Cape Town, 27 June, 1900
Dearest wife, I have safely received your letter of Erev Shavuot and with the news that you are all well. I was happy to read it, PG that we should always have good health and good luck, that my letter should also find you in good health. I can also tell you that TG I am fine and in good health and cheerful.
Cape Town, 10 July, 1900
At first I can tell about my health, that I am TG very well – may God give the same news from you. This week I have not received a letter from you and I don’t know the reason for it. This week there should have arrived your letter number 13, because I received number 12 last week, and this week I waited in vain.
Cape Town, 1 August, 1900
My dear and loving wife, first of all I want to tell you that I am in good health, TG for that. May God grant us health and success and may I hear the same news from you and the children.
Your letter of last week I have not yet received, just as it was three weeks ago and I had no letter then – and after that I received two letters at once, numbers thirteen and fourteen, and the previous week again I got no letters.
Letter from Meish Rubin to Taube
What you ask, Taube, about Mr Blumson, who does not inquire about you and each other, you don’t need to talk or write. And if you write, then the uncle will write many letters and have a court case with him about old claims. And then we will have no rest from him. I think Taube it is better not to answer.
Letter from Meish Rubin to his wife
It is best not to open up the parcel until after a time and God will unite us and with hatzlacha from such a distant separation and it is only through faithfulness that we will be able to overcome our troubles, I am giving you mazel tov from Motel’s engagement – may God grant that all of us shall begin to have mazel. You write me that you visited the summer baths – if I were at home I would have liked to join you but from here it is a bit far.
Cape Town, 14 August, 1900
My dear wife, I have not yet received your letter this week. I expect it tomorrow, but I must write today because when I had received your letter, I can nevertheless inform you that I am in good health. May God grant us good health for luck and success. I hope to hear the same from you and the children.
Cape Town, Wednesday, 12 September, 1900
Dearest wife, I have today received your letter. I am surprised it took so long to come, nearly five weeks, but in this it is not your fault. I thank you for your letter, I thank the Lord for granting us good health, and if God gives life and health then you can expect good news, and what else can I write you – when I note in your letter the sentiments you expressed then I get very depressed.
No place, No date
…. Travelled to Zudgala. I am not talking of a lot of money because with the time that I have I am making just enough for expenses. I am not talking of making money because as it is in others ‘assets that are derived from overseas are not blessed’ (query Talmud? ) and one knows from experience that hundreds of people are leaving with money; at home if they had a tenth of that they would consider themselves lucky and could make a nice living.
Letter from Meish Rubin to his wife. before Yomtov 1900
To my dear wife, honourable name Rachel, and my children, I would have liked to hear better news from you because until now everything was so sad. May the Almighty grant us better news for the new year and we should live in comfort and hear good news from each other.
Cape Town, 20 September, 1900
My dear wife, I have received your writing and I thank God for granting you all good health. May you all live and prosper and that we should hear good news from each other as long as we are separated. I thank you for letting my sons David and Noah sign their greetings, but I wonder why the girls did not do the same. I want to ask you that in future you should ask them all to sign their names on every letter you write.