I was very excited to read the “Back of the Book” piece by Michael Feldstein, “Letter (Handwritten!) To a New Generation,” March 22.
I am in total agreement with him regarding handwritten letters as I was the recipient of many letters from my father throughout my college years and for many years afterwards. And, yes, I have kept those treasured letters and, on occasion, I open some to read again and remember the strong bonds of caring.
Several years ago, I discovered two handwritten letters that my grandfather (who lived in Lithuania but never came to America) had sent to his son in 1909. They are extraordinary not only for their contents but for the way he had addressed his son in a formulaic pattern used when one wrote to someone for whom they had great respect.
In my most recent book, co-authored with Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, “Jewish Stories of Love and Marriage: Folktales, Legends and Letters,” I wrote the introduction to the section on Jewish love letters — all handwritten, of course. And, in fact, I make the point that it was the handwriting that also sparked an emotional response of connection, including when Joseph sees a letter addressed to him as the overseer in Egypt written by his father Jacob. And Joseph weeps …
Manhattan
