Cape Town, 1 April, 1900

My dearest wife, first of all I want to tell you that TG I am well, may God grant that this letter should find you and the children in the best of health. About business – medium – from the time that I sent you the £3 through my friend Moishe until today I have saved £3.

Letter from Meish Rubin

To my dear cousin Taube, may she live well, and all her children, and also anyone who enquires after me. I have received your letter in which you ask me to tell Tuvye not to be cross with you. I’ll have to tell him later. I would have done it without you asking.

Cape Town, April, 1900

Dearest wife, I have not yet received your letter this week, but I think it will still arrive because I cannot believe that you would be so bad as not to write to me. If you write and post it, it arrives. I can inform you that TG I am well, in good health, PG that I may hear the same from you and the children.

Cape Town, Chol HaMoed, Pesach, (i.e. 16 -19 April) 1900

I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed Purim and that the custom of making a party in Zerildovve is still in existence. May God grant that we should start living properly, and here we also had a happy occasion.

Cape Town, 22 April, 1900

My dearest wife, I have received your letter of the 17th March numbered number 3. I am very happy and I thank God for His mercy that He grants you good health. You write me in the letter that you find a comfort and encouragement to hope that our separation will not last forever because as the Lord gives health and life one can await everything.

Cape Town, May, 1900

To my dear wife, Taube Kretzmar, Zollen leben, live in good fortune and joy. And to my dear children, zollen leben,enjoy and happiness.

Cape Town, 16 May, 1900

Dearest wife, I have today received your letter of Chol HaMoed Pesach [i], and I am replying right away because to read your letter did not take much time.

I am writing to my learned and excellent friend, Menachem Mendel Kretzmar

My friend, I have received your letter and I am replying to you with thanks. I see from your letter that your keenness to write to me stems from love and because I often write at the slightest pretense, you don’t seem to take any interest in me, and for that I ask you to forgive me if I say that you made a mistake.

Letter from Meish Rubin

In this letter I greet all good friends, especially the modest Mrs Taube Kretzmar, may she live well. I have no more time. From me, your friend, Meish Rubin.

Cape Town, Wednesday, 30 May, 1900, 1 Sivan

Dearest wife, I have safely received your letter of the 20th of April, number seven. I received it last night, it was Rosh Chodesh, but the letter was a reply to the previous letter, number six, so that you must know that I have received all your letters.

Cape Town, 6 June, 1900

Dearest wife, I have received your letter, in which you mention about my being upset about your brother’s letter, it was unnecessary. In fact, it is not so because I understood that he did not notice how bad it appeared, coming from thousands of miles away and which was awaited from the best of friends – as balm to a wound, instead it is like salt in a wound.

Cape Town, 13 June, 1900

Dear Mrs Kretzmar, as I was visiting your husband, Mr T Kretzmar, it so happened that he was writing a letter to you – so I, as an unknown acquaintance, wish to greet you, and your honoured uncle and your dear children.

Footnote from Tuvye Kretzmar

My dear wife, Taube Kretzmar, please write if any one of you has met up with David Michael from “Starkene” and what he says about the ten roubles that was overpaid.

Cape Town, 20 June, 1900

My dear wife, I have safely received your letter of the fifth of May, marked number two, with news of all of you being well, which I read with great pleasure, although I noticed from your writing that you are a little cross with me because I sometimes send a very short letter, although I really am not guilty sometimes.

Cape Town, June, 1900

My dearest wife, I have received your letters numbers 13 and 14 at the same time. They must have been in London for a whole week, and as they were late in the post we should try and post the letters in time so that we do not distress each other. I thank you very much for your letter and TG you are in good health. PG to hear the same in future. I can also tell you that I find myself in good health TG.