Mogilow, 14/12/1941
Dearest all,
I have written to dear Berta a few times and postmarked the letters and I hope she received our mail. I’ve already written privately. Yesterday I received the letter from you, dear Malika, and the ten alufin and I gave Mandi five of them straight away. I can’t describe what you have done for us. Now I want to answer your letter in detail. To describe our situation here you would have to write a book, I have already written to Mandi about it. All that I own is what I have on my person, because I lost everything in Ataski, obviously not through choice. I don’t even have my wedding ring anymore. If Bubi hadn’t saved me, who knows where we would be and if we would even be alive. The price inflation here is incredible and there is no chance of earning money. People are lying on the streets starving and there are 20–30 deaths everyday. If salvation doesn’t come soon, we’re all going to perish. Anyone lucky enough to be supported by you can survive. Could you send us some food please? Now they are charging 500 lei for a small loaf of bread and there is a huge shortage. My people are gradually running out of money. There are 9 of us, and the authorization to stay was very expensive. It costs 1500 lei daily to live, or rather to go hungry, as we can never get enough to eat and can’t get anything nutritious. We all look terrible and the children have constant heart [XXX]. There’s only one thing that can save us. Think yourselves lucky that you can sleep in your own beds and wash yourselves. I received five alufin from Berta via Mandi. I confirmed them by telegram and a postmarked card to Berta. Then I received 35 alufin from Bucharest without a letter or a sender (probably Jusier), minus two alufin that had been taken out here. I wrote back to Jusier about it. Then the five alufin from you yesterday. That’s everything I’ve received, and I just can’t thank you all enough. You’re keeping me alive, as my people aren’t good either. Aunt Rachel received fifteen alufin from Jusier today via the same person that brought me mine. Fitzin was in Bolimat. He did some very good business there and earned a lot of money. After that, he was sent off in another direction, so now no one knows where he is.
Why doesn’t Regina send anything to aunt? Uncle Kurz is living with me, along with Josef Leiser und Ida. He gets mail and gold too from Berta in Bucharest. He’s in really bad shape because of his misfortune. Our only comfort is when we receive news from you, and the hope that we may meet again sometime. Is there no possibility of getting us out of here? Everyday we wait for a miracle. They say we’ll be able to go home. Or is that just an illusion fooling us? Write to us more often, why doesn’t Berta write to me, and Lutzin and Leo? What are your dear children doing? Have you got work? We’re living in a wilderness, haunted by hunger, cold and vermin. Pass the enclosed letter on to Sonntag and read this to him, as I can’t write much anymore.
Dear Schimon! Received the telegram from you and a card from Herman to say that I have been sent the documents. So far I haven’t received anything and I’m trying to find out where the papers are. It would be just my luck to lose them a second time. Try to find out where they are and whether he has been here with the documents. Did you give Schleier the note from his parents? I’ve written to you a few times and haven’t heard back from you. Is a card that expensive? Write to us and tell us how you are and if you are earning anything. Tell me what is happening about the documents and why Herman isn’t helping me. He’s supposed to look after me, just like Bubi looked after his brother-in-law and saved him from certain doom. Please tell me everything. Love to you all Polalj
Dearest Malika! Read this letter to our whole family, as I can’t write several letters. They never get delivered. Thank you so much to all of you for everything, stay healthy and above all sheltered from evil. Write to us as often as possible. Fondest love from all of us, your grateful Polaj.
Love especially to Aunt Lotti and all the children. Love from Martha and my children, as well as from my people. Fondest love, eternal thanks for your help, Martha