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Today we see a postcard in English to Paul Zerzawy in New York from Fritz Orlik who has just arrived in Tel Aviv. At this point, much of the family was on the move, or trying their best to flee Europe: earlier in the year, Robert Zerzawy had made it to England and Paul to New York. Fritz was the son of Paul’s father Julius’s third wife. Julius had died in January 1939.

20 September 1939

Dear Paul

After a long odyssey we landed in Tel Aviv ... and will leave it tomorrow and go to Fritz Pekarek, Haifa P.O.B. 685. As we have been informed by our mother you have already a job and we are glad that you have found already an existence. Mother told us further on that you received the money from the Stopford Fund and that we shall call to you for our deal. In consequence of the extremely long journey the costs for ... too high that all our money has gone away for the Bonded. So don’t be angry when we beg you to send us as early as possible to the address: Leo Zwicker, Haifa, Joseph Rechov 15. Of course we have not yet a job and just now it is very hard to find work, but we are hopeful. Please write to us soon and also to mother that we arrived. Your Fritz and Hanne 

In the January 25 post, we read a letter from Fritz several months later which again mentions the Stopford Fund. In Paul’s reply in the March 21 post, he mentions that he sent a reply to the letter we see above, but it apparently never reached its destination. Paul makes it clear in his response that his life is not as successful as Fritz’s mother indicated. At this time, neither Paul nor Fritz have a permanent address and both are staying with relatives or acquaintances.

In the April 3 post, we saw a newspaper article Paul saved which described British efforts to help Czech Jews leave Europe.