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Letters & Correspondence

 
One of the most valuable sources of information uncovered by Bert and Bev in their research was the surprising quantity of letters and messages, in Yiddish, Hebrew, English, and German, that had been preserved in the many decades since they were sent.

A majority of the letters here (in their own slideshow, on the right) are from correspondence in Yiddish between Bert and his Aunt Riva, which began while he was in Feldafing after she left for Israel, and continued after his immigration to Atlanta — these letters were delivered to Bert by his cousin Dov after Riva’s death, some of which are featured (in translation) in On the Run in Nazi Berlin. 

Please check back in for updates as we transcribe and upload translations of these letters and more!
Envelope of a letter sent from Bert's father Leopold Lewin to his uncle, the Rabbi Tobias Geffen. The letter was sent to the same Atlanta address where, a couple decades later, Bert would find family and a home with Rabbi Geffen and his wife. A letter from Leopold Lewin, dated November 5, 1936, likely to Rabbi Tobias Geffen and his wife. In the letter (written in German) Leopold expresses thanks for a recent message, and, responding to an offer to send money, explains to to wire it. He mentions generous gifts from his brother Benjamin for Dagobert's recent Bar Mitzvah, as well as Benjamin's desire that they send Dagobert to New York to live with him — a prospect Leopold doesn't not relish. He also mentions Dagobert's enrolling in a locksmith apprenticeship, his learning English, and the family's desire to make the long trip to Kovno. A letter to Bert from his Uncle Alfred and Aunt Susie, dated November 10, 1960. Alfred was the only member of Bert’s mother Johanna’s family to survive — his siblings and parents were all either killed by Lithuanian SS in the Kovno ghetto, or in a death camp. Alfred managed to escape and make his way to America with his wife Susie and their son Peter. (1/2). Letter to Bert from Uncle Alfred and Aunt Susie in NYC, 1960 (2/2). A letter from Bert to his cousin Harold, dated October 20, 1950. The letter reads: "Dear Harold, It's been a long time since I intended to write you. Today I decided not to postpone it any longer. So, here i am. I was glad to learn that you like your college and that you get along all right. Did you make new friends? Do you find your subjects interesting or boring? I would like to know all about it. A couple of weeks ago I started attending night classes at Georgia Tech. It is a very tough going for me, as you can imagine. After all, I speak English just 16 months. I don't think I can succeed doing both, holding a full time job and going to "Tech." I hope to hear from you some time. Regards and love, your cousin Dagobert."

A letter to Riva dated January 23, 1948. This would have been soon after Riva left Feldafing for Israel. Of note is that the letter is in Yiddish (as are most of Bert's letters to Riva from this period), a language he had only just learned over the previous year in the DP camp. Letter to Riva dated February 20, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated February 20, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated February 25, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated February 25, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated March 31, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated March 31, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated May 24, 1948. Notably, this letter is in German, unlike the preceding and successive letters in Yiddish (1/2). Letter to Riva dated May 24, 1948. Notably, this letter is in German, unlike the preceding and successive letters in Yiddish (2/2). Letter to Riva dated July 5, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated July 5, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated July 25, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated July 25, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated September 22, 1948. Unlike previous letters from Feldafing, this letter was send from Stockholm, where Bert was pursuing pedagogical study under the auspices of ORT (1/2). Letter to Riva dated September 22, 1948. Unlike previous letters from Feldafing, this letter was send from Stockholm, where Bert was pursuing pedagogical study under the auspices of ORT (2/2). Letter to Riva dated September 24, 1948. Also from Stockholm (1/2). Letter to Riva dated September 24, 1948. Also from Stockholm (2/2). Letter to Riva dated November 18, 1948. By this point Bert had returned from Stockholm to Feldafing (1/2). Letter to Riva dated November 18, 1948. By this point Bert had returned from Stockholm to Feldafing (2/2). Letter to Riva dated November 28, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated November 28, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated December 7, 1948 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated December 7, 1948 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated January 8, 1949 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated January 8, 1949 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated February 22, 1949 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated February 22, 1949 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated March 8, 1949 Letter to Riva dated April 4, 1949 (1/2) Letter to Riva dated April 4, 1949 (2/2) Letter to Riva dated June 20, 1949. This letter is included in full translation in "On the Run in Nazi Berlin." Written from New York the day after arriving in the US, the letter details Bert's trip across the ocean, arrival in New York, and plans to move to Atlanta a week later (1/2). Letter to Riva dated June 20, 1949. This letter is included in full translation in "On the Run in Nazi Berlin." Written from New York the day after arriving in the US, the letter details Bert's trip across the ocean, arrival in New York, and plans to move to Atlanta a week later (2/2). Letter to Riva dated October 3, 1951, a couple of months before his marriage to Esther. Letter to Riva dated January 16, 1953. A few years later, this letter would have been written from the home of Bert's new mother-in-law, Eva Sloan, where he lived with his wife Esther. At this time he would have been in the very early stages of planning and starting his business (1/2). Letter to Riva dated January 16, 1953. A few years later, this letter would have been written from the home of Bert's new mother-in-law, Eva Sloan, where he lived with his wife Esther. At this time he would have been in the very early stages of planning and starting his business (2/2). Letter to Riva dated August 9, 1958. Written after a long pause in communication, this letter is in English (1/2). Letter to Riva dated August 9, 1958. Written after a long pause in communication, this letter is in English (2/2).