See also letters form Grandfather to Magdalena around Mom's coming to marry Dad and my birth, as well as letter from Dad to Magdalena after Ralph's birth.
Geneva August 18, 1926
Dear Mrs. Jonas
Do you know that you wrote me your lovely letter on the same day that we received the "boy"? It was even at the same hour - and now you see, when good comes, it comes from all sides. - I was very happy (and I was in a very special state to be happy) about your letter, which contains so much - about the little daughter[1] who is so nice in the picture, and also about the fact that you won't forget me after all to have …
And for the 10 days since the “young man” came here, I haven't done anything else - except to be happy; a strange silent joy that cannot be clothed in theory or words. Only today, after the boy and “mom” have been back from maternity for two days (everything went very well), do I sit down at my desk and start my work with this letter. Next to me, in the cradle, is the "strict observer" who is amazed, kicking and smiling until the smile ends in tears. And I, the no less “keen observer”, marvel at the “petit bont d'affaire” that is decided with an unheard of naturalness to live and prosper. And we both “mom and dad” are illuminated by this sprouting secret of life!
Yes, you are right, I have experienced something completely new, and I am not stopping to experience it - so that I ask myself whether I will continue to write ... For the time being I am not interested in continuing. And yet I have to start a job with my friend Panait Istrati[2] these days. I already have a partner, but I am ready to write a “work” with you, you can see that I still have the same opinion about you have. My feelings remain; - although life models us, we remain what we were and what we are -
In your letter I found exactly the same one I knew years ago. Not only Jonas, you too are as “nice” as you were, good proof of my taste at the time! I am delighted that we have found each other again just now; we will keep in touch now, because I need your incentive and intelligent assessment, as well as your sympathy, in order to continue my work. -
We both thank you for the congratulations and we greet you, your husband and little Jonas, with whom I am of course already in love - so be careful -. Sincerely
Jonie Jéhouda[3]
I'll send you "La Terre Promise"[4] as soon as I get some copies from Paris. Anyway, don't let me lose your track again -
[Google translate from French. Some corners were torn off]
Geneva July 10 2 /
My dear friends, I am still with you in Romanischen café.[5] And to think that Berlin has ceased to be an empty word for me! It is thanks to you, my dear friends; your affection is very precious to me and believe it me, I love you both! I found in Madeleine the refined woman whose intelligence is derived and whose dreams will always be a mystery, late [tear]
the chemist that [tear] himself! I think of you with the firm hope of coming back to Berlin in order to stay a little longer with you! I am delighted with this trip; besides the joy that I have to see you again, I have found my Chapiro alias Boris Schattnowski! Life is just a long miracle! What surprises it has in store for us! [I spent with [… t..t] the day] [tear]
will certainly see each other again soon. He is very surprised to know that after him I am still in Geneva, my place is in Paris or Berlin! And when I come back to Geneva after such a beautiful trip like the one I just had, my faith, I agree with Chapiro! But here, I am at least quiet to work! Let me finish my work and I will come back, yes I will come back and to Berlin!
The family is with me again; my son is cute; after some hesitation, he started his father again and here we are, good friends! -- And you, Madeleine, are you in Berlin or Solothurn? -- Come to Geneva to spend a few days with us! My wife will be delighted to know you. No matter how we meet again and soon!
Greetings from the three of us to all of you and Mad. Baumgarten Regards
Your Joshua Jéhouda
Notes:
Aw. Photo of Mom (age 6)--have to see which one it might have been from her albums.
This was this was the clue to finding who the letter was from. Panait Istrati was, according to Wikipedia, "a Romanian working class writer, who wrote in French and Romanian, nicknamed The Maxim Gorky of the Balkans. Istrati appears to be the first Romanian author explicitly depicting a homosexual character in his work."
Josué Jéhouda, according to Wikipedia, "(born Koldriansky; March 19, 1892 – March 19, 1966) was a Swiss Zionist, writer, and journalist." The article on Istrati states "While in the sanatorium, Istrati met Russian Jewish-Swiss Zionist writer Josué Jéhouda, who became his friend and French language tutor."
"The Promised Land", published in 1926, writing about his experiences from two trips to Palestine in 1921 and 1924.
A famous Berlin cafe, known as meeting house for writers and artists; destroyed by Allied bombing 1943.