MONDAY
MY VERY DEAR AUNT AND UNCLE --
I RECEIVED YOUR LETTER -- AND OUT OF ALL MY DEAR AUNTS AND UNCLES -- NONE YET HAVE SURPASSED YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS, YOUR GENEROSITY AND KEEN INTEREST IN ME IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I CANNOT FIND ENOUGH WORDS IN WHICH TO THANK YOU. AS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID -- I LIKE WRITING TO YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE -- BCAUSE OF YOUR GENUINE SINCERITY -- AND YOUR LETTERS EVEN IF IT IS IN THE FORM OF A SHORT NOTE IS ENJOYABLE READING TO ME. SO AT ANY TIME THAT YOU FIND THE TIME -- I WILL APPRECIATE A LETTER FROM YOU.
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IF MOMMA HASN'T TOLD YOU YET, I WILL -- THAT I HAD A VERY DELIGHFUL [Jewish Holiday] HERE -- THE BOYS FROM CAMP COULDN'T FIND HOMES TO STAY IN CAUSE THE CITY PEOPLE WERE ONLY TAKING IN THOSE BOYS THAT LIVED IN TENTS -- TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO ENHOY THE HOLIDAY IN A HOUSE. WE IN CAMP HAD OUR OWN SHUL [Synagogue] AND A CHAPLAIN TO CONDUCT THE SERVICES. OVER 200 BOYS ATTENDED. THE TWO DAYS OF ROSH HASHANA [Jewish New Year] WERE A TREAT -- CAUSE WE HAD REAL KOSHER MEALS -- ESPECIALLY PREPARED IN A SEPARATE DINING ROOM FOR US -- AND THE [Cantor] WAS A SOLDIER WHO WAS A [Cantor] IN CIVILIAN LIFE -- AND BELIEVE ME THAT SOLDIER CONDUCTED SERVICES THAT WAS WORTHY OF ANY SHUL IN NEW YORK.
THE ENTIRE SERVICES WERE STRICTLY ORTHODOX WITH ENGLISH INTERPRETATIONS BY THE RABBI. YOM KIPPUR [Day Of Atonement] WAS JUST AS GOOD -- AND AFTER [Services] WE HAD A MEAL TO BREAK THE FAST WITH -- AGAIN FRIED CHICKEN AND THE BEST OF EVERYTHING -- IT REALLY FELT GOOD TO SEE A LITTLE YIDDISH ATMOSPHERE FOR A CHANGE. SO THERE I DIDN'T DO SO BAD BY STAYING IN CAMP. THE COMMANDING OFFICER EXCUSED ALL MEN FROM DUTY FOR ROSH HASHONA AND YOM KIPPUR.
AT PRESENT THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WITH ME HERE -- WORKING AS USUAL AND STILL AS ANXIOUS AS EVER TO GET HOME -- BUT I GUESS THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR ALL THE BOYS. AND NOW THAT YOU KNOW I AM WELL AND HAPPY -- AND I HOPE THAT YOU, UNCLE AND ALL YOURS ARE THE SAME -- I'M GOING TO WAIT TILL I HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN -- MEANWHILE [You should again, have a good, healthy and joyous] NEW YEAR.
Phil