Letters from Gittel
(Falkon) Kagan of Moscow, U.S.S.R., to her nephew, Mark Falcon Lesses, of
Boston, Massachusetts.
[Letter written in Russian: this is the English translation also found in the same envelope.]
Moskow, December 9, 1934.
My Dear Nephew Markus,
A few days ago I received a letter from my brother, your uncle, M. Falcon, from Libau, Latvia. He writes that he had news from you, the children of my dear, beloved brother Jacob, whose memory I will always cherish. The news brought to me again a wave of memories about your father and I cried for days and days thinking of him.
Our childhood days were spent together and we were inseparable and only his departure for America tore us apart. For years I was losing contact with him and you. Many a time I asked my relatives about him. I had a strong premonition that something terrible happened to him, but nobody ever told me anything. They wanted to keep me in ignorance because of my poor health and weak heart. But because of no news from him I began to demand the truth and they told me.
I do not know whether you are familiar with the early life of your dear father.
We lost our mother when we were young children. Our father married again and we three children – my brothers Mote, Jacob and I were brought up by our grandmother. My older brother Mote went to Libau and your father and I were left to care for one another and loved each other dearly. Although we have been away from one another many, many years, the love and tender memory of him will never diminish.
Now I want to think that because you remembered your relatives, I feel somewhat consoled. I feel that you honor the memory of your father. I feel sure that you, his children are very nice and good people and that you live your lives honorably.
For over 30 years my husband, my children and I lived in Baku (Caucasia) and it is only a few years since we moved to Moskow. The reason is that our children all had their education in Moskow colleges and settled here to live.
My son Solomon is an Electrical Engineer and is working in one of our largest factories at his specialty. He is a very clever man. His wife is also an electrical engineer- they were in the same school together and got married. They have a beautiful daughter Rosochka (Rose) 2 years old.
My older daughter Bronia studied at the Commercial Institute, but didn’t finish. Her husband is a very nice man and is chief accountant in one of the Gov. plants.
My younger daughter Ania, I think that you both are about the same age, my dear Markus, is an attorney. Besides that she completed a course in economy and is now in one of the newly built factories as an engineer-economist. Her husband is also an attorney, but is studying again and is about to become an engineer-mechanic. My Ania has two dear boys (twins) 5 years old named Felix and Vovick (Bob). Bronia has one child – a boy Loena (Leonard, I think,-Transl.), 12 years of age; a very clever child.
We all live fairly well considering. I suppose that you know that it is not easy to get along in Russia, but at the same time our lives are full of interest, and higher culture. My husband and I live with Ania in one apartment. My husband gets a small pension and the children help out a little. Besides my brother sends in something once in a while and that’s how we get along.
My dear Markus, I would be very happy if you could come to U.S.S.R. for a visit. It doesn’t cost much, and I am very anxious to see you.
Meanwhile, please, do me a great favor. Write to me about your dear father. How he lived, when did he get sick, what was the nature of his illness and the date of his death. If you have any photographs of him, please send to me.
Write in detail how you, your dear mother and your sister are getting along. You are now the only ones that is left as a link with my brother.
Best and sincerest regards to your own family, the family of your sister, and to your mother.
Please write and bring a little sunshine into my life.
Your Aunt Gittel Kagan
My Address: M. Z. Kagan, Bolshaya Polanka, 37, suite 1, Moskow, 17, U.S.S.R.
[address also given in Russian]
P.S. You can write to me in Russian or Jewish as is convenient to you.
Dear Nephew,
Your letter with the picture we received, and we were very glad to hear from you. Your son looks like an angel. I hope you will have a lot of pleasure from him.
Dear, time flies and see it’s already a few months [I] did not write. I beg your pardon not answering: My daughter Anna had whooping cough and as soon as she got better I left Moscow for a summer resort and I, myself, am not so well – heart trouble, stomach, bladder, etc. At present time I’m suffering with stomach trouble. It’s already a week I’m staying in bed. I wanted to take pictures with my husband, but – as you see – always and have no desire and spirit to do so.
Dear, don’t be sorry for not answering so quick and the same thing in the future in case I don’t answer so quick, so don’t feel bad about it. I’m with you with all my thoughts, heart and feelings and wish all the luck in life.
I would like to have a picture of you and your wife, and your sister with her family. We have a great number of Americans as tourists; maybe you will some day come over here.
Your letters you may write in English, because my son Solomon knows English.
When you will answer this letter, I want you to write me all about you in detail.
The 14th of Nov. we will have a family celebration. 40 years since I was married. I hope you too will celebrate 40 years of your marriage in happiness and good health.
My heartiest greetings to your wife, your son and your sister, my dear niece andher family.
My heartiest greetings to all of you from all of us
Your aunt
RITA [I presume this is a typographical error for Gita]
ADDRESS:
Moscow Bolsaya
Polyanka 7 #37 SU-1
Mr. M. J. Kagan
Another letter is dated: 7 April 1937, but is also not translated. Enclosed with it is a small photograph with the date 1934 on the back.
This
page maintained by: Rebecca Lesses
Last revised June 26, 2003