Letter

Held by

Montreal Holocaust Museum via Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (incl. Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives)

Dates

November 26, 1942 (indexed as 1942)

Level

item

Extent

Letter : Paper : Typewritten : Ink : Beige, black, navy. ; Ht: 20 cm x W: 16 cm

Scope & content

Page creased horizontally and vertically, T.L corner missing, two holes punched on left edge. From the Jewish Refugees Committee to Isaac Isselbacher informing him of the shipping of his trunk to Canada via the S.S. Moveria. Narrative: Isaac Herbert Isselbacher was born 1919-11-20 in Isselbach, Germany. His brother was Helmut Isselbacher, born 1921-12-20. Their father was Jacob Isselbacher, born 1883-08-05. They had an uncle and aunt, David and Betty Loewenstein, who lived in New York City with their two children. Isaac left Germany on 1939-07-29, hoping to join his relatives in NYC. He only had the time to get to London, England before the war broke out and started working in a factory. He was arrested at his workplace as an ‘enemy alien’ and sent to Canada for internment in 1940. Isaac was interned in Camp N in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He was drafted into the Works Program Division for woodworking and net-making. In 1940, he received a last letter from his parents which suggested their imminent deportation. After his release, circa November 1942, Isaac worked as a locksmith. He married Fanny Azeff on 1943-12-26 at the Bnai Jacob synagogue in Montreal. Fanny was born on 1921-12-23 in Canada, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Azeff. Isaac was naturalized as a Canadian citizen on 1946-06-08. Fanny was naturalized on 1946-08-30 (she had lost her citizenship by marrying Isaac).Upon learning of his brother’s survival, Isaac travelled to New York in April 1946 to meet with him and their Loewenstein relatives. Afterwards, Helmut travelled to Canada bringing with him a washing machine and bras as late wedding presents for his brother and Fanny. By 1946-08-12, their parents were presumed dead and the two sons inquired into their estate. They received a deed for the land and travelled to the estate to discover that the current owner of their house was their old maid and her son had become the town mayor. Various disputes arose with the current ‘owners’ who believed the Isselbacher family dead. Isaac wished to discuss a settlement, but the mayor’s mother –not realizing Fanny understood German- called the neighbours at work to warn them not to come home as the Isselbacher sons had resurfaced. Payment for the land had reportedly been sent to Israel, though no documentation could be provided.

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DocumentJewish CommunityLetterLetterheadMachineryMontrealShipSignatureTypewrittenTagged automatically by a vision model; may contain mistakes.

Text in the image

JEWISH REFUGEES COMMITTEEBy Air Mail.BLOOMSBURY HOUSEBLOOMSBURY STREETLONDON, W.C.1" Refugees, Westcent, London "LUG/CK- 31578November 26th, 1942.LUGGAGE DEPARTMENT,ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALSMr. I.H. Isselbacher,c/o Machinery Service Ltd.,Ville Lasalle, Montreal,Que.Canada.Dear Sir,Further to our previous correspondence regarding your luggage we have great pleasure in informing you that your trunk has at long last shipped by s.s. "Moveria". We sincerely trust that it will reach you safely.The consignment has been insured against all risks, claims payable abroad for the value of £ 50. Transport and insurance cost amounted to £ 9.10.6d.We are enclosing key herewith. Your acknowledgment of receipt will be appreciated.Yours truly,Read automatically; may contain mistakes.

Language

English

Harvested

2026-10-19T03:21:16Z · source datestamp n/a · andornot

Digital objects at the source

• imageOpen original at source ↗1999_1_113.jpg