ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 113901 - Translation - Yiddish - Belarus - Grodno - Poneman (anglicized) Ponemonsky (orig)


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Yiddish
Approval Date: 3/15/2026 1:56 PM
Family Surname: Poneman (anglicized) Ponemonsky (orig)
Country: Belarus
Town: Grodno
Date of Image: 1933

Click the picture to enlarge

I am helping a family learn more about their overseas ancestry and this document seems like it could yield information. It was sent in 1933 to a family member in Toledo Ohio. I know it's a lot of text so if somebody could paraphrase, I would be greatly appreciative.

PS- A fellow member alerted to me that I've uploaded this upside down. I noticed the features allow viewing rotated 180 degrees, I think that ought to fix it. I didn't want to post a duplicate post.

Appreciate any insight!

Response

3/9/2026 12:26 AM

The language is Yiddish and you've posted it upside down.

3/11/2026 1:40 AM

No year on the letter.
Grodno the 21st of June

A mother named Bashe is thanking her devoted son Efraim for sending his old, sick parents a letter with 10 dollars.

The thanks are profuse, repeated in may ways, full of descriptions of the good fortune the Lord should give him his wife and his children for helping his old helpless parents. The parents' weakness is also mentioned repeatedly.
The father's weakness is mentioned specifically, he's lying down all the time, not to be recognized, the money enabled them to get a doctor and buy the medication, and the father was very happy "and blessed you from the depths of his heart". Don't forget us your old weak parents and don't let us fall.
They've had no news from Vishi [Ishyeh? or a similar name] for a number of years, "this is a rock" [or perhaps: he is a stone] he has no fear of God.
Everyone sends you greetings.

The last comment says something like "I get the money because it's on my address nobody else can get it"
----
And while you're absolutely right about the ability turn the image 180 degrees, there's vertical text along the left margin of the correct orientation, and it takes some mental gymnastics - or extra steps such as reverting to the upside down original -- to figure out if that means turning it clockwise or counterclockwise "from the original".

ViewMate Posting VM 113901

Submitted by James E Kennedy

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences.

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 113901

Submitted by James E Kennedy