Rebecca Gratz to Benjamin Gratz - September 15, [1845]

Rebecca tells her sister-in-law Maria of the Smallpox outbreak in Philadelphia and having her nieces and nephews revaccinated. She also ponders the unpredicability of life after the death of her sister Rachel.

Rebecca writes to her brother Ben about the death of their brother Jacob, the poor health of their brother Hyman, and updates him on the health and activities of other family members.

Herbert Broh was born in Berlin, Germany in 1930. He shares his childhood memories of his life in Germany and his family’s journey to Shanghai. Herbert relates several experiences of abusive antisemitism by his friends and his teacher, as well as his impressions of Kristallnacht. His family left Germany for Shanghai in April of 1939 to join family members already living on Seward Road in the Hongkew section of Shanghai, under Japanese occupation. Herbert was enrolled in the Kadoorie School and later a cheder. He talks about his Jewish education at the cheder and the Yeshiva Katana in great detail, as well as the effect of his growing orthodoxy on his life and his family. He describes his family’s living conditions and life in Shanghai and states he was very happy there. He was only dimly aware that other refugees had a more difficult existence. His father worked for a Chinese factory managed by Japanese; his mother worked as a cook at the Komor Kindergarten. After Pearl Harbor, his family was evacuated to the Kadoorie School. He mentions interaction between Japanese and refugees. He vividly describes the events during and after the Japanese capitulation and the arrival of Chinese Nationalist and later American troops. He witnessed the departure of the entire Mirrer Yeshiva to Canada in 1946. Herbert and his family went to the United States in 1947. He describes his life in the United States and his feelings about his years in Shanghai. He is now a Cantor in Sun City, California. Interviewee: BROH, Herbert Date: October 15, 1999

Rebecca tells her sister-in-law Ann how her family appreciated the visit from their brother Ben and updates her on the health and travels of family and friends.

Rebecca writes to her friend Maria and expresses great concern upon learning of the serious illness of Matilda (Maria's sister).