Mila 18 - Leon Uris [107]
ALEXANDER BRANDEL
In the winter of 1940 and the spring of 1941 Wolf Brandel worked on Toporol Farm 2 situated northeast of Warsaw, near the village of Wework.
Each time the produce and milk were taken in to the ghetto the farm workers sent letters in to their loved ones. Wolf wrote to his mother and father and Stephan Bronski, who looked up to him very much. And he wrote to Rachael Bronski.
Dear Rachael,
It is sure different out here on the farm. Like in another world away from the ghetto. There are seventeen girls and thirty of us fellows. I’m one of the youngest. We live in dormitories (separate, boys and girls).
Tolek Alterman, who has been to Palestine, keeps us hustling. He gives a continual lecture about living Zionism almost every night and we have slogans posted everywhere about keeping production up and getting milk and fresh vegetables in to the children in the orphanage.
We work very hard. I’m milking cows. I’m lousy at it. I like everything, including Tolek. He needs a haircut, however.
Would you write to me? Your mother can give your letters to Susan Geller and they will reach me. Also, please have Stephan write.
Your sincere friend,
WOLF BRANDEL
Dear Wolf,
It was nice to hear from you. I will write to you regularly. Stephan studies you know what and you know where and he is getting good at it. He misses you. He admires you greatly. I am very happy for you being out of here—if you know what I mean.
With fondest regards,
RACHAEL BRONSKI
Dear Rachael,
I’m milking better. However, the real important work in the winter is the hogs and I’ve asked to be transferred. Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone we are raising hop. The rabbis would raise h--- if they knew, but with meat so scarce, we must. I’m certain that God will let the kids at the orphanage into heaven, anyhow.
At night it is swell here. We have a kind of game room. We have a community meeting to talk about production, farm problems, and division of work. Then a lecture by Tolek. Afterward we can debate, hear music, study and read and play games. (I’m chess champion.)
Almost always before bedtime we start up a song fest and sing the songs that the Bathyran pioneers sing in Palestine and we dance horas.
We don’t even have to wear the Star of David unless we go to the village.
Please write.
Most sincerely,
WOLF BRANDEL
Dear Wolf,
It sounds nice on the farm and I’m so glad for you. Winter here has been—well, you can imagine. Momma says things are very bad at the orphanage. We have 100% too many children and 50% too little rations and medicine. That is why your job is important. I suppose you hear about the things happening in the ghetto. I don’t want to write you about them, you’ll worry.
Fondly,
RACHAEL BRONSKI
Dear Rachael,
Hey, guess what! I am learning to play the accordion and the guitar. Tolek Alterman is teaching me. He knows all the Palestine pioneer songs, as he has been there. I’d like to teach them to you.
Warmest personal regards and kind wishes and thoughts.
WOLF
Dear Wolf,
I would indeed like to learn your songs. But when? When will I ever see you? I mean, Stephan misses you.
I am busy with my music too. I play recitals all the time and quite a few concerts. Sometimes eight or nine a week. I have learned about fifty children’s songs and singing games (also in French and German) so I can go around to all the orphanages and entertain them.
Do you dance with the girls? I think I am envious.
Very fondly,
RACHAEL
Dear Rachael,
We are celebrating Succoth in memory of Moses and the ancient tribes in the wilderness and giving thanks for the first fruits of the harvest.
You lived in Zoliborz before the war and they don’t allow celebrations now, but ask your mother about how Succoth used to be. Almost all the upper balconies and courtyards in Jewish homes had little “succah” huts built of branches and twigs and leaves to commemorate the way the Jews lived during their wandering.
Out here we have constructed a giant “succah” and it is covered with hundreds of fruits and vegetables and we have all our meals