8/20/1942

My dear, sweet, unique, fervently loved Child, my good Frederle,

I am very sorry that I have to burden you with a heartache in today’s letter.  Today I and Hugo are being shipped off. 

My dear Lorle,

Hugo brought me your letter from last week with the description of the excursion.  I am always happy that you are able to spend such pleasant hours and days in addition to your work.  Now it seems that a change occurred with him.  Friday night we talked to each other at the gate.  He said that if he does not come anymore, he will have been shipped off[1]

My dear Lorle,

I was very happy to receive your letter with Mama’s letter on Friday, especially that I got mail from Mama and news from her about all the things that have happened.  I immediately forwarded the letter to Margot so that she will get it right away.  What have you heard about my joining you? 

My dear Lorle,

Yesterday I received your letter with the usual great pleasure.  I am fine and I hope the same with you. 

My dear Manfred,

The news that I have to tell you this week are not so good.  Mama and Hugo were shipped off yesterday.  Hugo was here Friday evening.  He told me that if he does not come any more, then he is gone, and today I received a letter that this is so.  They say, first to a collecting Camp in the Paris area, where they will all be sent.  Nobody knows what will happen next. 

My dear Manfred,

I got mail from Margot and Lorle but not yet from you.  I sure hope that you are in good health.  Or are you anxiously anticipating your trip as you will soon join Lorle, according to her letter. 

My dear children Lorle and Manfred,

My fountain pen goes on strike quite often so that I have to shake it, and after I have shaken it, it writes heavier.  See above.[1] I was very happy to receive your letter this morning.  I haven’t received anything yet from Margot this week, I hope that she is still there.  However, she made a mistake when she looked at the calendar and thinks that Rosh Hashana is on the 21st of the month, that was so last year.

My dear children,

Today I want to take your letter of the 18th. in hand, so that I can answer your questions in detail.  Your letter arrived yesterday afternoon.  We had Yom Kippur yesterday.  There was a religious service in the central ward with much skipping and therefore many recesses.  Out of respect for the establishment, there couldn’t be any loud praying, on the other side  there was hammering and loud talking and other noises, so that one had to pay attention to understand the Cantor.  I fasted till noon, many did not fast at all and only a few fasted the whole day. 

Dear Children,

I got the news from Sally today, Friday afternoon, that the bag left Rivesaltes on the 12th, addressed to you (Lorle). 

My dear Manfred,

I heartily congratulate you on your birthday.  This one has a special meaning for you this year.  On your 13th year, you are entering the Jewish community as a full fledged member.

Dear Children,

It is true, this time the mail went fast.  I sent the letter out to you on Monday and on Sunday morning I already received your answer.

I thought that you might have been sent to pick up children as you would then have been in the neighborhood.  If not, we just have to wait until we get together again.  You can’t get bored for sure with so many children running around.  Then you don’t have time to mope either.  I don’t do that either as one has to remain in good spirits.  Tomorrow is the beginning of Pessach.  We don’t know yet whether there will be a Seder. 

Dear Children,

My postcard acknowledges receipt of your package and I wish to thank you sincerely once more. 

Dear Children,

I obtained a little tracing wheel for you – Hauser got it for me – it is made of wood as there are none available made of steel. 

Dear Children,

The announced package arrived yesterday.  Since I received a notice, I got a permit from 2-6 PM and took a leisurely walk to the railroad station and then to Trudi who wasn’t home. 

Dear Children,

I received Margot’s letter last Wednesday.  As I had just written to you, I immediately answered Margot to acknowledge the package received thanks to Miss Stern.