1Translation
Dearest Laje'u of mine! B"H _(Baruch Hashem / With God's Help)_
July 19, 1948
Today I received two letters from you in one—one is Piri's letter and [the other is] your dear letter. I do not know what I should answer you; this time I will only ask for an apology from you, because my dear previous letters and my expressions made you feel desperate, and my heart plagues me that you are desperate because of me.
Just with this letter I received the visa from the Swedish consul in Prague! My joy was so great that you cannot imagine it—that was today at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Immediately I went to send a telegram to you at the post office. I did not read your dear letter in full during the lunch hour, because the first few lines troubled me so much, so in the afternoon I read it through in its entirety, and right away I am writing you this reply letter.
I also read Piri's letter through, and she praises me far too much. It would have been better if you had not mentioned her letter to me at all, then you would have saved yourself heartache/aggravation. It really pains me that only now you point out to me that work in Sweden is not easy, for here I do not work hard—but my dearest, when we are together in joy and content, work will not hurt us; what do you think? Perhaps in a shop/business one can also find work? I will not mention any more about this, or it plagues my heart that you are not pleased with my letter. I will write to you less, and I will be very careful with my expressions—do you understand, my Laje'u?
1 / 4July 19, 1948
Today I received two letters from you in one—one is Piri's letter and [the other is] your dear letter. I do not know what I should answer you; this time I will only ask for an apology from you, because my dear previous letters and my expressions made you feel desperate, and my heart plagues me that you are desperate because of me.
Just with this letter I received the visa from the Swedish consul in Prague! My joy was so great that you cannot imagine it—that was today at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Immediately I went to send a telegram to you at the post office. I did not read your dear letter in full during the lunch hour, because the first few lines troubled me so much, so in the afternoon I read it through in its entirety, and right away I am writing you this reply letter.
I also read Piri's letter through, and she praises me far too much. It would have been better if you had not mentioned her letter to me at all, then you would have saved yourself heartache/aggravation. It really pains me that only now you point out to me that work in Sweden is not easy, for here I do not work hard—but my dearest, when we are together in joy and content, work will not hurt us; what do you think? Perhaps in a shop/business one can also find work? I will not mention any more about this, or it plagues my heart that you are not pleased with my letter. I will write to you less, and I will be very careful with my expressions—do you understand, my Laje'u?
2Translation
My tiny little Laje'u! Since noon today I am no longer working, and tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I am traveling to Humenné to take care of my documents. I will not describe to you my difficulties regarding the passport, but I will employ everything to receive it. Everyone is congratulating me. At HIAS [Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society] they promised to be helpful to me in all matters. As soon as I receive the passport, I will send a celebratory telegram so that you will understand that I will be with you shortly. Other matters I will do according to the law, as much as one can. You can send my mail to Vydrica 31/2 [Bratislava address]. Laje'u, you shouldn't punish me now for my previous letters, but you will see how good I can be.
**T**he visa is confirmed for me for 3 months, until October 14th—by that time everything can be taken care of. According to Swedish law, I would have to return after 3 months; what do you think?
From the Joint in Bratislava, I received a summons regarding emigration to the U.S.A. Tomorrow morning I am going there, then I will write to you what it is about. From my handwriting you can see how nervous I am already in these first hours; I will calm down, think everything through thoroughly, and carry it out with God's help.
You write regarding war, so I write to you that a person can never insure themselves forever, and to Czechoslovakia (C.S.R.) under no circumstances would you have come—so I ask you, Laje'u, do you have trust in me?I do in you, yes; and you?My wish is not to upset you, for to me...
2 / 4**T**he visa is confirmed for me for 3 months, until October 14th—by that time everything can be taken care of. According to Swedish law, I would have to return after 3 months; what do you think?
From the Joint in Bratislava, I received a summons regarding emigration to the U.S.A. Tomorrow morning I am going there, then I will write to you what it is about. From my handwriting you can see how nervous I am already in these first hours; I will calm down, think everything through thoroughly, and carry it out with God's help.
You write regarding war, so I write to you that a person can never insure themselves forever, and to Czechoslovakia (C.S.R.) under no circumstances would you have come—so I ask you, Laje'u, do you have trust in me?I do in you, yes; and you?My wish is not to upset you, for to me...
3Translation
...with this one can achieve nothing, only hinder, and that is not my goal, nor do I think it is your goal, so we must excuse one another when we are upset and contain ourselves. So I forgive you for your remarks, and hope that such a thing will not happen anymore, and I think that you will not scare me regarding work. Previously you wrote to me that I would not have to do field work—that I do not like to do, though I did work that for a whole month. I am putting your letter away from me, for my heart is embittered by these remarks, because I want and wish to write only loving feelings to you so that you should be in a good mood, and so that you should love me as always, because I cannot do otherwise now. I will go with my cousin Ilković to choose a reticule/handbag for you, and whatever I am able to buy I will buy for you if one can bring it along. Enough effort still lies ahead of me until I am in Sweden, but now it is only up to me and our authorities. I hope that you are mine, and in Sweden at a station in Gothenburg you will wait for me, and our joy will be very, very great—something that is even hard to imagine!I have so many letters from you here; I will bring only a few with me—the first letters from you.
Write to me a lot, and set aside what did not suit you in this long letter. I think you took offense that I asked you for poplin skirts, but I will also take joy in seeing you beautifully dressed...
3 / 4Write to me a lot, and set aside what did not suit you in this long letter. I think you took offense that I asked you for poplin skirts, but I will also take joy in seeing you beautifully dressed...
4Translation
...you will, so do not take it in a bad way if I asked that of you; I have not changed my mind.
Today despite all that, I am in good spirits and await your dear letters filled with happy, cheerful expressions, with many greetings and heartfelt kisses from the bottom of my heart, your faithful Mojšu [Moshé/Martin].
If I had had enemies, I would have made peace with all of them out of joy over the visa, because of you—that we will be together again. With Moncsi [Manci] I will overcome this with you.
Your Martin
_(Vertical Margin Notes & Decorative Monogram Block):_
- Write to me immediately!
- Did you receive the telegram?
- Are you still angry with me?
- I am not at all.
- Now my only care is to reach my goal.
- Your Husband
- Aron _(endearment/signature term)_
> Our \~ 1936 Monogram LM 1948 \~Lenke and Martin Ilkovic
4 / 4Today despite all that, I am in good spirits and await your dear letters filled with happy, cheerful expressions, with many greetings and heartfelt kisses from the bottom of my heart, your faithful Mojšu [Moshé/Martin].
If I had had enemies, I would have made peace with all of them out of joy over the visa, because of you—that we will be together again. With Moncsi [Manci] I will overcome this with you.
Your Martin
_(Vertical Margin Notes & Decorative Monogram Block):_
- Write to me immediately!
- Did you receive the telegram?
- Are you still angry with me?
- I am not at all.
- Now my only care is to reach my goal.
- Your Husband
- Aron _(endearment/signature term)_
> Our \~ 1936 Monogram LM 1948 \~Lenke and Martin Ilkovic
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