By Masada Siegel and Stefanie Zweig, other
Generations is an ongoing e-mail conversation between German author Stefanie Zweig and American freelance writer Masada Siegel.
From: Stefanie Zweig
Thurs., Feb. 7, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Just a line
Dear Masada,
it was good getting to know your father. After two hours I had the feeling we had known each other all our lives — we had so much in common. Just a line this morning. I have to catch up with work on my book, and in the evening I am doing a reading in a place called Offenbach to celebrate the 300th birthday of the Jewish ongregation there. I envy you for your trip and for your pluck. I love getting postcards, and postcards from Africa go on our board in the corridor. If I don’t hear from you till you fly off, take the best.
Love, Stefanie
From: Masada Siegel
Mon., March 10, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: Re: Just a line
Hey Stefanie!
Wow! South Africa is so amazing! Did you get my postcard yet? I sent you one from Cape Town. So much to tell — I am a bit jetlagged — so my stories will wait…. Dad told me he really had a wonderful time with you. Am really glad you enjoyed hanging out together. It’s not often I can introduce him to someone who he enjoys spending time with and finds interesting. I hope you are doing well and everything is wonderful with you, and will write you about my crazy/beautiful adventures soon.
Big Hugs,
Masada
From: Stefanie Zweig
Mon, March 10, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Delighted
Dear Masada,
I am really delighted that you are back — safe and sound. That is not always the way things go, especially in my heart’s home, Kenya. Yes, we too, Wolfgang, my loving and loveable partner and I did really enjoy your dad. We lead a very secluded life and don’t let many people in. I gave your dad’s name to the Jewish Community here. The municipality of Frankfurt invites Jews who had to leave their home during the Nazi time. It would interest me whether he has heard something. I am most busy with my book and doing quite a number of readings from the one that came out in September and exhausting myself, but at my age you have to thank God if your brain still works. Get over your jetlag. Your card arrived two days ago and we pinned it on our board, so I can see Table Mountain every day — and sigh.
Love,
Stefanie
From: Masada Siegel
Wed, March 12, 2008 at 11:38 a.m.
To: Stefanie Zweig
Subject: Re: Delighted
Hey Stephanie,
South Africa was truly wonderful: heartbreaking, stunning, gorgeous — and I want to go back. I felt that way before I even left. There is a crazy cool energy that is hard to describe! Am getting back into the swing of things — had fun telling my students stories last night.
Funny, the day I got your e-mail, my Dad got a letter in the mail from Germany — who knows, you might get to meet up with my Mom next time, and maybe I will even see about joining them. I will never say no to traveling!!!
Glad you liked the postcard. Thanks again so much for the book. I traveled with some Germans on my trip and they all know you! What I found interesting is in conversations, when asked, I was honest about the fact that my family left Germany because of World War II and that my Mom is from Israel, but no one said a word. I thought it was really strange — actually it was lame. Yet, what is so funny is some of the Europeans I traveled with (not the Germans) had no problem giving me a hard time about the United States. It was really a strange experience.
Anyway, will send photos soon — am glad things are going well for you. Dad really had such a lovely time with you both. What other mischief do you have planned?
More soon!
Big Hugs,
Masada
From: Stefanie Zweig
Fri., March 14, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.
To: Masada Siegel
Subject: Good Weekend
Dear Masada,
I am afraid your last letter has just disappeared, but I had already read it. This is just to say that you keep on writing to me even if this wonderful computer will identify your letter as spam. I usually know what to do. I think it would be a great idea if your dad accepted the invitation from Frankfurt. It would be even greater if you came with your parents. As I gather from my American cousin — due to leave for California at the end of the month — even young American Jews do not know enough about what happened here before the War. As to the Germans you met on your trip, if they were young they have probably never seen a Jew and did not know what to say. If they were older, they were embarrassed. There is a lot to say to that subject, but my book is calling. Have a good weekend.
Stefanie