Opoczno, 31 August 1926

To my devoted and most beloved of all beloved nephew
   and his worthy, beloved wife, Esther Zissman,

I have received your letter of August 5, and I am answering
it now.  In your letter, my devoted one, you make a bit of a
comparison between how things were for you formerly and how
they are now.  I read your letter and note that you do
everything in the world in order to provide your uncle with
pleasure.  Assuredly, my devoted one, you recognize how much
pleasure and satisfaction you give me when you write to me
that recently you don't feel that you are on as shaky ground
as you did in past years because, really, who can better
know and understand what it means to work your way up the
ladder - to make a life's career - to make progress, than I,
your uncle, who have gone through all seven levels of Hell?

Life, my devoted one, is an enchanted wheel that turns
continuously.  But fortunate is that individual who is able
to turn along.  On the other hand, whoever, chas v'cholilah,
is unable to turn along, to keep up, with the wheel is
eliminated, broken, ruined, and constantly remains
behind, so that when he gets older there is not even a place
left for him.  At that point, those who are younger, more
talented, stronger than he have climbed aboard for the ride.
And one who has been thrown off the wheel of the world looks
to the heavens and wonders from whence his help will come.

Therefore, dear Sol, it delights me to hear that you exert
your effort, work very hard it's true, perhaps beyond your
capability, and turn along with the wheel of the world.  But
if, in your youth, you have succeeded in climbing aboard
without anyone's help...whoever it might have been...I
declare my belief, dear Sol, that you will ride along.  Good
fortune will now give you momentum so that no one in the
world will be in a position, chas v'cholilah, to throw you
off.  There are enough people around in the world who are not
worthy of riding along with the world wheel but,
nevertheless, they are aboard.  There are also people around
who are aboard in their youth, but not in their later years;
and those who are just the opposite.  It's all because they
are unmindful of others and think only of themselves.  They
undervalue everyone in the world.

However, you, my devoted Sol, who realizes better than I and
who knows you and your character more thoroughly than I?
It's true, I haven't seen you for thirteen or fourteen years.
However, I assume that a nephew who extends himself to such
an extent for an uncle, who sacrifices so, as you, my devoted
one, have sacrificed for me, so there are no words or ideas
left for me to express about you.

Don't think, Sol, that I am complimenting you because you
sent me money.  No, more important than all else is your
writing, your loyalty, your devotion, your offering yourself
for me.  Another person in your place would hide, would keep
out of sight.  And you, my devoted child, are so generous to
me and delight me with your dear, worthy letters.  And I read
your letters and can't satiate myself with them.  Not only I,
but also my sister and my brother-in-law, Lazer.  In fact,
one of your letters was sent to New York to an uncle of
Lazer, a very wealthy man.  The letter should serve as an
example of how a nephew writes and conducts himself toward an
uncle...  It's possible, Sol, that that other man is far
wealthier than you as far as money is concerned, but as to
being a mensch???  What do you think?  I once wrote you that
there is a great contrast between those who are menschen and
those who are not.  I will always speak, and write and read
about menschen, but as to those who are not, it's a sin to
talk, to write, etc.

Dear and devoted Sol, please forgive me for devoting
practically this whole letter to one theme, and nothing about
everything else.  So, the letter is almost ended and there's
not a bit of news of Poland.  So, I close my letter with
heartfelt regards for you, for my dear niece.  I can write
you that, thank G-d, we are well.  Business, thank G-d, is
somewhat better.  There is work to do, but I enjoy the work.
Rifchele, thank G-d, is a bit better, but she is not yet
cured.  The doctor gave instructions for no school, good
care, etc.  Joseph, my son, I brought here to me in Opoczno
After Succot, G-d willing, I plan to be in Lodz.  My wife and
daughter, Balcia, and Rifchele and Joseph as well as Aunt
Estherl and Uncle Lazer send their heartfelt and loving
regards to you and your worthy Esther.

                              Your uncle,

                              Wolf Lewkowicz


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