Lodz, 11 April 1926

To my dearest and most devoted nephew and his worthy
   wife, Esther Zissman,

I inform you that two letters are en route to you and,
nevertheless, I find it necessary to write you a third
letter.  Today is the Sabbath after Passover.  Eight days
ago, i.e., Sabbath during the intervening days of Passover,
your father-in-law was here with me, and we spent several
hours together until he departed.  Today, April 11, he is
going from Berszyn to Warsaw, then to the port where he will
embark on April 24, and he plans to arrive safely in America
on April 30.

Dear Sol, surely you want to know and are anxious (to learn)
everything we talked about here and what we decided.  So, my
devoted one, I can write you that we talked a great deal...
but we accomplished little.  I will give you a summary from
his arrival to his departure.

The first time he visited me, he granted me very little time
because he was in a hurry.  He didn't have any time, but
nevertheless I learned from him everything that was of
interest to me concerning you, your sisters, your family,
etc.  As to me, he said that during his trip he had made
inquiry but that, at present, nothing can be done because the
law is too strong for us to break.

The second time Mr. Anker was here was February 14 when he
didn't find me here but discussed the entire situation with
my wife.  That evening, I went to Mr. Sheps, Mr. Anker's
nephew, where I spent about three hours.  A variety of
subjects were discussed, the weather, politics, the current
crisis in Poland, etc.  I came to the conclusion that your
father-in-law, Mr. Anker, is a very wise man, and he is proud
to have you as his son-in-law.  He showed your picture to
everyone and joyfully said, "This is my son-in-law and his
wife."  The next day, he returned here and missed me again.
I ran after him and found him at Mr. Sheps's.  He showed me
the letter that you had sent him at my address and said to
me, "Wolf, what can be done?  I want to show Sol that I am
doing something..."  And I go into another room with him, and
I start to speak, complaining and sighing.  However, he
answers that he knows everything, but he has no solution that
will help.  He tells me that you are rich only in humanity
but not in money, you work hard, and he helps you to make a
living.  He cuts my heart with his words as if he were using
a knife because I didn't ask him for anything.  Nevertheless,
he told me all of this in order to convince me that I should
let you alone, Shloyme, that I shouldn't write to you because

I may do harm to you and his daughter with my letters.  On
the other hand, he wanted to do something for me, but I don't
know what...

In a word, it was decided that I should write to my wife's
brothers in Toronto asking them to send papers.  I wrote
immediately and sent you their answer.  Here, I waited with
your father-in-law for the results.  Time passed.  Mr. Anker
left Lodz without knowing whether he would see me again or
not!  Meanwhile, I received letters from you describing
everything that you accomplished for me; you wrote, you
telegraphed, you traveled to Toronto, and up to now it's
too soon (to know).

Meanwhile, I had to be in Opoczno shortly before Passover,
not chas v'cholilah for any business purpose...  By chance,
I saw Mr. Anker by the train as he was arriving from Kielce.
I rode back with him into the city, and he asked that I and
Uncle Lazer and Aunt Estherl come to him where he would again
discuss the situation and see where there might be a solution
after all.

The three of us went, and we spoke for two hours.  Each
voiced his own opinion; only I said nothing.  Perhaps I
wouldn't have been embarrassed in front of you, Shloyme, and
I would have spoken a bit.  Furthermore, I realized that, in
any event, I would not be able to achieve anything with him.
Uncle Lazer said that, if it is not possible for me to go to
you, he is ready to help me with $100, and there is also a
source from which $50 can be taken.  Your father-in-law will
tell you about it.  Aunt Estherl voiced her opinion that we
should write to your father about the whole issue that is
being dealt with, and they also were supposed to send you a
letter.  And if a basic sum of $500 were put together, then
Uncle Lazer and I would buy a bakery in partnership where
both of us would work faithfully and honestly until G-d would
help.  At the beginning, Uncle Lazer would not withdraw
anything as a salary; only I would, because he would not
liquidate (his bakery) in Opoczno until he saw how things
were going here in Lodz.  If it looked like the business
would be successful, he would liquidate there and we would
enlarge here; and if not, he would step out here, and I alone
would remain with the business.  According to his analysis,
the prospects would not be bad because flour can be purchased
on credit.  It's an item that is used quickly, and this is
his trade.

So, Sol, I am not going to say anything.  I rely on your
judgment, and I will certainly follow your lead.  Talk it
over with Mr. Anker.  You know very well that I am an unlucky
guy and fearful.  I am afraid lest I lose everything.

Therefore, I don't know what to say.  People even say that I
shouldn't assume that I'll be able to go to America so
quickly; a lot of water may run under the bridge.  While I am
convinced of your devotion to me and know very well that you
are working for my benefit and seek my well being, I can tell
you that from my perspective if there were only a means
available to leave, it would be the best and preferred
(choice) because a person can't always be dependent on a
nephew.  To the extent possible, I want to help myself
achieve a life, an existence.  And if, chas v'cholilah, it
cannot be, what is my life worth, why should I torment myself
and be dependent...and be humiliated to the greatest extent!
Here, I will borrow an observation of your father-in-law.
Mr. Anker said that there is a verse in Psalms in which King
David said to the Master of the Universe, "Kee oonee v'evyon
ahnochee"...But I am poor and needy.  So there is a question
as to why he had to say "oonee" and "evyon."  The meaning of
"oonee" is a poor man, and the meaning of "evyon" is a poor
man.  There surely is a question.  Maybe King David the poet
understood the difference between "oonee" and "evyon."
"Oonee" is simply a poor man, a professional or a tradesman
who works in his field and earns a living.  Such a person
doesn't suffer because he is used to it, and he is content to
remain an "oonee."  But it's worse with an "evyon." This is a
respected person who finagles and swindles and wants to
remain an honest person.  He never has a cent of his own; he
doesn't eat; he doesn't sleep.  Out on the street, he is
considered to be a respectable person.  In his home, one
can't see what presses on his heart, over his head in debt.
You see, the "evyon" has it as bitter as death.  Mr. Anker
compared me not to the "oonee" but to the "evyon."  And
that's really what King David meant!

Sol, I suspect that you know your uncle very well, perhaps
better than Mr. Anker.  Every time that I write you a letter,
I write you my biography in detail.  And now, I write again
that I am impotent and exhausted from struggling with my own
strength.  I have turned (my fate) over to you, to your
disposition, and I am more than certain that you, with your
strong resolve, with your energetic enterprise on your
uncle's behalf, will eventually find a means of easing the
need of your devoted uncle.  I will accept suffering for a
bit longer.  I am prepared to be tormented for a period of
time until you, i.e., you, your father, your father-in-law,
and Uncle Lazer come to an agreement and dispense your utmost
help!

Mr. Anker called me to Berszyn again where he gave me your
long letter.  Arriving in Berszyn at the house of a sister of
Mr. Anker, he was by chance at another sister's house.  I
took advantage of his absence and asked what Mr. Anker had

said about his son-in-law.  You can imagine how pleased I was
(when they said) that Mr. Anker boasts of you, your singing,
your talent, your exactness, your refinement is beyond
description, in addition to your ability!  Yes, my devoted
one, willingly or unwillingly, I wept hearing all of this
from a sister of your father (-in-law), and why was it
necessary that my sister, may she rest in peace, should not
live (to hear this)?  But go and question the Master of the
Universe...  Mr. Anker returned.  We spent about three hours
together and discussed again and spoke again.  I was really
pained by the money you spent on traveling to Toronto without
being able to accomplish anything.  Were you at least able to
see Niagara Falls that is located between Canada and America
and that is one of the wonders of the world???  Mr. Anker
came to me for the last time on the Sabbath of the
intermediate days of the holiday when we spent about three
hours together.  He asked whether I had received some sort of
letter from you, and while I had received your last letter
with the check, I lied and said that I had not received it.
I don't know why I told a lie, but I think that it wasn't
necessary to relate what you wrote...and it may have made
things worse, surely not better.  I think you will be
satisfied with my last act.

So, nothing more of importance to write about.  Regards and
kisses via your father-in-law.  I send several heartfelt and
loving kisses for you and for my dear niece and for Ruchele,
Bryndele and Rifchele.  My wife and children send heartfelt
regards to all of you.  Regards for your father, family,
mother-in-law, sisters, et al.  Uncle Lazer and Aunt Estherl
send their best regards.  Write whether you have received a
letter concerning me and what you have decided to do.  Also
write me about the letter to your father enclosed with a
letter to you.  And immediately after Mr. Anker's safe return
to America, please write me.

                              With respect,

                              Wolf Lewkowicz

I would note that your father-in-law's family in Berszyn, in
Kominsk, in Lodz are very wealthy people.  They have no need
to travel to seek "bread."  They have America here in Poland.


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