Irena Bloch papers

Irena Bloch papers 

Irena Bloch papers 

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The Irena Bloch papers primarily consists of photographs documenting the Hecht and Bloch families before the war in Żółkiew, Delatyn, Orlow, Sopot, and Gdynia, Poland as well as Rachela Hecht’s marriage to Dziunek Dawid Zimand in Warsaw, Poland. The papers also include a marriage permit, ketubah, false work papers, school certificates, a diploma, and a letter Irena’s best friend Ruth Zeimer Czaczkes wrote on February 27, 1943 while in hiding with her son Rysio in Tarnow, Poland prior to their denunciation and subsequent murder. Photographs document the Hecht, Zimand, and Bloch families' prewar lives in Żółkiew, Delatyn, Gdynia, Sopot, and Orlow, and they depict Rachela Hecht (Irena Bloch); Anna, Jozef, and Izydor Hecht; Dziunek, Rozia, Klara, and Zygmunt Zimand; Hela and Rozia Bloch; Lola Kiec; Filip and Lotte Kornreich; Basia Heildenkorn; Israel and Gabrys Kikien; Feiga Pokard; Szancia Segal; Berek Sobel; Izio and Herman Wolf; Ruth, Nina, and Muszka Zeimer. Biographical materials include Rachela’s and Dziunek’s ketubah and marriage permit; Rachela’s school certificates, diploma, Polish citizenship certificate, false work certificate, and postwar repatriation certificate; a registration certificate for David Bloch’s parents. Ruth Ziemer Czaczkes wrote her letter while in hiding in Tarnow with her son Rysio and sister Nina Zeimer. Rysio had been born in 1939 in Katowice where his father, Dr. Jakob Czaczkes, was the director of a Jewish Gymnasium. Soon after she wrote this letter, Ruth, Rysio, and Nina were denounced and then murdered by Germans. The letter is translated here. Saturday February 27, 1943; My Dearest, I received a postcard from Kuba [husband] with your short note, which touched me. I cannot describe the feeling that overwhelmed me while reading these few words. But it is unimportant now. I wanted to write but I wasn’t sure where you were. I am glad that you are together; I can appreciate this. Dziunek, I hear that you do not like my flat. Oh, well, it is better to live in a bad flat than to die in a good one. I couldn’t live there [Zolkiew], and I am happy that I was able to find another place for us. If I wasn’t successful I would not be able to write to you. Now I have at least a chance like Kuba. The certainty of my survival as opposed to Kuba’s was too much for me. I am not claiming that I live a happy life, but this is my fate and I have to accept it. I live with Nina in good conditions -- literally, but we do not know what tomorrow will bring, and I am afraid to think about it. I pray to God that he will let me, us, survive and reunited with Kuba, so we would bring up our beloved child together. Rysio is well, he had chicken pox, but he is better now. He is a big boy now. It is frightening how smart and brave he is. He is my only consolation and only the thought about his future keeps me going. He remembers you well and often recalls the nonsense that Dziunek taught him. He always says that Rozia Zimand loves him very much. He was very happy to hear that you wrote a note. The cruel fate arranged that I am so far away from you, and may God allows us to be together in the future. I do not harbor any hopes and I do not have a chance and it is very sad. If Dziunek, the eternal optimist, were here he would bring the hope back. You know very well that I didn’t want things to go the way they did and to be far away from Kuba. The thought that I could be with you, the same way you are, kills me. What can I do? I remind myself all the time, but it is difficult to accept the fate. Maybe God will grant me to be with you. Please do not let me wait for an answer. Some other time I will write a “happy” letter, today I feel unhappy. I should not write in such a mood, but I have no one to share these feelings with. Where do you live? What’s with Dorek? Please write. With love, Ruth.” Note from Nina Zeimer: “Dears, I am so glad you wrote and let us know you are alive. We, Thank God, are healthy. Best regards, Nina.” 

The Irena Bloch papers are arranged as three series: Series 1: Photographs, approximately 1880-1953 Series 2: Biographical material, 1920-1969 Series 3: Letter, 1943