Lodz, 22 February 1937 To my dear and devoted nephew, Sol, I can write you that we are well; we hope to hear the same from you. I write that I received $20 from you last week for which I thank you sincerely. I wonder, dear Sol, why you have recently made me wait for an answer. You know very well how important a letter of yours is to me. If I don't receive an answer from you on a regular basis, I start to worry: "G-d knows what's going on there with my devoted brother and nephew." I would write you a long letter today. However, I am writing this letter with anxiety because your silence there causes me concern. Every day I wait for the postman and ask him whether he has a letter from you for me. Dear and devoted Sol, it is really unnecessary to write about the sort of circumstances in which I received your $20 last week. However, I will write you that each of our hearts senses what's happening to the other... I write you that there were severe cold weather conditions in Poland four weeks ago to the extent that they reached to thirty degrees below zero Celsius, and while such weather did not last long, for two weeks, nevertheless a grippe epidemic spread around that hardly skipped one house. And wherever there's trouble, it doesn't avoid me. First of all, Joseph became ill; later, Rivkele. The children were in bed for three weeks. It was a miracle that I was not working more than two days a week. The rest of the time I had to devote to my children. I also had a doctor twice. Joseph recovered immediately and is now all right. However, Rivkele still has a bad cough, and the doctor has instructed her not to leave bed yet. Although she no longer has the grippe, she has a bad cough, and we have to protect her against pneumonia. We hope that everything will pass in good order. Imagine, Sol, how hapless we are, I and my dear children, under the existing circumstances in Poland. I believe that it's unnecessary to write how life is lived here because The Forward lets you know there about everyone and everything. However, it has been demonstrated to me more than once that, in the most critical moment, Sol, you come forward with your help. Therefore, dear Sol, last week, when the mailman brought me the $20 that you sent, my children and I wept for joy. Is it possible to relate to you in a letter the feelings that we have at such a moment? Ah, no. Surely not. I can only write that our hearts are connected and you there must have had some sort of foreglimpse concerning us here... The best evidence of that is that the money was sent and received at the right time. I am not going to thank you, Sol, for your generosity because this is what is done by everyone who is helped financially by his relatives. To you, Sol, I merely want to say that may you never in your life be in need. May G-d repay you wherever you may be. May what you do for your brother and uncle protect you. To go on, how are you feeling? Why haven't you written to me lately? I worry a great deal. Even the newspapers were also delayed. I have received (copies dated) through January 1, 1937, and nothing more. What can this indicate? Is there a problem on your side or was there simply a delay? Also write me whether you have seen Chaiml Marianka and whether he answered his brother's letter. Write me also how your dear wife is feeling. Also, as to your darling Leonard, how is he feeling; is he a good student; and is he an accomplished youngster? Also write me how your 1936 profit and loss statement looked. Did you make any sort of profit? There's talk here in Poland that prosperity has already returned to America. Further, what's new with your sisters, with Ruchel, Ruth and Bryndl and family? I really wanted to write a special letter to Ruchel and Ruth because they wrote to me. However, these days I have no patience for writing. My children and I send heartfelt and loving regards for them. Write me whether Ruchel is still working in the hospital as a nurse, whether Ruth is working and at what? Are they well? Do they visit their father, and how does he treat them? Do they go out with friends? And what's new with Bryndl, her husband and child? Are they making a living? What's new with your father? Is he aware of my tragedy, that I have become a widower? What's new in general with your family there, your uncles, aunts, and cousins? As to us here, I have no special news to relate. I suspect that you there know how "wonderful" our lives are here. You can learn more in the newspapers than through a letter... I can only tell you that anti-semitism has spread across the whole world in general, and particularly in Poland and Germany. May the Holy One, Blessed be He, have mercy on his people, Israel. I am enclosing in this letter two photographs that were taken three days before Malke's death. Although they are not good photographs, nevertheless they (serve as) a remembrance. Please show them to Ruchel, Ruth and Bryndl. Well, nothing more of importance to relate. Heartfelt regards to you, your worthy wife and dear son, Leonard, from me and from my dear children, Rivkele and Joseph. The whole family sends regards to you there. Also, Aunt Estherl and Uncle Lazer send heartfelt regards to you. I wish you a Happy Purim. With respect, Your brother and uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz Please answer promptly. Perhaps you have forgotten my address. So, write to: Wolf Lewkowicz Lipowa 44 Lodz, Poland All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.