24 handwritten letters sent to Menachem Zaharoni by his uncle, a holocaust survivor, Benjamin Yaroshevsky. Most of the letters were sent from the Internment Camp in Cyprus, two from Internment Camp in Atlit, and one from a Displaced Persons Camp in Bavaria. June 1946 to June 1947.
Mentioned in these letters are, among other topics, Yaroshevsky's grief after the holocaust, locating survivors, sentiment of revenge against the German nation, the Zionist enterprise, David Ben-Gurion, life in the internment camp and the Jewish identity.
In early letters Yaroshevsky deals in detail with the holocaust using, often enough, a harsh and sharp language. In a letter dated 27 Heshvan, 1947, for example, he writes: "why were we slaughtered at the last minute?....you want to kick, to burn and to bomb the whole world…".
Further on the letters are focused on the future of Zionism and building the land. In a letter dated Nisan 13, 1947, it is written: "No point in crying and weeping, this way we shall not save and not be saved, it is a new era in our history, a period of life and work, strengthening the people and gather the people to the land of their ancestors…".
Two letters were sent from Atlit internment camp and they reflect Yaroshevsky's overwhelming excitement following his arrival in Israel.
See items 146 and 234.
24 letters. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition. Folding marks, stains and creases. Small tears at margins of several letters and filing holes to one letter (not affecting text). One letter is cut width-wise and lacks the upper part.