany - 10 November 1946
Dear Yankewshie,
We were glad to have received your letter. We often write to you, your answers are rare, but I am not annoyed knowing full well about today’s postal services. In case you have not received our letters, I inform you again that unfortunately, for some time to come, I am tied up here because Ceri is in her sixth month and she finds it difficult to move, let alone to go on Aliya Bet. This is in spite of our decision not to have children here. Ceri is horrified at the thought of giving birth in Germany, but slowly we are getting used to the idea that in a land where so many perished a new life begins.
With regards to your forthcoming marriage, I guessed it from your previous letter, but I did not want to comment until I had heard about it from you in more detail. Ceri and I discussed the matter already some time ago. Without knowing the facts, it has been clear to us for some time that you should get married. In peacetime, if a person suffers the affliction you have, I would not advise marriage, but we are living through a major catastrophe (this does not mitigate your personal pain) and according to our religion, human and national duty, it is demanded of a man to get married. I knew Manci; a woman like her you won’t find every day, nevertheless for the above reasons you are duty bound to get married.
In 1942, poor Rudi started to give money to Manci partly to help her and partly to assure a decent sum abroad for his child (as if for this was he poor) and he never asked for a receipt, trusted in honesty. He had to force the money on her, because Manci was afraid that you would not be able to repay. His answer was if he can’t, he can’t. This money was a great help to Manci. The sum was 11-12 thousand Pengos, that is 500 dollars according the then exchange rate. He would have given more, but Manci just would not accept.
As for Tibi, we could not leave the child when we left as he had no one (Tera did not care about him) without us. If only we knew… I would not mind if you took over the child, although we decided to take him to Eretz, but we cannot go now and one cannot bring a child up in a Lager.
I had written to Maisels, but no reply. Maybe they are not at home. If I knew where to leave the child I’d take it to Bergen Belsen, but it is a long way and I can’t leave Ceri for a long time. Get in touch with Meisels; maybe there is something to be done. From Eretz we received one letter and one card only; they are having it hard.
I hope and would like the situation to remain the same between us or better. We are forced to remain here till next summer, but hopeful then we go on Aliyah. We like to make use of you for postal services, because from here you cannot write.
We are eagerly await your post. Write more often,
We remain with lots of love
Ceri, Jenő, Tibi
PS: I ask you nicely, if it is possible to send us baby clothing, white cotton goods. I would be very grateful. Here it is expensive, if at all available.
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