Martin and Lanka’s Journey to Reunion

**Dearest Laje’u! B"H** _(Baruch Hashem)_

I received your dear letter and the enclosed letters. I am of one mind with you in all respects. Believe me that I am trying enough so that I should be able to come to Sweden, despite that I do not know what kind of situation it is over there. People think that here by us [in Czechoslovakia] it is good, but I can write to you that this is only for business owners and large enterprises, for these reached millions during wartime and now no big business can be made, and why should a merchant... earn as much as a worker?One thing I fear is a war; that can only happen if the USSR (_U.S.R._) attacks. And regarding anti-Semitism (_Judenfeindschaft_), that could only happen back then if the republic—God forbid—falls apart, but it will not come to that.

My opinion is just as you already wrote to me once: try to do everything regarding the matter in Sweden; if you succeed in bringing me to Sweden by August 1 of this year, so much the better. If not, then for a visit to the U.S.A. for a period of 2–3 months, if you hold it as a duty then you can go, because I think it will be useful for us not to be hostile with your so good uncle. If you have the possibility to go to the U.S.A.—that is, if you have the visa and before that you can visit me with the visa in hand and the passport—my Laje’u, you understand me, that is how I think, and...

...about this write to me how you understand me in words. I am convinced that by the month of August I will not be in the U.S.A., or in Sweden it might still be possible, and if not, Laje'u, it is not my fault, for you must decide your future yourself. And when you are already my lawful wife, then I have every right to propose this or that to you, and right now, Laje'u, I must be very cautious with everything. I am determined to take you as my wife, and with complete love and devotion to care for you for my entire life, and upon your arrival in Czechoslovakia (C.S.R.) I will not let you go to anyone—not to Jollin and not to Lenken—you will be with me, and we will live as my means determine. All this I write to you because I am being cautious, so that in later years you will not be able to reproach me.

I agree with you that it is truly difficult to love each other on paper, for it is only pain and heartache. The mail does not run entirely normally, and then I am blamed that for your 5 letters one of mine arrives while another does not. You feel just as I do how hard it is to love from afar, and to constantly think and think and remain only with thoughts, and when one still..

...is without a home, and has no sister and no brother, only cousins who are like strangers when one thinks about it.

I wrote a letter for Jolin and Garin [Garin / Garai], and it is not my fault that they cannot get along with each other and make accusations against one another. But what can I do if Rózsi shows me more friendliness and has gained more sympathy with me?I did not come to Humenné to shop / trade (_kofieren_); I came to take care of my private affairs. I am not hostile toward Jolin or toward anyone in Humenné at all. But one should not think that I will not reciprocate Rózsi's friendship. I bought her a present; her efforts for me should not be for nothing, but I cannot buy much because I do not want to create bad feelings in her house. I will not mention anything more about her at all, and please I ask you not to mention her either.

Dearest Laje’u, I am making an effort to inquire with the Joint [American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee] here to see what they can take care of. And if not, I will rent an apartment—as much as I can get—and as for kitchen items, I have already set aside a lot for myself. The best I can, I take for myself in our shop/business, and I am keeping it in our warehouse (_Magazin_) until I learn 100% from you that you are coming to me. And then I will buy various other things that are needed in the house and what you...

...[what you] cannot bring along. This time of June–July feels very long to me, for I think about you too much, as I understand you so well and exactly even when you do not write to me. I think and hope that we will go to Piešťany for a week to recover, for I too have lost a lot of weight despite allowing myself to eat everything; I have lost 10 kg [approx. 22 lbs], everything is too big on me, I don't know what to think as to why, but I am not used to a hot climate.

Dearest Laje'u, my only one, excuse me if I had to answer your unconsidered letter; I do not want to analyze/speculate over its contents, I do not want to plague you, I want to spare you, for my whole heart is already with you, as I know and am convinced that we understand each other from our youth. And I cannot forget your phone conversation, when you were so pleasantly surprised that you couldn't even speak, but I felt you, and since that time I have been so terribly longing for you, and I feel that without you I can no longer exist. _"Nem tudom nálküled élni"_ [Hungarian: _I cannot live without you_], just as you wrote to Piri. Piri's letter made a good impression on me, for I read in it your devotion to me.

Greetings and kisses, your faithful,

Mojšu [Moshé / Martin]