ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 95521 - Translation - Yiddish - Israel - Poliansky Levitan


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Yiddish
Approval Date: 10/10/2021 12:35 PM
Family Surname: Poliansky Levitan
Country: Israel
Date of Image: 1935

Click the picture to enlarge

This is the first page of a letter written in Yiddish by I think my great-grandmother Ida Flatow to her potential cousin Rukhl Leah Levitan. I was told that the letter was addressed to Rukhl Leah Levitan but not the actual content of the letter. My great-grandmother wrote the letter while living in what was at the time British Palestine while I think her cousin was living in Johannesburg, South Africa at the time. Anyways, I'd be eternally grateful to anyone who can translate this letter for me. Thank you in advance.

Response

10/10/2021 10:47 PM

The letter was written in Haifa on 22 March, and is addressed to "Dear, never forgotten [female] cousin".
I'll translate more when I have time.

10/13/2021 12:07 PM

I'm afraid I has some trouble understanding parts of the text -- I hope someone else tries this too. Dashes mean I couldn't read the words, brackets contain comments.

[Translation]

I've received your letter. I really waited for it impatiently but I was sure you would write me. [she is using the more polite, rather distanced version of "you"]. When I left for the trip [?when I returned from the trip?] they did believe me at all, that here, my aunts brother's daughter --- ----- because --- my father used to remember him he always used to remember mine. When he will no longer be here, his brother and the children. It lies deep in the heart that Nanteh[? / the ninth?]when I looked at you all I could see all looking like the Flotes the same faces: Yes, I can barely express how my heart felt somehow like it came from God - and went away immediately. Yes, such is life. Dear cousin, --- were you. to know where and what I went through in my life, I'm sure you would know your cousin quite differently. Only, what can we do --- ---- one can't know at all.
Now I want to give you a response to your writing. How are you doing and how is your husband doing and how are you. And what you write that Aunt Beile [the letter ends here].

10/17/2021 1:06 PM

I have added some corrections that may help:

Dear, never forgotten cousin! I received your letter. I waited impatiently indeed for the letter, believing that surely you would write. When I was away from the port(Haifa?) I didn't believe that there would be father's brother's daughter, because when my father used to recall, he always kept crying, that he would not see his brother and children (again). It lies deep in the heart, the familiarity, when I looked at you, I saw all our Flatows, the same face. Yes, I can't at all express how my heart felt then, like it came from God and then it left. Yes, that is life. Dear cousin, if you knew more about who and what I was in life, I'm sure it would be different. You would have known your cousin. But what can one do? One cannot know the fate of people. Now I will let that go and answer your letter. How are you and how is your husband, and how is it going? And what you write about Bayla.... letter continues

ViewMate Posting VM 95521

Submitted by Alan Frederick Rosenberg

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 95521

Submitted by Alan Frederick Rosenberg