Rebecca Gratz to Maria Gist Gratz - January 28, 1837

Rebecca writes to her brother Ben about the family's health, the recent deaths of shared acquaintances, and two newly released novels by Sir Walter Scott. Their brother, Jacob Gratz, adds a note concerning the settling of accounts.

Rebecca tells her friend Maria about the current social events of Philadelphia, including a parade and a ball, and gives updates on the health of her family members.

Miriam writes to her aunt Rebecca, worrying about the health of her sister, Becky, after she gave birth and reflects on her brother Horace's plans to go to Russia. She also gives updates on her benevolent activities and the health and travels of family and friends.

Slowey tells Rebecca of her dismay at the misunderstandings between them and informs her what she plans to do on the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sarah Schwimmer was born in Irsava, Czechoslovakia on August 19, 1926, one of 15 children in an observant Jewish family. Her father was a blacksmith in a largely Jewish community and supported his family until antisemitic Hungarians confiscated his business in 1939 and those of other family members. Sarah and an older sister went to Budapest where she worked as a seamstress. Her sister, a beautician, tried unsuccessfully to obtain a passport from Wallenberg, but remained underground throughout the war at the Swedish Embassy. Sarah joined Dror, the Zionists underground movement. In September 1944 as the Germans were forcing all Jews into the Budapest Ghetto, Sarah and her sister hid for a short time, but eventually ended up in the ghetto and then got separated. She describes atrocities committed by the Germans soldiers as she and others were forced to dig trenches for Germans and graves for Jews.

In September 1944, Sarah was taken with other women on a death march to Hegyeshalom on the German border. Only one third survived for 10 days without food, water or shelter, to be transported by train to Buchenwald, Ravensbrück, Burgau and Türkheim. She vividly describes hunger, loss of spirit and forced labor. Yet she had the will to survive. She was liberated by a regiment of black American soldiers on April 28, 1945. She walked with other women through Russian, French and English zones to reach Marseille for passage to Israel.

Rebecca writes to her brother Ben about the health of their siblings, compares his difficulties in travel to a poem she is reading, and updates him on their brother Joseph's business problems.