Grandfather letters to Granny.pdfGrandfather Letters to Granny.docxNew York. 14 September 1950
611 W. 113 Str. Apt.51 D.
Dear Mrs. Jonas.
As little as we want to hide that Heinz’s message about separating from his wife initially shook us, thanks to the understanding cooperation of our former daughter-in-law, we have overcome the situation mentally. Not a sting remained on either side that could have clouded the picture of the future. You can say that an episode from the past had a happy ending that promised a happy future.
We can assure you that our love for our son will not include an inferior one for his joy. We will meet her with the greatest possible warmth, which she may also show us. We won't be your parents-in-law alone! be, but adjust our mutual relationship on an intimate kinship basis, which comes from the heart and has nothing in common with law. We had from Jani when she s.Z. visited., the most favorable impression and we are confident that the marriage will turn out to be happy. With this wish we close our letter and send you our best regards
[Signed Margaret and Eugen Silberman]
P.S. Please do not blame me for using the typewriter. However, my handwriting is so bad that I can't ask anyone to read it
New York, 27. September
611 W. 113 Str.Ap.51 D.
Dear Mrs. Jonas.
I am pleased to be able to follow our letter, which I sent you about two weeks ago in response to the lines you addressed to us, which, better than words can do, illustrates the current situation through the enclosed photos. You see the smiling face of Jani, Heinz with her and solo on his car and the four of us with cheerful expressions as an external expression of all our inner feelings, joy on all sides. A few hours ago Jani came to us with the message that the difficulties that she feared to encounter with the passport extension etc. would by no means materialize; on the contrary, everything has been leveled, so that the civil wedding will probably take place on October 5th with some certainty. Jani will probably give you more precise information about it. Heinz will take a weekly vacation so that the young couple can go on a honeymoon in the car, albeit for a limited time.
Your thoughts will stay with the bride and groom on the day of the wedding, as we will remember you too. We firmly believe that Jani is heading for a happy future. We fell in love with Jani, Jani during the short time of their stay. When she left today and my wife left her. Accompanied she said "how happy I am", to which my wife added "we too". These words mark the mutual cordial relationship that already exists and that is what our endeavors will be to maintain,
With best regards from both of us
[Signed Eugene Silberman]
611 W. 113 str. Apt.51 D. New York, 6. October 1950
Dear Mrs. Jonas. In fulfillment of my promise to Jani, when the couple avoided the trip to Montreal last night, to give you a report on the course of the wedding day, I am writing you a few lines, the content of which will probably coincide with what you will receive from Montreal .
The preliminaries were dealt with faster than expected, so, as planned, we could be driven by Heinz in his DeSoto to the City Hall, where Mrs. Witten and Mr. Mashler, the witnesses, were already waiting for us. Contrary to our fears, we only had to wait a short time so that the legally required marriage ceremony could take place. It was short, painless and cheap ($ 2). Jani looked lovely in her blue costume, with a small velvet hat bought here Veil and the decoration of a corsage made of yellow tea roses. The general mood was excellent. We were already, the 4 of us, increasingly driven by the two witnesses, shortly after 12 noon by Heinz in the Mashler’s apartment, where, as Jani has probably already written to you, an opulent wedding reception awaited us. The Mashlers are good friends from Breslau (who live in the next door to us), linked by our two affiliations, to the B'nai Brith Lodge in Breslau[1]. We were happy not to have to rely on a restaurant that would otherwise have had to serve us a dinner after the ceremony and we will be grateful to the Mashlers for making us the offer. invited. Thanks to the kindness and harmony of those present, except for the bride and groom, parents Mashlers and Ms. Witten, the atmosphere was wonderful and we were all in the best mood. Since Jani and Heinz still had some things to do, we left shortly after 3 p.m., we went to our neighboring apartment. I don't know whether Jani will tell you that Heinz and Jani accepted an invitation from Ms. Witten to have another glass of champagne in their apartment. We had a few for the evening. Cousins of ours asked to give Jani the opportunity to get to know at least some of our numerous local relatives. Just as we have taken her to our hearts, everyone who has met her so far has been delighted with her. Jani will probably write to you enthusiastically about her apartment or have written ready to move into it after her return from Canada.
We ourselves cannot be thankful enough for fate; That we found a daughter according to our wishes in Jani and found our Heinz again as he used to be. I would not like to close without asking you to include the more intimate German "Du" in our correspondence. I also hope that it will enable you to convince in the foreseeable future that they may flourish in the future. Both sides have the prerequisites, so that a harmonious marriage is guaranteed.
With best regards from me and my wife
[Signed Eugene Silberman]
New York, 23. October 1950
Dear Magda.[2]
Since I heard from Jani that Heinz has not yet contacted Mr. Markowitz and I am confident that he will be busy doing the thanks for the wedding congratulations in the next few days, I assume that this will not be so fast will happen, I will answer your request. Markowitz is actually a friend of his at the time of his stay in Rome. His father was at the camp with me at the same time, in Buchenwald, where he lost an eye. We also know two of his father's brothers from Breslau - he himself as well (?) I know from Leipzig. We have a picture of him together with Heinz, which he towered over in size by 2 head lengths. As can be seen from his inquiry, he will be interested in knowing something about Heinz, who has been out of contact with him since Italy.
Yesterday a week ago we went to: Visit Jani's apartment and to have dinner, Jani has proven to be a good cook; even so, she says she doesn't understand much about cooking. It is very cozy in your apartment and above all; they are very happy in it. Jani must have written you how she divides her daily work; which is initially limited to domesticity. Most importantly, they are now concerned with completing the preliminaries for entry into U.S. to manage so that Jani gets on the preference list. We look forward to seeing Jani alone or both for a meal. The day after tomorrow they will share our dinner and then visit their aunt for the first time. When Heinz is on duty in the hospital, Jani doesn't fail to visit him in the evenings. Last Friday they had a party arranged by the Hospital with food, drink and dance for. the doctors.
As mentioned above, it looks very cozy and lovely in the small apartment. The innkeepers are very accommodating, the woman - a little mess, in my opinion, maybe a little too much. Jani, however, is very good at adapting to the situation.
While it may already be cold in England, we still had summer weather here. A spring like in Europe is not known here, the transition from winter to summer takes place within a few days. In contrast, the autumn is usually 'beautiful. What we particularly missed in England was the sunshine we longed for. But here the sun shines almost all year round except for a few winter days. You have to protect yourself from the sun here - at least I do when you sit in the park. But you shouldn't conclude that the climatic conditions in New York are very good. Some summer days are very hot, the heat is felt all the more unpleasant as it is social with an unbearable humidity of the air, especially unbearable for those who have to work under these conditions, especially down town, where the heat still radiating from the tall buildings contributes more to cursing the climate. This for New. York. However, America is big so that this description does not apply to different areas. A contrast to England is also the flight over food
The choice of? Vegetables and fruits extends throughout the year. It seemed very strange to see fresh strawberries on display at Christmas. Then I remembered a novel by Schole Asch and a scene in a St. Petersburg restaurant, it may also have been Moscow, in which it was described how the landlord had strawberries packed in ice from the French Riviera in winter by agents who he had to get the guards officers at fancy prices. I believe myself. to, remember that Jewish wholesale merchant deprived them of pleasure when he even outbid the trip. Here they were cheaper! Compared to 1930, even 1944, when we arrived here, the prices for groceries not only doubled, but in some cases tripled. The Americans don't know that the devaluation of the dollar has anything to do with it.
With best regards
New York, 24. Juli 1951
Dear Magda[3]
I will follow this letter with a shorter pause, not only as a reply to yours, but also, if Jani hadn't gotten ahead of me, to inform you that Heinz has received the rank of captain. Jani informed us of this event in a letter received today. From a material point of view, the difference in wages does not play a very important role, as far as I think I can remember an occasional remark by Heinz, rather than shortening the period to the next promotion to major, is of greater importance.
As for the point that you assume that we are on conventional terms with Jani, Janí can best tell you that such a relationship does not exist. When I asked you to give Jani a wink, it happened because there are methods in America that reject the tried and tested, because daily advertising is hammered into the brains of the population every hour that artificial feeding is unmatched. When I wrote this to you, I did not know that Grete had discussed the question and that Jani herself would take it for granted to feed the child. Out of 100 New Yorkers, 99 1/2 will vote in favor of artificial feeding. It was just an awkwardness on my part to touch an object that had already been thought in advance in our sense and done in our sense: I'm sorry that such a thought could arise at all, which is just contrary to our attitude. In the letter I received from Jani today, there was no mention of what and what possibilities are in store for the delivery near the camp. Since the furniture respectively. If his things arrived only last week, and the apartment was only available on this date, you will have been busy furnishing it all day and evening. They had attended a hospital party these days. If you are going on your vacation trip, let us have a few lines,
Many warm regards from me and Grete
[Signed Eugene Silberman
many wonderful greetings Grete]
New York, 18. September 1950[sic]
Dear grandmother Magda.
With the above address I could put an end to this letter, since it already contains everything I want to continue to express. The warmest congratulations on your new dignity, which we share with you. We are doubly delighted about the event when we received a letter from Heinz that was so enthusiastic today, in which he tells us how smooth the birth went and, above all, what a wonderfully developed child our grandchild is. He follows his father in this by remembering my mother-in-law, how she expressed her joy after the birth of Heinz and told everyone who wanted to hear or not hear it, how developed her grandson already looked on the following day of the birth: Unfortunately you cannot convince yourself of this personally, but you will also find your satisfaction in the message that Heinz will have given you by letter in the meantime, We are pleased and appreciate that you have given the suggestion, a nurse for the first time to take after discharge from the hospital. We'll go there around September 30th so that Grete can take over the household chores until Jani is ready to do it herself. This probably also determines the length of our stay, we assume that we will stay about 2 weeks, which would then have given us a sufficient break. Since we are not bound by time, we would extend our stay if it should prove necessary.
Massel Toff! (I don't know if I spelled it correctly[4]), it's already raining: now from all sides of different confessions. I didn't know until now how this word has conquered the whole world.
But we too join in this 'Masel Tof'. May our grandson have a happy future and be spared everything that is ugly behind us. With many warm regards
[Signed Eugene Silberman]
[Handwritten (so just my best guesses]: Dear Magda! We are happy that everything is over and done well, and mother and child are fine with everything that went quickly so that I can see what I miss. Heniz writes it is the smartest little) boy you can imagine. Keep healthy, that is the main thing. I hope that you had a nice vacation and a good [trip] home. Now it's probably back to work.
New. York, 15. 0ctober 1951
Dear Magda:
If I give you a report on our visit to our children after we have returned, we will of course concentrate on the personality of our beloved Ralph. I write personality because he was already one when we met 14 days after his birth. The face was round and rosy, with thick hair, which in the last few days had begun to give way to such a lighter type. Compared with a photo taken by Helene, however, at around 4 months of age, there is an absolute similarity, apart from the hair growth. Heinz had very light blond hair, curly, which still allows no comparison. The small nose, forehead, the big paws are unmistakably identical. However it may have appeared to us, it is sweet and loved, and the satisfying-sounding notes with which it accompanies food intake still ring in my ears today. His relationships with the environment are limited to his natural needs, as it will probably be a few more weeks before he can see properly. So our relationships were only one-sided. As you will probably have seen from individual pictures, one of his main activities at night is being fed, putting his little fist in his mouth, but he does not suck his thumbs. He's a cute little guy, so saying goodbye to her was difficult.
Grete could not prove to be useful to the extent that she would have liked to, because Jani did not want us to be with her before 11 o'clock, because she wanted to catch up on her shortened sleep during the night, because at this time he Little slept soundly. She was also ambitious to prepare the meals alone, so that the help on our resp. Grete's side was only a minor one. We had to put up with it and were happy to see how happy they are with each other. We ourselves are more overjoyed to be in the role of grandparents, a role that we share with you - certainly with the same feelings. If there was one more thing required, we will have an even closer, more pervasive bond with you, embrace the common grandson, Best regards from
[Signed Eugene Silberman]
[Handwritten (so just my best guesses]: Dear Magda! Since Eugen told you so extensively about the personality of our grandchildren, I just want to tell you that Jani has a good outlook. She is happy with moms. Child, it's a pleasure the three of them together are already. The child has received enormous gifts and has enough requests for the near future. Ralph is a beloved baby. You will now have the pictures together. Many welcome greetings. Your Margaret
New York, 20. Pebruary 1952.
Dear Magda.
This letter has many purposes; first of all from the fact that I already use the typewriter - about 2 weeks ago I wasn't able to do it - to indicate that I am on the mend, even if I have not yet got over the mountain am However, I can hope that in spring, when the weather is warmer, my physical condition will improve to such an extent that I will be able to go outside. Secondly, I am pleased by a message I received yesterday that the future plans, as Heinz hoped for, will almost certainly come true, so that the fear that he might be posted elsewhere no longer applies and he will move to the one he had planned for July Place will be able to occur. Where this will be remains: still uncertain, but is limited to only a few places, so that he will be able to devote himself to his favorite subject psychiatry. I didn't write anything in detail about it, because I am concerned that Jani wrote to you about it and I don't know how far I am not allowed to comment on it myself.
And 3) a main point is answering your request about what you should bring us.[5] I have already written to Jani to inform you that: we consider you as a person, against everything else. was fading. But since Jani wrote to us that you will not miss the opportunity to bring something with you, we ask you to heed what I am writing according to the truth, not out of the wish to save you expenses. We are both so oversupplied with English woolen clothes that every time the season changes, we have to take the trouble to store them in a moth-proof place without having worn them for a day. This applies to any type of clothing, be it skirts, sweaters, cardigans, shawls, underwear or any other item. It was going to be a waste of money and it would make us angry. I myself was able to open a shop with stockings, scarves, gloves and similar things like sweaters etc.
However, since Jani wrote us that you will not be dissuaded to bring something with you, we have both agreed that you will bring a medium-sized bottle of Yardley Lavender Water with you that you can open and use there, so that it can be imported duty-free. So please, please keep it. The children's news about Ralph is a never-ending source of joy for us.
So take to heart what I have written above and take it as we sincerely mean.
For today enough with best regards
Your,
[Signed] Eugene Silberman
[Handwritten (so just my best guesses]):
Dear Magda! You can tell me I'm happy that Eugen is okay with me. Take everything that he writes to heart. Many warm regards, Grete
Notes:
[1] Grandfather's remarks at the wedding give many thanks to the Mashlers; they also identify the Bnai Brith chapter in Breslau as the Heinrich Graetz Lodge, named after a famous Breslauer. I haven't figured out the Mashlers names yet.
[2] As can be seen, Grandfather followed through and now addresses Granny as Magda, rather than Frau Jonas!
[3] Granny must have gone on vacation to at least France, as the envelope shows that the letter was forwarded to an address in Paris.
[4] Clear typo of the year! (see envelope). Really interesting that Mazel Tov was not something familiar to our grandparents.
[5] I have to look at photographs, don't remember one with Granny and Dad's parents, but seems they must have met.