Letters

Letters From The Past

Tevye Kretzmar in Cape Town to Taube Kretzmar in Birzh 1899-1903

Thousands of letters passed back and forth between Europe and the Cape. Amazingly 156 letters have survived that had been sent from the Cape to Lithuania between 1899 and 1903, by TOBIAS (Tevya) KRETZMAR to his wife TAUBE KRETZMAR in Birzh Lithuania. These had been treasured and carefully packaged and had been brought back to Cape Town with her among her bundles and peklach when she finally travelled with her four children to join her husband. These letters have been moved to ten different homes with his son Julius Kretzmar until finally being translated in Cape Town the 1980s and 90s. These form a unique picture of the hard life and loneliness of the immigrant.

CAPE TOWN, CHOL HAMOED PESACH 1900

To my loving and dear wife, Taube Kretzmar and to my loving children may they live in wealth and comfort.

Dearest wife-your letters marked number 1 and number 2 I have duly received, and I have read with pleasure, particularly about your wellbeing. May G-d grant that our letters to each other should always be so as long as I am destined to be separated from you. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed Purim and that the custom of making a party in "Zerildovve" is still in existence. May G-d grant that we should start living properly and here we also had a happy occasion.

We live in one room-it means it is one place for me and for Meishe and Mendel. (Mendel is a son of the schochet of "Poplar" and the shamos of Shmuel Ghaseis of Birz.) Other dispersed good friends also came there and we all had a drink together. We sang songs although at the beginning we were afraid that our voices should not be heard outside. Meishe says that if Krass (the landlord) should hear the noise he would increase the rent by 7 grossen. However I am scared as we are living in the country we should be careful with this kind of rascal. We decided that it was only a fantasy and that we are not afraid of landlords. We drank a cup for the health of the wife and children, parents and all friends and all friends who think about us and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Peisach we were at Lipman Rubin; we sat at the seder with heavy hearts but Liebe Rubin comforted us with the following words: "If you cannot make a living in Russia, then you should be happy to be in this country, because then (at least) your wives will be able to make Peisach in Russia." Although these are short words, but alas, they are true and so we conducted the sedorim - and I shall write whatever happens later.

So now I must close my writing-as the time does not allow me to write more. Therefore please excuse me this time-hopefully I shall not owe you any letters. Be well and stay well-as is the wish of your ever loving husband

Tevya Kretzmar

X X X

I also greet my dear parents cordially for the pleasure you have caused me by writing to me. I am unable at the moment to write you any more. I greet my brothers and sisters, mother-in-law, brother-in law, and sister-in law and everybody else who asks after me.

From me, your son and relation and good friend

Tevye Kretzmar

CAPE TOWN 27.2.1900

To my well-beloved wife Taube Kretzmar

Be well and in best spirits and to my dear and precious children be well in much good fortune.

My dearest wife-I can inform with joy that I find myself Thank G-d well. May G-d give me the same news from you- and that my writing shall find you also well.

This week I have not yet received your letter because the boat with the mail has not yet arrived in the harbour because the docks are occupied by other boats who must unload their cargo for the military. Hopefully I shall receive your letter tomorrow. Waiting so for a letter one gets excited, so that one has no patience to write. Seeing that this letter has to be posted on Wednesday and if not it will remain over for another week, so I must force my patience to write as much as possible. In general, there cannot be a big letter today because I have a feeling your letter is already there and I am not wasting time trying to go to fetch it. Therefore please excuse this time.

I have no news to write you now but this I can inform you. The siege of Kimberley was lifted from the Boers and when the telegram came to Cape Town, it was Yom Tov! On all the houses they brought out the British flag(the Union Jack ) and everyone who drove into town, from the most expensive coaches to the carts that carried stones, each one carried flags on high and music was played in the streets. And again when the news arrived ( a telegram) that General Cronje had surrendered with all his forces it was Yom Tov again.

May the Lord grant that some good will come to us too and to be able to enjoy Peace. I close my writing. Be well and don't worry and look after yourself and the children in health and schooling and wishing you good luck

From your loving husband Tevya Kretzmar

XXX

I greet my dear parents, my father and mother and brothers and sister, Jacob and Hinda cordially and in friendship; I wish you all good luck as a blessing - in all ways.

Please excuse me for my simple writing

From me, your son, Tevya Kretzmar

XXX

I also greet cordially my mother-in-law- honourable lady, Ma Neche and my dear brother-in-law, Meishe (Sochet?) and his wife, my sister Sarah, and their children and also my dear sister-in-law Chane Reise - be well and happy.

From me, your brother-in-law, Tevya Kretzmar

In the lovely picture above, we see, left to right, Noel, standing next to Tobias (Tevye) with Arnold on his knee, David, Leah, Taube and Freda. Julius is the cute baby on the table. (Once reunited with his wife and four older children, three more children were born in Malmesbury, Arnold, Julius and Ashne 1913.

EXTRACT

Cape Town 27 .2.1900......I can inform you that the siege of Kimberley was lifted from the Boers and when the telegram came to Cape Town, it was Yomtov. On all the houses they hung the British flag and everyone who drove into town from the most expensive coach to the cart that carried stones carried flags on high and music was played in the streets and again when the news arrived (telegram) that General Cronje surrendered with all his forces it was Yom Tov again.

EXTRACT from final letter

Malmesbury 27,10.1903

You can exchange this cheque....and make travel arrangements because one usually does a favour and does a mitzvah before leaving home. Please be careful and don't waste your roubels. Prepare yourself and travel with good luck and G-d will help. I have bought the most important things-a good wardrobe and a few chairs and I'll buy other necessary things in Cape Town. You must see to everything exactly as I have asked you-all the books that I mentioned. At present farmers are harvesting the summer crops and everybody is busy. I hope that soon business will improve and my sales get better. I close my writing I greet you and kiss you from me.

Your faithful husband who expects to see you

Tevya Kretzmar.