Women of Valor: Partisans and Resistance Fighters

Letters from the Holocaust: Letters of Hannah Senesh

To her friends in S'dot Yam, 1944:

Dearest Comrades,

On sea, in the air, in war and peace, wer are all advancing towards the same goal. Each of us will stand at his post. There is no difference between my task and that of another. I will be thinking of all of you a great deal. That's what gives me strenghth.

Warmest comradely greetings,
Hannah.

To her brother, George, May 10, 1944:

Dear George,

Though air mail traffic is not too good I've received three letters from you, and I am so happy I've finally had news of you. It makes me feel well to know everything is in order, and that you're content. I, too, am well, but it hurts that we are so far from each other. I've enjoyed some fine and interesting experiences, but we'll have to wait until I can tell you all about them.

Darling, I am as concerned about Mother as you, but it's terrible that I can do nothing for her. Without knowing any of the details I can envisage the horrible situation. You can imagine how much I think of both of you, and more than ever before of Mother.

Forgive this brief letter, but by now you must be used to these succinct messages. Some day I will make up for all the omissions.

Thousand kisses,
Your Hannah.

To her mother, March 1944:

Mother darling,

In a few days I'll be so close to you -
and yet so far.
Forgive me, and try to understand.

With a million hugs,
Anny.

Hannah's last note to her mother, written in her prison cell,
just prior to her execution, November 8, 1944:

Dearest Mother, I don't know what to say - only this:
a million thanks, and forgive me, if you can.
You know well why words aren't necessary.
With love forever.

Your daughter,
Hannah.

Quoted from: The Summer That Bled: the Biography of Hannah Senesh,
Anthony Masters, NY St. Martin's Press, 1972.
 

© Copyright Judy Cohen, 2001.
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