Letter by Moisha
Moisha’s letter to his son Aaron
The letter was translated from Russian into English by Moisha’s granddaughter (Aaron’s daughter) Nelli Medvinsky Stamford, March 10, 2005
October 9, 1941
Kharkov
My dear son Aaron, I have received Mina’s letter on October 9, 1941. I am sending the letter to you. On the same day, October 9, we sent a letter to Mina and forwarded her your address. * In her letter, Mina had informed us where they were going to move. After you get the letter, please write back and tell us what is going on over there. Your mother regrets that we did not evacuate. We had an opportunity but we were scared to leave the city. Now we are like orphans without our children. Your mother is crying all the time. If there were a possibility to live there now, we would probably come. Nobody is supporting us here. If it’s possible, please try to help us with traveling warrants and tickets.
We received a wire from Yakov. He is 600 kilometers from Kharkov. He is alive and healthy. He sent the wire from Lev Tolstoy. **
Your mother and Golda send best regards.
Your father
Look at the situation there. Is it possible to move and live in your city? We do not know either we could survive here.
I am waiting for your answer.
Footnote: I did my best to translate this letter. The letter was written in Russian and it was difficult to translate. Moisha knew Yiddish and did not study Russian at school. The letter had some idioms and some slang and I tried to save his style also.
- Aaron got in one envelope three letters: one from his wife Mina, one from Moisha, and one from Mina’s father Leizer. Aaron saved Moisha’s letter and Leizer’s letter.
- I think that Lev Tolstoy was a place where his son Yakov (Shaya) was at this time.
