Lodz,  16 April 1928

Beloved and respected brother with your worthy name, Sol, and
also    

 my beloved niece, Esther Zissman,

During the intermediate days of Passover, I received a letter
from you which is dated March 22, and three days later I
received a letter dated March 14.  It's remarkable that the
later one arrived earlier, and the earlier one arrived later. 
Although, as to one of the letters you already have something of
an answer because my sister was here in Lodz during the
intermediate days when I received the letter and a picture of
Bryndl's little boy, and that same day she wrote you an answer;
I added regards there and promised to send a letter right after
the Holidays.

I don't have anything important to relate to you, but how can
one remain unresponsive and not answer after receiving two
letters?  Believe me, Sol, that I have become so accustomed to
your letters that I figure out the week and the day that I
should receive a letter from you.  And in the event that that
day passes and I don't receive a letter, I begin to wonder
whether, G-d knows, something has happened, chas v'cholilah!  It
isn't Sol's nature to delay with a response.  So, Sol, always
remember that, if you receive a letter from us or not, you
should write us a letter every two weeks, and you will regularly
receive a letter from me every two weeks...

You ask how Bruchele is feeling.  Although I have written you
that she is home already and that, thank G-d, she is better, I
nevertheless write again that she is feeling fine.  Further, as
to your writing that your father is worth $10,000, visited you
for just the first time and is scarcely interested in his
closest family, so I write to you, my devoted child, without
intending to add to the fire between you, that I don't have
anything comforting to say about your father.  About seventeen
years ago, when I accompanied your father as far as Skarzisk and
he embraced me for more than half an hour, and it was difficult
for him to part from me, perhaps at that time he was interested
in his closest family.  However, I am not an enemy of your
father.  I wish him well and a better attitude toward you
children.  As far as that is concerned, when you see him, give
him regards, not from his brother-in... but from his one-time
friend, one Wolf Lewkowicz who once offered his life for him.   

Now, as to your writing that Bryndl's husband is peddling,
selling fruit, I am pleased.  Is he doing better with selling
than he did being employed (as a tradesman)?  I'm surprised.  If
I am not in error, he is a tailor and this, after all, is the
height of the season.  Is it preferable to sell rather than to
work at his trade???  However, surely he used good judgment;
everyone figures out for himself what will be for his own good.

You ask me to write about what's happening with Aunt Estherl and
Uncle Lazer, so I write you, not intending to commit a sin, that
bread is an article which doesn't go out of style.              

Esther happened to be in Lodz; she was skimping because last
year was a better year for her than this year, e.g., while she
was distracted with her child, there was an increase in the
price of flour.  The reserve supply was gone; it had been used
up.  She didn't want to pay the more expensive price; she didn't
want to take the risk.  A year ago, I was "standing guard."  If
I sensed that an increase in price was in the wind, I
immediately came running, "Buy at my risk," and she in fact hit
the mark.  Currently, she missed the mark...  Other bakers have
flour at a cost of 70, and hers costs 90 per meter.  However,
there may still be an about-face; there are another four months
until the new crop!  The mill at which I worked stood idle until
now; starting April 15 it began to operate.  There is much to be
written about this.  I was not able to remain there any longer
even though I wanted to stay at all costs.  However, it wasn't
possible under any circumstances...  

You write, dear Sol, that I sent you regards from Aunt Chaya
Rifke, Aunt Dina Raisel, Emanuel Lewin, Yankel Lewin, but that I
forgot about Aunt Breindel.  Yes, you're right.  It's always
true that one forgets about a poor person.  I always loved Aunt
Breindel more than anyone else in the family.  I don't know why.
 Perhaps it's because she is so desperately poor or because she
is so willing to take things as they come or even because she
does not have any decent children, and nevertheless she says
that her children are the best in the whole world.  I saw Aunt
Breindel two weeks before Passover when I was in Kinsk for the
anniversary of my mother's death.  I did not forget to leave ten
gulden with her, a token for Passover.  She receives ten gulden
from me every year, five gulden from me and five gulden from
Esther.  Her four children work in Lodz, not particularly
respectable children.  Shmiel works at home, a first-class
good-for-nothing.  A "philosopher," pardon the expression...  He
doesn't want to work.  A spendthrift. 

Further, as to the rest of the family, things are the same. 
Uncle Yankel Lewin became angry...with the businessmen and says
that he has already paid off enough notes and doesn't any longer
have the strength to work for them.  He is not in very good
financial condition, has a smaller store than he used to have
years ago.  All three sons are free spirits and don't want
to...marry.  Aunt Chaya Rifke is "doing business;" she is
arranging for the marriage of her youngest child, Feygel.  Moshe
Zilberspitz is working in Opoczno.  Aunt Dina Raisel is not
wealthy, but my uncle works and earns a living.  The children
are not very well off; the worst off is Sarah whose husband left
her.  Of the whole family, Sol, the worst off is Uncle Emanuel. 
This is a person who is saturated with misfortune.  He has never
encountered anything good in his life.  His biography cannot be
set forth on paper.  Recently, he has been lying in bed more
than he has been up and around.  He suffers from gallstones and
doctors advise him to go away for the summer.  Unfortunately,
his children are so cool to him; they have very little interest
in their father, and even if they do, they don't have the
wherewithal to help.  He has three daughters of marriageable
age, and they think about themselves, not about him.  That's the
way it goes, Shloyme.  If once in a while you are lonesome and
you want to know how the family of your mother, may she rest in
peace, is doing in Poland, your uncle takes the occasion to
knock you over the head and to set before you a family of
unadulterated poverty, nothing but poor devils, a crowd of
paupers from A to Z.  And further, as to my
having written you about learning to make hosiery, I am still in
doubt because many people discourage me saying that it doesn't
pay to expend the effort.  However, I am sick and tired of
fooling around, betwixt and between, i.e., dealing with thin air
has made me sick and tired.  I would like to obtain something
concrete, e.g., to get a job or to work in a factory. 
Unfortunately, it's very difficult.  In any event the next month
will decide.  Either I will learn about hosiery or tricot,  or
perhaps I will somehow be able to secure a job.  I am very
active in this effort, but I lack "clout."  Without clout it's
very difficult to obtain anything here.

Further, as to your writing about coming to an agreement with my
brothers-in-law.  So, my devoted one, I write you that it is a
very difficult matter because just as you are not sympathetic
toward them, I do not sympathize with them and have little

(The end of this letter is missing.)


All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.