Lodz, 16 September 1924 My dear and most beloved nephew, worthily named Sol, I have received your dear letter, which was written with so rich a content and such sweet and important words. This is my response. About your writing that you still dream about coming and that you want to help, in some concrete way, to get me set- tled and so on, my dear child, I read your sweet words and I am convinced of your fidelity and devotion to me. Yes, my dear child, your writing reminds me of something that I once learned. Eliezer Ben Arach once had a discussion about charity, support, life-saving loans. One of his students went to visit a well known sage of the Mishna and asked him if he knew that his friend was sick and poor. He answered, "I know. I have heard about it." Someone else came to Reb Yosef the Cohen and asked him if he know that his brother was sick and poor. He answered, "I know. Something must be done to assuage my brother's need." A third person came to Reb Eliezer Ben Arach, who was renowned for his good heart, and said to him, "You know that your brother is hungry, sick, etc." He jumped up from his meal and was not able to rest until he came to where his brother was, to see for him- self his brother's need and to determine the means by which he could start to help his brother. (He didn't cease his efforts) until he had made him completely well. Yes, my dear child, I compare you to the sage of the Mishna, Reb Eliezer Ben Arach. You also have a good heart and you are not satisfied to help from afar. You write that you have a sweet and an important dream. You are striving to come here with your beloved on a trip, and you want to give me some concrete help. How shall I answer your sweet words? You writing makes you unforgettable (to me). Your writing creates various illusions in me. I dream and fantasize along with you. G-d has so bound together both our hearts that just as you strive and dream and still want to see your uncle before your eyes, just so does there burn in my heart a like love for you, and I too want and hope to see you again before my eyes. Every moment, I can see your sweet smile, your sensitivity, your elegance, your cleanliness as a child. I also see that you haven't, G-d forbid, changed a hair for the worse. Just the opposite. Your mind has crys- tallized. Your witticisms have become so sharp that they withstand every criticism. In a word, I am proud that I have such a nephew in my family to show off. It really is something, dear nephew, that you agree with me on so many things. It's almost as if we had discussed them with each other. For example, you write that if someone comes to you and wants to tell you about your father, to speak ill of him or some such thing, you don't want to listen to him. Indeed, you show true wisdom. In such a case, I do the same. I live in Lodz, and I have, thank G-d, in-laws, brothers-in-law, family here. When people come to me with stories, "Someone said... Someone heard... You are right... They are right..." Stories without an end. I ask myself, "Can any good come of this?" And if not, I say "Be well and (changing the subject) make a bris and don't forget to invite me." Yes, my dear child, one has to know the way of the world, and one has to study people thoroughly. Some- one else in my place would perhaps think that you are wrong in being estranged from your father, but not I. I sense (what is going on in) your heart. These last few years have taught me quite a bit, especially about relationships between children and their parents. You wrote that you had found a proper home with your in- laws. My dear child, I am delighted to hear that from you. I have no doubt that G-d always sends the cure before the disease. I only pray to G-d that all your paths may lead to good results. G-d is a Merciful Father to orphans and is always ready to help them. I am convinced that all the years of your life will be bedecked with luck and happiness. Concerning your writing that your Uncle Isaac (Dave) was successful and made money-- don't envy him, my dear child. I suspect that Ford made more than he did. Why not envy Ford? You may answer that you weren't a partner of Ford, and you were of your Uncle Isaac (Dave). I can tell you that I envy you in that you are doing business on your own. I don't like partners. It isn't good, be it with fathers, brothers, uncles, or anyone else. It is only good to be partners with your wife. Except, of course, in a very large undertaking. In that case a company is desirable. About your congratulating me on your acquiring a half- brother, may we all have good fortune. Don't however, think that you have a brother right off the bat, since many are brothers in name only and in reality are cold as icicles. I am blessed with two such brothers, yet I haven't the fain- test idea where they are or what they are doing and even what right they have to use my name and to be my brothers. It's a tale for one thousand and one nights. You wrote that you aren't doing any business, that "it will be bad until the 15th and that, after the 15th, things will be even worse." Dear child, it's the same story in Poland. Last month was bad, and now things have become even worse, for various reasons. For example, 75% of the factories have completely stopped (production), since they don't have any- where to sell their merchandise. This, of course, creates unemployment and a crisis in commerce. The week doesn't go by that there aren't dozens of bankruptcies. "The large ones protest; the middle-sized ones fall in line; and the little ones drop dead (go bankrupt)." To top it all off, the High Holidays, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succos, are coming up, and we need a pile of money. Business has stopped for me too. An honest man doesn't want to make time payments these days, and one cannot lend money to anyone else, since he'll go under right away. All of these merchants have stopped my credit because they can't cash in (my) promissory notes, since the banks aren't lend- ing either. In short, things are not good. I was a "big shot," I could be a middle-man, when I was lent money. But, these days, things are really not very good. But a new year is approaching, and one hopes that things will not get worse, G-d forbid; that is, (we hope) that the situation will improve. Meanwhile, I have prepared a budget for 5685 and submitted it to the Heavenly Father for appro- val. At the same time, I enclosed a request with a short table of contents and in an organized fashion told the whole ministry on high what to grant me. To the contrary, I declare those above also to be bankrupts. Without any argu- ments, they must answer me now since I am not dependent on anyone and am not "anyone's child." (I show you the follow- ing): BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 5685 I demand: Dol- lars or Zlotys For food for me and my family for 365 days, approximately 730 3,796 For clothes & shoes for me & my family 300 1,560 For rent 70 384 For heat & light 100 520 For tuition 100 520 To pay off the notes which I owe 100 520 To send to America (at least) 150 780 To repay a debt to Lazer, my brother-in-law 40 280 (sic) For unexpected things 100 520 For doctor bills, prescriptions (G-d forbid), etc. 10 52 $1,700 8,932 zlotys I think, dear Sol, that I have not requested anything extraordinary of G-d Almighty but simply what a person needs. Not like others who demand such fantastic sums right from the outset--for example, money to lose at cards, (money) to go while away the time at spas, to drink at vari- ous places of entertainment and theaters. I demand all that a person needs. This year I also want to prove to myself that there isn't a swindle going on on high, that perchance they are not taking bribes up there, since I don't completely understand why one is given too much and another nothing. I also think that the books up there are somehow not in proper order. G-d alone knows what is going to happen at the yearly marketplace. Everything is hustling and bustling. Everyone's lot is being prepared--large por- tions or small portions of trouble. I've heard that in cer- tain "departments" everything is already determined to be just as it was in the previous year. For example, with regard to heat, with regard to cold, with regard to air, to rain , to snow, to light and darkness. I have heard that there will be a change with regard to childlessness. Every- one will have children, except men. Only old people will die, as opposed to young people. Youth will discover for itself how to be rid of the world. In the highest depart- ment, that is, in the Ministry of Finance, everything is being put in proper order. I hope that there are no misunderstandings or swindles there. I am more than certain that my papers, my demands, that is, my necessities for the year 5685, will be approved, since everyone is rewarded according to is measure. Surely, dear Sol, this past year my cup was overflowing. So it is high time that my help comes. Since a new year is truly coming, I wish, dear child, that you will have deserved to be inscribed and sealed in the book of life for a good year. I wish you all that your heart desires. In reality, I cannot wish you anything. I would like to have the honor, on the Eve of Yom Kippur, before I go to shul, to take your hand in mine and merely look at you. Then you would read everything from my face. However, since you are so far away from me now, I send my blessings to you across the great sea. I wish that both you and your dear beloved fiancee be found worthy in the sight of Almighty G-d to have a happy and healthy year, a year of life, a year of health, a year of overflowing blessing and success. May all your undertakings be blessed. (May) hap- piness, light, and joy reign in your home. May your name resound wherever you may turn, and may G-d always hear your prayers. May the devil not adversely affect your business dealings, and may you soon be an American lord. May you also let your Uncle Wolf, hre in Lodz, know all about it. This is the only thing that your uncle and his family wish you. May you be inscribed and sealed in the book of life for a good year 5685. From your devoted uncle, who wishes you well, Wolf Lewkowicz All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.