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Message-ID: <3BA0C7CC.FF768E0@Goldberg.net>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 09:50:52 -0500
From: "Ellen I. Goldberg" <Ellen@Goldberg.net>
Reply-To: Ellen@Goldberg.net
Organization: netidentity.com
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To: David Simon Bendory <david90@alumni.princeton.edu>
Subject: Re: No words to describe
References: <LYRIS-71350-45059-2001.09.12-18.31.00--Ellen#Goldberg.net@lyris.jewishgen.org>
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Status: U

> I work across the street from the World Trade Center in One Liberty Plaza.
> My office windows were blown in by the blast when the southern tower
> collapsed. Thank God I was already on my way home.
>
> Thank God I made it home safely today, without a scratch. I will be
> bensching gomel in shul on Thursday.
>
> Locked in my desk sits my great-grandmother's siddur, published in Vienna in
> 1878. I had an appointment to meet with a book conservator tomorrow to have
> it properly preserved. Inside the cover, my GGM, then my GM, listed the
> births, marriages, and deaths in our family from the death of my GGGM and
> GGGF in 1893 through the marriage of Uncle Charlie in1932. The text is
> below.
>
> This siddur survived pogroms in Hungary, the journey to America, and 3
> generations. I won't know if it survived today's tragedy until I can get
> back into my office, and I don't know when that will be. Thank God I have a
> scan of the writing inside the cover.
>
> My unforgettable blessed late Mother died on May 4, 1895. Father - January
> 3.
> My unforgettable blessed Mother died on May 16, 1893.
> My unforgettable blessed Father died on July 18, 1893.
> Married on August 17, 1901.
> My dear daughter Fanni was born on May 2, 1902.
> My dear Filip was born on January 2, 1905.
> My dear Karl Moritz was born on February 9, 1906.
> My dear daughter Teresine was born on March 3, 1908. Harrison
> Tess
> My dear daughter Rose was born on August 7, 1910. Harrison
> My dear son Leopold was born on March 9, 1914.
> My dear daughter Bertha was born on September 7.
> Fanny got married on August 21, 1926.
> Katherin was born on June 6, 1927.
> Elaine was born on November 11, 1930.
> My dear husband died on December 28, 1931.
> Tessi got married on April 30, 1932.
> Cha... got married on June 12, 1932.
>
> Please say a prayer for peace.

Dear David,

Your story touched my heart.  Thank you for sharing it.

When we recite the Rosh Hashonah prayer "Who shall live and who shall die...by fire, by
drowning..." no one would have ever thought to include the scenario of yesterday's
events.  It was inconceivable.  We, who often read of terrorist acts in Israel, Northern
Ireland, Africa and elsewhere, thought it couldn't happen here.  But it did.  Now we are
forever changed .

I've received e-mails from all over the world, including ones from postcard dealers in
Russia, Germany and Argentina.  Each expressed sympathy.  The one from Germany read, in
part, "We are all really shocked and my mourning couldn't be stronger if this had happened
to my land."

I imagine you have lost friends who worked in the area, and my thoughts are with you.  I
say a prayer for peace every day and will continue to do so.

L'shana Tova,
Ellen Goldberg
Houston, Texas