Attempts to Emigrate from Vienna 
 Letters of the Rubin family to their friends in the US 
 Source : R. Dafni & Y. Kleiman (eds.) Final Letters , (Jerusalem 1991) p. 38-40. [The Rubin family of Vienna, father, mother and two sons, Herbert and Max, tried desperately to emigrate from Austria after its annexation by the Reich. They turned to their friends in the USA – the Dushman couple – begging them for help. It is not known whether the Rubins succeeded in escaping.] 
 
 
 Vienna, 3 November 1938 Dear Mrs. Dushman, We are extremely grateful to you for your kind letter, which we appreciate very much. Only yesterday my son wrote you a letter in English and today I will answer your in German. Highly esteemed, madam, you cannot even imagine how much good you have done by your kind words. We were in such deep despair already that the most awful thoughts haunted us, since we absolutely must leave the country, and so far there has been no way out for us. Just today we imagined the worst – and lo and behold, your kind letter arrived. I must admit, you are our savior, because it is you who have inspired us with new courage, and we cling to you like drowning people do. I am sure that you are the only person who can help us, and may God reward you doubly for your good deed. We have appealed to relatives in the USA and they did send us an affidavit; unfortunately, the American Consulate informed us that it was not sufficiently substantial. Now I dare to ask you this great favor – please send us [another] affidavit and contact my relatives. Their address is: Rosa Hermann, 164 Sherman street, Passaic, New Jersey, USA. I want to stress again that we will not be a burden to anybody, we are all healthy and strong, and not pampered. As you are surely very busy, I take the liberty of suggesting that you should entrust some shipping agency with the whole matter; let them make all the arrangements, and we, in return , commit ourselves to purchase our travel tickets at this agency as well as to cover all the expenses which are due from us. Thus, I express once more my deep gratitude for your goodwill, and beg you desperately to answer as quickly as possible. As devotedly, Rubin 1/12 Rafael St. Vienna 20 2. Vienna, 20 December 1938 Dear Professor, Dear Madam, I greatly appreciate your letter which I received today, along with the acknowledgement of the American Consulate that the affidavit issued by you has reached them by now. I take the liberty of expressing in this way, for the time being, my deep gratitude for your kindness; may God recompense you doubly for this generous deed. Believe me, we were already so deep in despair that we saw no solution. You are our savior and we hope now that, owing to your kind assistance, the sun will shine for us again. Your comforting words gave us fresh strength and new courage. However I permit myself to tell you about the information I received simultaneously from the American Consulate to the effect that the affidavit is not sufficiently substantial, which is the reason why the consulate is requesting a supplementary voucher. Also a tax attestation should be enclosed. Thus, may I ask you kindly to provide the missing documents; since we absolutely must leave the country, the matter is extremely urgent for us. Please do not consider us as being importunate – we turn to you because we have nobody else to help us. Only you are our rescuers. I am also very grateful to you for having sent us your photograph, which I appreciate very much. I show this picture to everybody because you are our sunshine in these gloomy days. I take the liberty of sending you ours as well, and I promise you that you shall never regret your good deed. 
 
 
 Wishing you all the best, I remain , dear Sir and dear Madam, 
 
 With my kindest regards, 
 
 Your forever grateful 
 
 Abraham Tauber Rubin My wife and children also send you the expressions of their deepest devotion.