Letters from the Ghettos

One of the earliest anthologies of firsthand Holocaust documents, Letters from the Ghettos is a collection of letters written by Jews trapped in Nazi ghettos during World War II. Many of these papers were smuggled out and sent to family members or Jewish organizations; Ḥabas published them in British Mandatory Palestine. They describe daily life, including struggles with hunger, overcrowding, fear, and forced labor. Some writers use the letters to say goodbye to loved ones, while others beg the outside world to tell the truth about what was happening in Europe. Ḥabas, as the editor, received copies and originals from underground networks, refugees, and Jewish institutions. She edited and published them in Hebrew.