Cape Town, Hebrew date: March, a few weeks before Pesach, 1901

To my dear wife, Taube Kretzmar, and to my beloved children, sons David and Noah, and daughters Leah and Freda, may they grow up in wealth and comfort.

My dear wife, I am surprised that I have had no letters for three weeks – I don’t know what to think – as you know, one thinks all kinds of thoughts, which should not happen. In the meantime I am worried. It is already two weeks that I have had no letters. I waited for another week, and I still have no letters. It may be that the boat arrived a week late, so we can expect a double mail this week, so I will get two letters if you have written them. But in the meantime I have heard nothing and I am waiting for tomorrow – perhaps it will arrive. In the meantime, I am writing this evening, because I do not want to delay anymore. I am waiting to read your letter. I can inform you that I am TG well, and may God grant us good news from each other. I have no news to write.

The war is continuing – some people make a good living out of it, but some are suffering. We did not strike at the right time, but I must have patience and hope that God will give us better days.

It is nearly Pesach already – when our people were redeemed, so we must hope that He will have mercy on us also and redeem us from wandering about from one part of the world to another for the sake of a piece of bread. Excuse me, my dear wife, that I have to close my writing, although I have very little to tell you, so let this be enough. I ask you to write me how business is getting on in our area – about each one in particular. As is the wish of your devoted and longing husband, Tuvye Kretzmar

I cordially greet my dear parents, my father, Yehuda Leib Kretzmar, and my modest mother, Beile, and my brother, Yaacov Kretzmar, and my sisters Hinda and Chana, and my brother Wulf (Uncle William), and my brother Samuel – I can inform you that I am TG well, and I wish to hear the same from you. About business, when it will improve, as I hope, you will know about it. Keep well, as is the wish of your son, Tuvye Kretzmar

I also greet my dear mother-in-law, the modest Neche, and my brother-in-law, Moishe Schochet, and his wife, my sister Sarah, and their children, and my brother-in-law, Aaron Morris, and my sister-in-law, Chana Reza. I wish you all the best of luck and that you should all live happily together as is the wish of your son-in-law, brother-in-law and brother, Tuvye Kretzmar