SHACHAM, Tal

— 2 — If you are now interested in the ancestry of the O[ppenheimer]s, I urgently recommend: Contact Mr. Head Teacher S. Rosenthal, Mannheim, Rupprechtstrasse 14. This specialist in genealogy and Jewish history of Southern Germany has prepared a very interesting family tree for me based on available documents and gravestones, and has written a paper about it, which I cannot send you without the author's permission. He demonstrated that the O[ppenheimer]s — who, as you correctly write, took their name from Oppenheim and were settled in Worms for at least approximately 300 years (an Aleph in the 900-year-old synagogue in Worms, of which I have a photographic enclosure, was donated by a David Oppenheimer, with three crowns and the inscription: "The best crown is a good name") — and that an O. in the year 1689 (driven out by the turmoil of war) fled to nearby Ladersach on the Bergstrasse. From there his descendants came to Heinsbach, and from there to Hoffenheim and Michelfeld, District of Sinsheim. This Jew Löb O., born around 1650 in Worms and died after 1722 in Heinsbach, was married to a Chare (Eva) Backerach/Bacharach, a daughter of the famous Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach of Worms (born 1660 in Worms and died April 5, 1701, in Laundesheim). This Rabbi Bacharach was a grandson of the equally famous Jewish scholar Chave (Eva), who was born in 1580 in Prague and died in 1652 at the age of 72 on her way to Palestine, in Sofia, where she is buried. And this Mrs. Chave was, through her mother Voglein, the granddaughter of the Jew Efra'im ben Sanschel, the Great Rabbi Löw of Prague (born 1512 and died August 22, 1609, in Prague), whose memorial still stands today on the Wenceslas Square in Prague. The grandfather of this great scholar, who became universally known through his legendary "Golem," also bearing the name Chaim (Heinrich), was born in 1450 in Issenheim (Alsace). It does no harm for us to know all this. So contact the above-mentioned Mr. Rosenthal, and if you or your relatives wish to go to the USA, contact Gemmingen for addresses. The descendants of the above-mentioned Mr. August O. are major textile dealers. With warm regards, signed Otto Oppenheimer. [Handwritten note at bottom:] Copy of a letter from the author / proprietor of the firm Louis Oppenheimer / in Bruchsal, now in Zug, Switzerland / Jahrequartierstrasse 28

— 2 — Wenn Sie sich nun für die Abstammung der O's interessieren, so empfehle ich Ihnen dringend: Wenden Sie sich an Herrn Hauptlehrer S. Rosenthal, Mannheim Rupprechtstr. 14. Dieser Spezialist für Familienforschung & Jüdischer Geschichte Süddeutschlands hat mir einen sehr interessanten Stammbaum anhand vorhandener Dokumente und Grabsteine angefertigt und eine Arbeit dazu geschrieben, die ich Ihnen ohne Genehmigung des Verfassers aber nicht schicken kann. Er wies nach, dass die O's, die wie Sie richtig schreiben aus Oppenheim ihren Namen bezogen und ca. mindestens 300 Jahren in Worms ansässig waren (ein Alef in der 900 jährigen Synagoge in Worms, von der ich eine fotografische Beilage, ist von einem David Oppenheimer gestiftet mit drei Kronen und der Inschrift: Das beste Krone ist der gute Name) und also ein O. in Jahre 1689 (die Wirren von dem Sonne vertrieben wurde) in die nahen Bergstrasse nach Ladersach floh. Von da kamen dessen Nachkommen von Heinsbach und von da nach Hoffenheim und Michelfeld. Amt Sinsheim. Dieser Jude Löb O., um 1650 in Worms geboren und nach 1722 in Heinsbach gestorben, war mit einer Chare (Eva) Backerach/Bacharach einer Tochter des berühmten Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach aus Worms verheiratet (geb. 1660 in Worms und gestorben 5.4.1701 in Laundesheim). Dieser Rabbi Bacharach ist ein Enkel der gleichfalls berühmten jüdischen Gelehrten Chave (Eva), die 1580 in Prag geboren und 1652 als 72-Jährige auf dem Weg nach Palästina in Sofia gestorben und begraben ist. Und diese Frau Chave ist durch ihre Mutter Voglein die Enkelin des Jude Efra'im ben Sanschel, des Hohen Rabbi Löw von Prag (geb. 1512 und gestorben am 22. Aug. 1609 in Prag) dessen Denkmal heute noch auf dem Wenzelplatz in Prag steht. Der Grossvater dieses grossen Gelehrten, der durch seinen erlebten "Golem" allgemein bekannt wurde, auch wieder auf den Namen Chaim (Heinrich) wurde 1450 in Issenheim (Alsace) geboren. Es schadet nichts, wenn wir das Alles wissen. Wenden Sie sich also an den von mir oben erwähnten Herrn Rosenthal und wenn Sie oder Ihre Angehörigen nach USA wollen, wenden Sie sich um Adressen nach Gemmingen. Die Nachkommen des gleichfalls oben erwähnten Herrn August O. sind grosse T-Händler. Mit herzlichen Grüssen gez. Otto Oppenheimer. [Handwritten note at bottom:] Abschrift eines Briefes von dem Verfasser / Inhaber der Firma Louis Oppenheimer / in Bruchsal, jetzt in Zug i/d Schweiz / Jahrequartierstr. 28

This second page of Otto Oppenheimer's letter contains a remarkable genealogical account tracing the Oppenheimer family back through centuries of Jewish history in the Rhineland. The family tree connects to several prominent figures in Jewish history, most notably the Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Judah Löw ben Bezalel, here called "Rabbi Löw"), the legendary creator of the Golem. The genealogy traces through Rabbi Jair Chaim Bacharach (1638–1702), a renowned Talmudist and rabbi of Worms, and his grandmother Chave/Eva (1580–1652). The reference to 1689 refers to the devastation of the Palatinate during the Nine Years' War (War of the Grand Alliance), which forced many Jews to flee Worms. The Oppenheimers' name derives from the town of Oppenheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. Otto's recommendation of S. Rosenthal as a genealogical specialist, and his mention of relatives emigrating to the USA, reflects the urgency of Jewish emigration from Germany in early 1939.

Munich, November 5, 1940. Dear Mina! Today [I am sending?] an enclosed small package... [expressing hopes and wishes] that everything will be good again in [coming] years... [News about family]... Your Thekla E. and J. [Elsa and Julius] [Second note:] Dear Mina, [Short update about health and family, mention of Red Cross communication] [Third note:] Dear Mina! Hopefully we will soon receive news from you... [Discussion about packages and supplies]... For today, warm greetings, Anna Volz [?]

München den 5. Nov. 1940. Liebe Mina! Heute [?] von einem einliegend [?] kleines Paket [?] nachgeschickt erhoffen [?] ich [?] Wünsche [?] wir alle wieder gut aber in [?] ein Jahren in Erfüllung gehen mögen. [?] nachher [?] auf lieben Brief [von?] [?] ... [?] in [?] Jahren [?] guten Bericht ... griisst alle [?] Verwandten [?] an ... und [?] noch [?] weiter [?] die Kinder [?] ist [?] der Mutter [?] alles gut [?] ... Deine Thekla E. u. J. [Elsa und Julius] [Second note:] Liebe Mina, [Short message — appears to discuss health and family news, mentions "Rote Kreuz" (Red Cross)] Deine Thekla [?] [Third note:] Liebe Mina! Hoffentlich bekommen wir bald [?] Nachricht von Dir [?] Ihr [?] leben Seite [?] dass in [?] Nachkür [?] fertig [?] sind [?] vorläufig [?] gebraucht [?] uns und hoffe [?] dass bald [das?] [?] ... damit ankommt. Für heute [?] herzliche Grüsse Anna Volz [?] [Fourth note at bottom:] [?] würde nicht vorgeschickt. [?] Kuvekal [?] [?] Grüsse [?] ... Seife abgegeben [?]

By November 1940, the Oppenheimers in Munich were living under severe Nazi restrictions. Communication with relatives abroad was increasingly limited to Red Cross messages. Multiple family members added short notes to letters, maximizing use of the limited postal opportunities. The letter contains wishes and hopes that the situation would improve.

Envelope back (reverse side). Return address: Elsa Sara Oppenheimer, München Ainstr. 19/II [i.e., Ainmillerstrasse 19, 2nd floor] Censorship markings: Red circular stamp with Nazi eagle — "Geöffnet" (Opened) indicating German censorship. Additional U.S. postal markings visible: "BRONX CENTRAL ANNEX" circular postmark, suggesting the letter was routed through the Bronx post office in New York before forwarding to Baltimore.

None

None

Munich, November 20, 1941 Dear Mina and [family]! ... [The letter discusses various family matters, mentions America, makes references to relatives including Margit, Betty, and others. Contains ongoing discussion of emigration ("Auswanderung"). Asks Mina to greet all relatives in Baltimore. The tone is increasingly urgent.]

München den 20. Nov. 1941 Liebe Mina u. Leute [?]. In [?] den [?] erinnern [?] ja, die wie [?] Amerikaner menschenlos wunderbares machten wie es längst wollte aus und Lieben [?] nach [?] ihr [?] unsere Mannen [?] Stolz und [?] Gefühliges [?] ... Seite um ein Lieben dorthin [?] aber ganz Los und Lieder u. Herren [?] dass [?] Alles ebenfalls Altes Kalles wechsler erleben. [?] nochmals wir wollen Besuchen. Es Kommunen in habe [?] [?] [?] [?]. Für Freuen Schein Verleiher das Band Reise [?] und [?] und bekam [?] wird u. verschwand [?]. [?] ist [?] gesandt dass [?] [?] uns [?] ... [?] ... Alle [?] und ... Margit die [?] Hammer u. Freden [?] und Ib. [?] Treiben [?]... komme [?] meines [?] Stuken [?] in [?] auf [?] gern [?] frei 10 [?] Hilfe. Von Allein [?] Klose [?] in Betty [?] kamen in [?] bin ich wollte [?] keine Antwort [?] u. [?] ist so schon ein Alter [?] Mina, Dr. [?] oder Ernst D. [?]. Von immer nach Briefe mit der Auswanderung. Grüsst bitte Alle [?] herzl. Seiten... noch [?] trefflich [?] und in Baltimore. G. Mina, hat [?] sie alles gebrochen. Von Welt [?] u. bitte [?] gesagt [?] gefunden u. [?] an [?] Konfidentstellen [?] alle [?] Verwandten viele [?] Grüsse. —

Written on November 20, 1941, this is one of the very last letters that could have been sent from Munich to America. The first mass deportation from Munich took place on November 20, 1941 — the very date of this letter — when approximately 1,000 Jews were deported to Kaunas (Kovno), Lithuania, where most were murdered upon arrival on November 25, 1941. Whether Julius and Elsa were on this transport or a later one requires further research. The United States declared war on Germany on December 11, 1941, ending all direct postal communication. This letter may represent one of the Oppenheimers' final communications with their American relatives.