Lodz, 20 August 1933 Dear and devoted brother, as well as nephew, and niece, S. Zissman, I have received all your letters as well as the three bundles of newspapers. You must have realized that the reason for my not answering you for such a long time is not so simple... This time I had an accident which cost me "enough" time, health and money. As you know from my earlier letters, Sol, for a time I wandered about without a job, i.e., I wasn't working. However, since one can get sick of wandering about doing nothing all day long and for weeks (on end), I had decided that, whatever the consequences, I would take the first job that came along, whether suitable for me or not, whether I would be able to handle it or not, because I no longer have the strength to suffer and starve. Meanwhile, during the week of Shavuos, I came across a sort of job in a dye plant, although it wasn't suitable for me because the work was too hard for me, the wages were insignificant, etc. Nevertheless, I decided to go to work, thinking that the children, Rivkele and Joseph, are in Opoczno, that there are only two of us, Aunt and I. Whatever I earned would be enough for both of us. To be brief, I went to work June 1. While the work was hard and the wages were low, nevertheless, I was satisfied with the bad job for the time being. Apparently, Sol, the Master of the Universe had not forgotten me... I worked for the entire month of June until July 7, i.e., about five weeks, and everything would have gone along smoothly had it not been for the accident. It turns out that I wasn't careful enough at work, or I wasn't accustomed to the work, or the Christian workers played a special trick on me...in any event, wherever the blame should be placed, I was the victim. I burned my foot with the container of dye that we happened to be pouring out of a kettle. The First Aid from the medical office took me out of the factory at once, put on the first bandages and took me home. You can imagine, Sol, that when Aunt saw me being brought home ill and lame, she immediately had a heart attack because she also has a weak heart. In short, they put me in bed where I have been lying up to this very day, July (sic) 20, i.e., more than six weeks. Now, thank G-d, I put my foot down on the floor. However, I cannot walk yet, and G-d knows how long more it will take until I will be able to go to work. And although a doctor comes every 3-4 days, the doctor says that it will take three more weeks until it heals... To be sure, Sol, I won't write anything to you of the pain and the aching that I have experienced during this period. I am strong enough to have endured it. I fainted more than once when the bandages were being applied. The misfortune was magnified by that fact that the container did not hold the normal kind of liquid but was dye with sulfuric acid so that it immediately burned holes in the foot. The doctor removed the skin from my foot just as a calf is skinned. To be brief, dear Sol, praised be the blessed G-d that I am gradually getting out of bed and can now already write an answer, my devoted brother, to your letters although, dear Sol, you will have no pleasure from reading my current letter. And still, you must be consoled by the fact that it involved only time, health and money because, chas v'cholilah, it could have been worse. At the start, I thought that, chas v'cholilah, I would be left a cripple. However, now that I am already putting the foot on the floor a bit, I hope that it will take another 2-3 weeks and that I will be back to normal. This is the way, my devoted and beloved Sol, it has been for my entire life. I have not experienced any good times, constantly suffering, torment, pain, accidents, etc. Devoted Sol, I thank you for the newspapers that you sent to me in three bundles. They really came to my aid during such a critical period when I was in bed for so many days and weeks! The Jewish Day at the Fair in Chicago which was dedicated especially as a Jewish Day is amazing. The Jewish community in America knows how to assess (the importance of) every opportunity, so that there was a crowd of 125,000 people gathered in one place to witness the presentation of (their) history, present and future. Yes, Sol, this is only possible in America, America with its vast enterprises. I am envious of you for living in such a country. What is an impossibility in Europe is possible in America. Reading the copies of the Forward, one notes and becomes somewhat familiar with life in America. One is also astonished by the ceaseless work of your current President to bring prosperity to the country. I believe and hope that he will accomplish something. It's up to the people. The capitalists need merely consider whether the recovery codes might not also turn out to be advantageous to them because the crisis is certainly not favorable to them. However, Sol, what do we little people have to say about this? What sort of value is given to our advice? In any event, devoted Sol, send me advice as to what to do, even though I well know that it is difficult for you to answer my letter. And yet, you recognize what's happening in the world, how difficult it is for Jews. The Inquisition being conducted in Germany by the actions of Hitler is indescribable. The epidemic is slowly spreading to Poland. Violent acts take place, unrest in the streets. Jews are being physically attacked here and there. Thanks to the capable police that we have in Poland, every excess is stopped in its tracks. Nevertheless, people are selling their buildings; businessmen are liquidating their businesses, manufacturers their factories; and they leave for the Land of Israel and settle down to a primitive form of life. A new stage in life is now approaching. Jews are going through terrible times. A wholly new epoch in life is arising. Germany threatens the world with war. The whole world trembles at the thought of another war, and G-d knows whether this will pass without a war. Let's leave this for the diplomats of the world to determine. Our voice is not heard in any event. Now, Sol, how are you feeling? Are all of you well? When I write "all," I mean your wife, your son, your parents, uncles, sisters, et al. Further, what's happening as to making a living? The newspapers write that times are improving in America because when your President Roosevelt devalued the dollar by 20%, a better attitude arose in the country. A grandiose funeral took place in Lodz today. Three weeks ago, a member of the Bund, Yisroel Lichtenstein, died in New York. Today, his body was brought to Lodz from New York. About 20,000 people attended the funeral. There were delegations from 300 different cities and towns. The man was very renowned and beloved among his friends. The funeral made an impression upon the community in Lodz. I have never witnessed such a grandiose funeral in my life. May his memory be honored. With respect, Wolf All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.