From the Librarian's Desk – Hanukkah letter from Dr Rabbi Baeck to Dr Littmann

In this Librarian’s Desk, we’ll be looking at a personal letter from Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck to Dr Ellen Littmann. 

This letter, dated 9th December 1955 is a very special, personal correspondence between Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck and Dr Ellen Littmann, the first woman to complete the Hochschule’s academic program and later a lecturer at LBC.

The original letter reads: 

9 Dec. 1955

Liebe Fräulein Dr. Littmann,

Sehr grosse Freude haben Sie mir und mit mir meiner Tochter, beschert! Und an alles haben Sie sorgend gedacht: an den Kopf, an das Gemüt und an die Organe des ‘Gourmet’. Herzlich danke ich Ihnen.

Auf dem Tisch neben dem Chanukka-Leuchter steht alles harmonisch vereint: die Blumen und das Buch und der Kuchen.

Meine Tochter und ich senden Ihnen herzliche Grüsse und viele gute 

Wünsche.,

Ihr

L.Baeck.

English translation:

Dear Fräulein Dr. Littmann,

You have brought me and my daughter great joy. And you have thought of everything with care: for the head, for the heart and for the organs of the ‘gourmet’.

I thank you very much.

On the table beside the Chanukah lamp everything is harmoniously combined: the flowers and the book and the cakes.

My daughter and I send you warm greetings and many good wishes,

Yours,

L.Baeck.

LBC Senior Librarian, Cassy Sachar, says: 

“This brief note shows the warm, personal side of one of the great leaders of European Jewry. It shows the bonds created by a refugee generation making a new life in Britain. It is a moving remembrance of two beloved and formidable teachers.

We look forward to welcoming you to the LBC Library to explore Jewish heritage through fascinating documents like this and hope you will support us making Jewish texts accessible today and preserving them for the future.”