A letter from Isidor

Isidor, Lily's husband, wrote two letters to Regina.  Here is Chuck's translation of the first one.  From these letters, it seems that I have been spelling Lily wrong all this time.  I don't know whether I'll go back and correct everything, but I'll try to change it from here.

I've included the original of Isidor's letter here, so that you can see his beautiful handwriting.  

Very dear Regina!

            To be sure, I do not know you personally, but I perceive from the descriptions of l. [liebe? dear?] Lily and from your l. letters that you are a worthy and good person. We are lucky, after the fearful times that we have been through, still to find such people as you and your dear ones.  I must say the same about my other relatives in America, about Gusta and Morris [Lili’s sister and brother-in-law] in Seattle. I do not know if you believe me if I report that in our worst times our only shaft of light was to see you, who were there. For therein was embodied our sole wish, to breathe and live freely.

Not today, but already some years earlier Lily told me about you and your siblings, and it is entirely understandable that we count you all as our very nearest kin. We both rejoice that you are happily with your brothers and relatives, which indeed appears understandably from the goodness of your siblings.

As Lily already surely informed you, on 23 May we will have been married for two years. No fewer than four years before the wedding we were good friends and promised to each other. However, we could not decide on a marriage since we know that it could last hours or days, where one could rip us apart from each other, as was the case in a hundred thousand cases. Finally we have decided on a wedding for us—and indeed for us in the completely most evil time.

I must say, if it were not the case, we both probably would today no longer be alive. I believe that you know Lily well, her intelligence, prudence, her rock-solid belief in God and many miracles, which is impossible for me to write down, have helped us to the end that we are here.

 I am from six brothers - healthy, strong, young people - the lone survivor, and four sisters were also deported. Therefore I am missing 10 siblings and my old father, who were murdered in the most terrible way and these in the very last time. Two younger sisters are still here. And so you will find it understandable that we both, despite having our jobs, under no circumstances wish to or will live here.

 If you know Lily, you will also know  how she is.  We are very happy with each other; she is not only my wife, in her I see my parents, my siblings, my all that I possess in this world.

            Since your fate, l.[dear] Rifka, is now to be in America, you will certainly find your happiness there. Only be of good courage.

            Heinele is, as Lily has already informed you, with his uncle in Prague for a visit. It is still the holidays [Chanukah?], so we do not want to take the joy to travel to Prague to him. He is a splendid youth, not at all as if he had been in the camp for four years. We are very anxious about him.

In a few days he will be with us again and will then write to you directly. With the stamps and the other gift, which you sent along with the letter, he will be very happy.

            For now I close with many fond greetings to you and your dear siblings.

Your,

Isidor Schwarz

Bratislava, 12 December 1945

[The following in a different hand]

Please send the stamps on the envelope to Gusta, since you can collect stamps.

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