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September 7, 1937 – The Last Letter.

September 7, 1937 – The Last Letter.

The last letter

This the last of the complete letters in the set of some three hundred pages Trudel translated, some 90 letters originally written between May 1934 and September, 1937. I hope to post additional materials in the weeks and months to come – some information on her life for the next 60 years, perhaps a new photo gallery and other things. For a special treat, don’t miss the continuation of this note and the recording linked there, just below the letter and above the video clip.

Leonard
One of Trudel’s Sons

.

Papa

Papa

September 7, 1937

Happy birthday Papa! Wish we could celebrate with you.

Leonard went with me to the German service** Sunday evening and I saw many people I know.

Monday morning we went to services at Temple Sholom and Leonard was very enthused about the rabbi, who he heard for the first time. Actually, he had not been in a synagogue in four years, but saw so many people he knew.

Temple Sholom

Temple Sholom

Binstock

Rabbi Louis Binstock – Temple Sholom



We saw another excellent movie, “The Life of Emile Zola.”

Love,
Trudel


The last letter – continued

Trudel was an exceptionally positive woman, and she constantly expressed gratitude throughout her life. A few years ago I came across a recording of her practicing the “Sheheyonu” for my bar mitzvah in 1956. It is a Hebrew prayer offered at every happy occasion and every holiday and celebration. It is a difficult tongue twister. Over the years it became her prayer. At every occasion we would ask her to recite it.

Listen to Trudel recite it, in Hebrew and then in English. Let us celebrate with her.

Press or click here to hear the recording.

Leonard
One of Trudel’s sons.


The Life of Emile Zola

Trailer


** In this letter and her previous one Trudel writes about going to the “German service.” I have been unable to identify the specific congregation she was referring to. However with the assistance of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, I have learned she may have attended a service at the North Side Jewish Center Congregation that was started around 1936-7 by German Jewish refugees and about 1946-7 changed its name to Congregation Ezra and later Temple Ezra. If she went to her friends in the Hyde Park neighborhood, she could have attended the Habonim Congregation, or one of the established congregations that were started by German-Jews — Sinai Temple, Kehilath Anshe Maariv, or Isaiah Israel.

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Posted by on September 7, 1937 in Chicago, immigrant experience, Judaism

 

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August 27, 1937 – Lunch in the Park by the Lake

August 27, 1937 – Lunch in the Park by the Lake

August 27, 1937
“Le Shono Tauwo.”

I will go to the German services for Rosh HaShona.
[Rosh HaShana was on September 5 in 1937.]

Machzor

Hebrew-German Machzor


I have changed jobs again, much nicer place and nicer people. I managed to get a job for Trudel Batzner there too, and we are working together since Monday. We eat our lunch sandwiches in the park by the lake, across the street, as long as the weather is so beautiful.


Trudel and Trudel

Trudel and Trudel – not on a lunch break

thirsty

Thirsty

Trudel and Trudel 1

Trudel and Trudel go out.


Lunch

Lunch in the park


Enclosed are more photos.*

Saw a very good movie on Saturday: The Wandering Jew with Conrad Veidt. [Scroll down for a clip from the film.] Then to Old Heidelberg Rathskeller for dinner. They play and sing only German songs there.

Old Heidelberg

Old Heidelberg Dining Room

So sorry about Erna’s appendix. Good riddance.

Love
Trudel


*Many of Trudel’s photographs from Summer 1937 were included in earlier posts. However, Trudel’s album has a page with a few scenic few photos taken that summer in Ottawa, Illinois. Here is one of them.

Ottawa, Illinois, 1937

Ottawa, Illinois, 1937

The notes in Trudel’s album do not indicate why she was in Ottawa. But it was at about that time when her husband, my father, began to work on the Radium Dial Poisoning case in Ottawa. See the Case of the Living Dead Women for newspaper stories about the case. The case consumed their lives for over a year, which may be one reason why Trudel wrote only a one or two more letters in 1937.
New Attorney

LJG to Represent Living Dead.

The Wandering Jew (1933)

 

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September, 1936 – Trudel Hats at last – a room and shop of her own.

September, 1936 – Trudel Hats  at last – a room and shop of her own.

September 1936 was a busy month for Trudel. She has her dream – a shop of her own. Her notes for September include one letter, but a note dated October 1, 1936 is really about September as well, so I am including them in one post.

Remember to click on the photos. Most will take you to full-size versions of the images.

Leonard Grossman
One of Trudel’s Sons.


September 6, 1936 – Trudel Hats

I have moved to 195 E Chestnut St and combined my own hat shop, living room and bed room together.

Trudel Working

Trudel Working

Room-shop

Trudel’s All-in-One: Shop and Room

Self-Portrait

Triple Self-Portrait



Trudel Hats

Trudel Hats on Chestnut

Tomorrow, Labor Day, we are planning to go to Riverview Park, an amusement park and expect about 50,000 people if the weather is nice, Leonard will preside the first half of the day since it is all Republican.

Aunt Henny is planning to stay in Florida.

October 1, 1936- Riverview political rally, and a “lunch break” on Yom Kippur.

Had trouble getting your letter, dear Papa, since I was not home when they tried to deliver it at my apartment and I had no identification with me when I went to the Post Office to pick it up. I did finally get it.

Temple Sholom

Temple Sholom

Thanks for stamps and prayer book for Mrs. Samuel. On Yom Kippur I went to a German service, using the prayer book same as West End Synagogue [in Frankfurt]. Only, the songs’ melodies were different and they had 2 ½ hours lunch break. I met Kurt Heichelheim who is here only 2 weeks and very happy to see one person he knew.

On Labor Day, 9/7, was again Thompson Day in Riverview Park. All big Republicans. Leonard introduced all the candidates from noon until 6:00 pm in bright sunshine, which he likes.

LJG on the Dais

LJG on the Dais

Entertainment

Entertainment

Applause

Applause

Lane Tech

Republican Day Crowd at Riverview



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Posted by on September 25, 1936 in Chicago, immigrant experience, Judaism, Letters

 

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April 18, 1935 – “We did not laugh as much as last night in a long time.”

April 18, 1935  –  “We did not laugh as much as last night in a long time.”

4/18/35

My Sweet Goldchildren,

After a delicious yonteff* dinner we just landed in Leonard’s office with big filled stomachs. We feel too heavy to go home right away. And how do the matzos taste to you this year?

Trudel’s First Passover in America

Last evening, first seder, we ate at the same kosher restaurant as tonight. The difference was the fact that we participated in a seder last night and today only dinner. We did not laugh as much as last night in a long time. They had one large table and several small ones. Of course we sat at a small one. Since the service took so long and we were very hungry, we emptied our goblets with very good red wine every time. You can imagine the result! The seder was very good, but not many melodies like at home, only a very few.

County Chairman

The County Chairman

The dinner was excellent both evenings. Of course the matzo ball soup was not so [good] that Lu could claim he could not eat anything else after 2 bowls full. They did not serve sour/sweet carp either. But very delicious almond torte and macaroons.

Tonight, Thursday night, it went very fast and was finished including dinner at 9:30 pm. We both were in such a good mood with our tummies full that we did not feel like going home. So we went to a movie. Very funny, just right for the mood we were in: “The County Chairman.”

On Tuesday night we were in a movie too. Very serious and good: “David Copperfield.”

David Copperfield

David Copperfield

And before I forget, I want to tell you the funniest thing that happened to me this week. Sunday as usual Flora Mae had dinner with us and Leonard took her home. We did not feel like going on that long bus trip home so we went to see an excellent film, “Clive of India” right there in Hyde Park. They have a new game there and I won a free pass. Unfortunately it is only good on weekdays. I gave it to Aunt Henny when I was there on Monday night and I expect we will use it frequently.

Clive-of-India

Clive of India

Saturday I ate at Weil’s and Leonard joined us later. It was nice as usual. I had brought along my photo album and they enjoyed looking at old friends and relatives. Friday night I was again at Samuels. Clem’s fiancé is now one or two days in New York. Did he ever visit you? Neither he or you wrote anything about that.

I do not know what is wrong with me tonight, that I tell everything backwards.

Sears Spring Ad 1935

Spring Fashions

And now something very new. Especially for myself: a navy blue spring coat for $16, navy blue shoes $3.69, purse and 6 pair of hose, also a light blue blouse for my blue suit. One never knows how the weather may be Easter Sunday. If it is like last Sunday I need only my blue suit. But if it is like last Monday I need also the coat over the suit, besides galoshes, raincoat, umbrella and maybe warm underwear. In any case I will be prepared.

SportcoatsFall1935

Sports Coats on Sale

When I turn around in my chair now, I see what you can see on the enclosed snapshot. That photo was taken after a week in the new office. Now there are so many books and papers on the desk that you cannot see the desktop. In a few minutes he will have it cleared and we shall go home. I do not feel like going alone.

This week we were not very busy at work so I even worked short hours. That of course is the result of that crazy weather. Hopefully it will be nice on Sunday. Then we will get busy again.

LJG at (temporarily cleared) Desk

I suppose that finishes my report for today. I hope the matzos agreed well with you. I bought a box for myself. For breakfast during Passover, I have been eating 2 matzos, 2 hard boiled eggs and 1 cup of coffee. The ham or bacon, what usually comes with the breakfast, I cut out this week.

I am writing you tonight since I want to make a hat for myself in my lunchtime tomorrow.

I am your loving

Trudel


  • “Yonteff” is a Yiddish variant of Yom Tov — Hebrew for holiday. Literally “Good Day.”
  • “Leonard,” sometimes referred to as “Len” or LJG would become my father.
  • Flora Mae was LGJ’s 6 year old daughter by a previous marriage. My half-sister.

 

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April 12, 1935 ” I am just thinking how much we laughed…”

April 12, 1935 ” I am just thinking how much we laughed…”

4/12/35

My very dear Bubele:*

Everything good and best wishes etc, etc, to you. I hope that both my letters to you with some underwear arrived OK. One I sent to your job and the other home. Hopefully they fit you and you like them and that you will wear them in good health and happiness. I am just thinking how much we laughed when one year ago today we tried to arrange the gift for Alex in our dining room.

Trudel profile with hats

Trudel

I am again writing in my lunch time. It is very nasty outside. Rain and strong wind. It is hard to walk. My black rain coat is sure welcome now. Tuesday night when I was again at Aunt Henny, I took the fur off my gray coat. I like it almost better that way.

Monday I finally had a haircut again. I like it that way – real short.

While waiting for Leonard in his office on Wednesday I wrote a few letters again, called a few people, including Fanny Ratzenstein, whom I could not reach. I also for the first time took some business calls for Leonard. I am a little cautious about that. I always think people will not understand me on the phone. But I had no difficulties.

Trudel's Warm Gray Coat

Trudel's Warm Gray Coat (with fur)

Last night I was in bed at 8:30 p.m. but did some sewing until 10:00 p.m. I wrote you that I had to make my brown skirt tighter. That is not finished yet. I should make all my clothes tighter on the bottom, which indicates that I am getting a more adjusted figure.

Tonight I will go to Samuels again. They had their 2nd grandchild on Sunday and will have the bris next Sunday.

Aunt Jenny met Julius S two weeks ago but only talked with him very shortly. When I go to them for dinner tomorrow she will tell me what they talked about.

My ink has run out again so I have to continue with pencil. Actually there is not much I have to tell you today. No wonder – this is letter #13 for this year.

Yes, I think this is all my dumb brains can get together today.

For all of you, heartiest greetings and kisses. A special birthday kiss for you, dear Bubele.

Your loving

Trudel



“Bubele” was Trudel’s sister Erna, whose birthday was in late April. Alex eventually became Erna’s husband. The next day LJG wrote a handwritten Birthday greeting to Erna.
LJG Birthday Greetings

Letter to Erna

Click on the thumbnail to see the letter at a legible size. A typescript of the letter is set forth below.


April 13, 1935

Dear Erna:

Happy birthday to you. Many jolly returns of the day! The day you were born was and is an important event in dear Trudel’s life – even tho’ it first occurred three years before she was even a bright idea in her Father’s mind. How much you mean to her — How much happiness your thoughtful love has always meant to my sweetheart you can never know, and makes you very precious to me. Instead of writing you congratulations, I wish I could embrace my precious sister with a birthday kiss. But I can only wish you all the happiness you may wish for yourself, and look forward to the day when I can tell you what a wonderful girl I think you must be because are not you and Trudel made of the same material? With a heart full of love to you, Lotta and Father – who must be congratulated on your birthday, for without him, would such a joy as Erna ever bring my darling’s adoration?

Devotedly,

Leonard

 

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