A German built train – part of the Reparations agreement between Israel and Germany – arrives at the Jerusalem station, 1957
August 26, 1957 Monday
Dear Mom, Dad and Alan,
This morning I left Haifa for Tel Aviv by train after going through some of the industrial plants in Haifa Bay.
I went to Tel Aviv in new trains built with German reparations.
In Tel Aviv, I met the boy (Paul) who I am going to travel through the Negev with and also Europe. He had rented a jeep and so we spent the day roaming around Tel Aviv.
Since I have an Israeli driver’s license I also drove. If you think N.Y. traffic is bad & drivers nasty, just try driving over here. It is the worst madhouse you have ever seen. The only thing is you are always moving.
I haven’t heard from you for almost 2 weeks but I guess that is because they haven’t been forwarding the mail from Jerusalem.
How is everything at home? I of course have to repeat – I wish you all could enjoy this trip with me. Thinking of all of you.
Love,
Bob
August 26, 1957 Monday
“This morning I left Haifa for Tel Aviv …….in new trains built with German Reparations.”
Another word for reparations would be compensation.
Following the establishment of the Jewish State in 1948, the Germans offered the government of Israel reparations as an apology for their country’s participation in the murder of six million Jews.
Many Jews, including my father, opposed taking the reparations and considered it, “blood money.”
Since that time, until this day, my father also refuses to purchase any German product or travel in a Volkswagon or Mercedes vehicle.
(See our page on “Holocaust Memorial-German Reparations” for further information)
“If you think N.Y. traffic is bad & drivers nasty just try driving over here. It is the worst mad house you have ever seen. The only thing is you are always moving”
Things have not changed much. Drivers in Tel Aviv in 2019 are still just as nasty. The only difference is that Tel Aviv in 1957 was not as crowded and you were always moving
