Read the heart wrenching final letter of Ida Goldiş, a Jewish mother writing from a Romanian ghetto in 1941 as she worries about her baby and her family just days before deportation. 
 
In it, she writes to her loved ones with a mixture of hope, confusion, resignation, and quiet fear—without knowing what deportation would ultimately mean.
 
Students slow down and read her words carefully. They highlight phrases that reveal love, regret, uncertainty, and the painful reality of being separated from family. They examine what Ida seems to understand—and what she may not yet fully grasp—about what is coming.
 
What’s Included
Student copy of Ida Goldis’s original letter
Thematic highlighting guide (color-coded for emotional reflection)
Structured analysis questions (DOK 1–3)
Inference and reflection prompts
Answer key
Teacher guide
 
What Students Will Learn
Analyze a Holocaust-era primary source 
Identify themes of fear, love, hope, and uncertainty
Cite specific language to support interpretations
Distinguish between stated facts and inferences
Explain how deportation impacted families
 
Grades: 8–12
Duration: 45 Minutes
DOK Level: 2–3
Format: Printable Primary Source Lesson