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Raizel Garncarz
Letter to Sala Garncarz, in German, Sosnowitz, Poland, March
27, 1941
Courtesy of Ann Kirschner and family
Dear Sala! Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!
It’s 9:30 in the morning. I’m going out to the street.
The postman is on his rounds. He comes down the street from No.
9. I go toward him. My heart tells me that he may have something
for us. I resist going to the street, I have to wait, I can’t
be foolish. But as he comes closer to our house, he has already
noticed me. What a surprise, two postcards at once. Imagine what
that means to us. I took them with me to read…. Finally,
I came home, and what do you think? Mother comes toward me carrying
a card, also from you, so we have three cards all together! What
a great holiday it is today! We are cheered and happy when we
get mail with good news from you….
But my wishes for mazel tov are not about that! Blima is engaged,
actually only a pledge, but it was important enough that I couldn’t
hold back from writing you: I want you to dance as much as you
want, be happy and content. But wait, do you think you are rid
of me? Oh no! Not yet. I have to tell you everything exactly as
it happened.
On Thursday afternoon, Blima hears from the matchmaker. What’s
going on, we ask her? The cavalier has come! In the evening, Blima
comes in with [Jakub] “Goldberg,” an engaging and
nice enough fellow. Sala, the face was nothing special, just like
all men.
On Friday, we asked her if this meant a pledge, but she didn’t
want to answer yes. Meanwhile, I don’t know why, but he
didn’t come to visit. On Sunday morning, the matchmaker
comes again, and now the in-laws are asking to meet. Father actually
goes there, taking our brother Moshe David with him. Don’t
be mad at me, you are probably impatient already, but you have
to know everything exactly, so I must tell you….
[Jakub Goldberg’s father] said, “I ask you for nothing
more than one thing: a pledge. I like the bride, the rest is not
important, not money, not furniture. I know that she is your child,
if you had more, you would offer it on your own.” Imagine,
father comes home, mother goes for flour, Blima for honey cake,
and our brother-in-law David for a bottle, and in one hour the
pledge was given by the groom. People praise him very much. Everything
will be good if only they are happy. Sala, you are saying now “enough,” right?
… You have to excuse me: at this moment I’m in a
tumult. But it will pass. We will send you the photograph of our
dear parents….
I end with the warmest greetings and kisses for you from everyone.
Raizel
