Z. Besner Cti.
Marasesti 54
15./XII. 1941
My loves!
It’s been 2 weeks without news – why? We are very worried. We got everything apart from pegs. Little Kaprizerl is completely thin because most of the stuff belongs to his older sister and she’s here too now on Zures. – Staying here costs more than we received from you. – Uncle Sigmund and his whole family are in good health and they are doing well – he’s still about 146 lbs. We’ve already written 3 times but don’t know if you received the letters. Apparently, Cojocaru, who was in charge of the authorizations in Chernivtsi, is going to come here with the uncollected authorizations and take the people with him. A certain Dr. Thaler from the Jewish committee is supposed to be coming with him too. So ask around – maybe there’s some truth in it. Because the rubles are to be exchanged, prices have risen by 100-200 %. So you can imagine our situation now. Yesterday American citizens went to Chernivtsi. Apparently they were Americans. – Maybe you should ask at Paula’s dentist on Herrengasse . Maybe my fish delivery man could get his brother-in-law to help us get back together again? – Other than that, nothing new to report. Kisses, [signature]
My dears, it’s almost impossible to go on here. Even for a lot of money you still get nothing – only by way of exchange and we have nothing – so what can we use to exchange? If it carries on like this, we’ll be starving soon. Do whatever you can so that we can see each other again. Love, Paula
My loves,
I have already written three letters without reply. I’m very annoyed because there are many rumours circulating – God forbid that they’re true. I confirm again that I didn’t receive the 300 rubles and the 100 from lawyer Schmelz, nor the packet from Klipp. Rachelle is a wreck, please send us lei and food if you can because we can’t get anything here, e.g. sugar, jam, cooking fat, sugar, candles, soap. We’re so hungry. We hope to stay here – just in case we’re keeping two authorizations back but we’ve been hearing talk of being sent on to the next place. Do everything you can to save us before it’s too late. Please keep an account of my Boze , there are 90 because I had to give 10 away, as well as Ala’s black suit. Sadly we don’t have anything more to sell because we’re travelling light, as you know. You can’t do anything with Nathan's people here. In any case, there will be opportunities, so do whatever you can because we can’t go on living here this way. Maybe dear Mum could get me some winter boots, size 37, because I don’t have anything here. What’s going on at home? Is everyone well?
Kisses, Tanja