Lodz, 20 June 1924 My devoted and most beloved Shloymele, I wrote you a postcard and a long letter about three weeks ago. In this letter, however, I'd like to recount to you the latest events that have happened to me, although you will probably think that I am bothering you needlessly, and even in detail, with my foolishness. And isn't it truly a shame that for the slightest thing, (e.g.) that "the cow jumped over the moon," that my mother-in-law quarrelled with (whoever it may be), that something isn't going smoothly, I simply (write and) trouble you. Actually, don't I know very well that you are a harried and an overworked person, who often doesn't even have time to walk with his fiancee, not to speak of reading my letters which require that you set special time aside? But my dear and devoted (nephew), in this letter I will end a chapter of my troubles. A writer would have made a book of it and written: The End of My Biography: The Last three Years. But since I am not an author, and you are somewhat acquainted with my situation and also familiar with my experiences, both with my partners as well as with my parents and so on, I merely want to describe to you the most recent events. Devoted nephew, I can only tell you that although I have removed myself from all of my partners, have had no rela- tionship whatsoever with them, haven't visited them or even spoken to them, my life has, nevertheless, become unbear- able. Since I don't have a home where I can spend a (quiet) hour with my family, my first priority was to rent an apart- ment. For me, this was, quite honestly, a matter of sur- vival. Here in Poland, one cannot find a greater (more unattainable) pleasure than renting an apartment, unless one is rich and can pay key money. Dear child, you helped me with money in my (time of) need. As soon as I received the money from you, I went out in search of a suitable apartment, (since I was) unwilling to use the money for any other purpose. And, indeed, I found the apartment in which I am now living. Dear Shloymele, read well my writing and you will see how difficult everything is for me, and what an unfortunate per- son I am. I am more than certain that, without your money, I would be lying in the street today. But since your money did play a part here, and since your fiancee's luck is perhaps somewhat better than mine, I have prayed to G-d that your merits, not mine, stand me in good stead, and that I not be shamed. You can imagine how I would look if, G-d forbid, may the day not dawn and the night not fall, my enemies were to have the opportunity to say, "Serves him right! That's the way he wanted it!" The story is as follows: I arranged with the tenant to pay $185 (key money) for the apartment, which consisted of one kitchen and one room with some furniture, that is, a pair of beds, a dresser, a table, four chairs, a credenza, etc. Of course, I signed a lease and the landlord agreed, since he received his share of $35 from his tenant. In short, every- thing was in good order. I gave the tenant $150 cash and a note for $35 to come due in fifteen days. I signed the lease on Sunday, and I was to move into the apartment on Tuesday. Unfortunately, however, the original tenant had bolted, that is he had declared bankruptcy, liquidated all his possessions and taken off for Palestine. Of course, I hadn't dreamt of what was going on behind my back. But on Tuesday morning when I arrived at my newly rented apartment with my bit of bedding, I met another Jew ready to move into the same apartment with his belongings. Dear and devoted Shloymele, perhaps you've seen the play "Kuneleml" in which two brothers, both of them fools, had the same bride. I looked at the man and he looked at me. My heart hurt so that I couldn't speak. As usual, a quarrel breaks out between the women. They curse and scream--a tumult. The former tenant's wife said that she didn't know me at all, but the other fellow, who deposited $100 for the apartment would have to pay her $80 more before she would let him move in. She wasn't prepared to acknowledge me and my lease at all. I saw that my situation was serious and that the whole pur- chase could fall through, since the former tenant was already "on the other side of the Jordan" (so to speak). I went to the landlord and poured my bitter heart out to him. I explained to him with whose money I had gone to rent the apartment. In short, the landlord took pity on me and went there with me. First he asked the other Kuneleml if he had rented the apartment. He said, "Yes." The landlord then asked him if he had a lease. He said, "No." He said that he wanted to sign the lease now when he paid the rest of the money. The landlord asked to whom he had paid the money. (The fellow answered,) "The tenant, Rosenberg." The landlord asked how much money he had given him; (the fellow answered,) "One hundred dollars." To this the landlord replied, "(Well, in that case,) go get your hundred dollars from Rosenberg in Palestine, and clear out of this apart- ment; (it belongs to) Lewkowicz!" Do you think I'm done? The other Jew, the second Kuneleml, went to the Criminal Court and complained that all of us, that is, I, the landlord, and Rosenberg are all a band of "confidence men." All of us were called to a pre-trial hearing. Although we weren't afraid, we didn't want to get into a suit lawyers, etc., so we made a settlement in a religious court. He got back $50 of his $100. The landlord and Mrs. Rosenberg each gave back $20 and I gave $10. This took two weeks, and I didn't know what world I was in. The apartment cost me $200. Nevertheless, I am very happy. May G-d help me to be well and to have a good livelihood. I'm just beginning to open my eyes. Now I can have guests. My children are finally able to sit at a table and do their lessons. I also have electric lights and water. In a word, dear Shloymele, since the Sokofsky apartment in Konskie, I haven't known what it is to live like a human being...until now. May G-d only help me to such a good livelihood that all my enemies will burst (with envy,) because they intended me always to live with my wife's parents with my two little iron cots. They begrudged me the pleasure that I have now. They practically roasted me alive. They always threw it up to me, to my wife, and to my children, and so on. Now, my dear child, I am free! I have a free hand, and I pray to G-d that the situation may yet improve. This is a bitter time in Lodz, due to the stabilizing of money. I will, however, with G-d's help, earn enough for my piece of bread without partners, without (people who want me to look up to them as) idols, but with my own ten fingers. I'll be satisfied with whatever G-d gives me. I will live in my home, a clean, honest, honorable, quiet life. In a word, dear child, in everything I do, when eating, when sleeping, I will always, always remember what you have managed to do for your uncle. You have freed me from all my troubles and suffering. May G-d help me to be worthy to repay you your money speedily with my own hands. So, my dear child, my apartment did not come easily. I don't know if everything is so difficult for everyone or just for me. Perhaps it is because I am Eliezer Fievele's grandson. In this case, however, I am more than certain that I have had extraordinary luck, since it was your luck, not mine. In any case, I am telling you everything just as it happened. And with this letter, that is, with these latest events, ends a page of the history of my last two years, which I am unable to recount (adequately) on paper. However, if G-d helps us see each other once again in happiness, I will tell you everything in detail. I send heartfelt and loving regards to you and your fiancee, your father, your sisters, your in-laws, your family, and so on. A heartfelt greeting from my wife, your aunt, and the chil- dren, for you, your fiancee, your sisters, father, family, and so on. From your uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz My present address is: W. Lewkowicz Lipowa 44, Num. 11 Lodz, Poland A heartfelt greeting from your dear grandmother, from Uncle Lazer, from Aunt Esther, and so on. They send heartfelt and loving regards. We all wish to hear good tidings from you. Please write us how your business is going both in the old store as well as the new store. Also write us how your in- laws are, how your fiancee is feeling, also if your sisters are well, how your father is doing, and any other news you may have of America. There is a terrible crisis in Poland now due to the (governmental) sanctions and (monetary) sta- bilization, and so on and so forth. All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.