Lodz, 16 January 1938 My dear brother, as well as nephew, and niece, S. Zissman, Within the last three days, I have received a letter from you. Even though two letters to you are still en route, nevertheless I am answering you today because, first of all, I have enough time (since) I am not working. Secondly, I am writing you that I am already back in Lodz. My Joseph and I spent twelve days in Opoczno. Aunt Estherl and Uncle Lazer treated us very well there, and we were very satisfied to spend a short vacation there. I also wrote you a letter from Opoczno in which I, more or less, described their life there in the countryside. Now, dear Sol, I will try to reply to your letter of December 27, 1937. I am more than happy that we have a common understanding about Joseph. I think it's unnecessary for us to discuss it further. It would be better if you would find out from the person himself, on the spot, whether my words and description of Joseph were accurate or not. Your recent letters to us really give me pleasure. I can tell you, Sol, that I can't get enough of your writing to us. Somehow, I feel refreshed and uplifted by what you write. The whole family and all my friends, hearing and seeing the sort of love and devotion you demonstrate toward us, are simply fascinated. Many say that it is a case of divine intervention and that you are the messenger, the angel, of G-d sent to save us from our troubles. Many say that your love for me is not capable of having a value set on it. And I, your uncle and brother, don't want to deify you, don't want to compliment you, but rather to tell the pure truth...that I don't feel (that I have) another such friend or true brother in the whole world as I have in you. I am only worried about one thing, Sol, that you not consume me with your love. Write me the truth as to whether your dear Esther might not be pained sometimes because I steal your affection... I would like to make a personal inquiry of her about that... According to what you write, I see that all your plans concerning Joseph meet with the approval of your dear Esther. This sets my mind at ease, and it's the same with Joseph. I hope, as to the future, that all your decisions and undertakings, as well as subsidies, will be approved and endorsed by your dear and devoted wife, Esther. In fact, I am convinced that she is just as interested in everything (as you are) and agrees with you as to every point. Ah, the fact that she doesn't write a few added words sometimes is quite simple since she doesn't know Yiddish, and I don't know any English. Yet, I would like to have a conversation with her in your presence to hear her impression of you in general and of your humanity in particular. As to your writing that your effort to bring Joseph over has not yet been completed and that it will just begin to proceed over time, yes, Sol, I am envious of you for being so optimistic with respect to us, perhaps because you are in America and we are in Poland...perhaps because you see there only the favorable side of the coin. Your judgment may be better than mine, your problem a more difficult one than mine, but unfortunately the times and the circumstances don't permit the realization of any plans, (the solution) of any problems. We don't live because we want to live but because we must live. The conditions under which we are living in Poland are such that one can't be optimistic. And in case you should say, Sol, that if a person is pessimistic, it causes bad results, bad omens, omens of death, yes, Sol, no matter how much strength I bring to bear to shake off the pessimism, it doesn't work. I remain a pessimist and view life with open eyes and remain indifferent to everyone and everything. I am strong enough to go on with life despite all the gruesomeness that confronts a person during life... However when I look at myself in the mirror and see that 51 years have already passed, bad years, can I be optimistic??? And when I look at my daughter, Rivkele, a delicate child, a child of the war, who has not yet experienced anything good in her life, who now has to bear the burden of running the household, who instead of going out to have a good time has to prepare a meal for her father and her brother, and (when I) ask myself a question about making a match for a daughter, (the fact is that that problem) has not yet been solved in Poland, (I feel the same pessimism). Just as was the case thirty years ago, the father of a daughter must provide a dowry for a young man, and it's very sad for the father or the young woman who has no dowry...and what father wants his daughter to wither away and not to make a wedding for his daughter at the right time? Well, Sol, can one have an optimistic outlook??? Now, we will go to the main topic. You write that you understand my feelings, my pain, in contemplating parting from Joseph and want to alleviate my pain by (assuring me) that he will find his own home there with all of you, his own brother in you, and his own sister in your dear Esther. Yes, Sol, I believe all of this, all of this convinced me (to proceed), your devotion to me and my children. However, I can't succeed in casting off and exchanging pessimism for optimism. What can I do about not believing in miracles? Let's say that if everything goes smoothly, as it's going now, Joseph might be in America in 1939. He will have to be in the country for five years before he becomes a citizen. By that time, RIvkele will already be 29 years old, and it's not a (sensible) plan to begin then, for the first time, to think about a match for her. Then again, as far as I am concerned, I am like the clay in the hands of the potter. As you yourself write, it's not necessary to make plans because time is the best prescription for healing all of a person's wounds. So, I will have to wait (to see) what time has in store for us. I only pray to G-d that He fortify me and give me strength to survive and to endure everything so that I won't have to be parted and separated from my children for the rest of my life; your father and his treatment of you children is a good lesson to maintain love and devotion among us. One has to arrange his life not as he wants but as he must. Life doesn't determine one's situation; the situation determines one's life. Lodz, 30 January 1938 Dear Sol, I started to write this letter to you fourteen days ago, and I am ending my letter today. The reason for my making you wait for this letter is that Aunt Esther of Opoczno came here to Lodz to see a doctor. She had a serious liver and spleen attack after I left Opoczno. The doctor there told her to go to Lodz immediately for medical care (and) that she would regret it if she didn't. Briefly, she was here with me for eight days and went home on Saturday. Thank G-d, she was feeling better; it turned out to be only a matter of money and fright but, thank G-d, she didn't remain in the hospital where they were planning to operate on her. She will have to be on a diet and under medical care for a long time, but there is no longer any danger. Nothing more of importance concerning the family. Aunt Dina Raisel's daughter returned from Palestine. She brought regards from Wolfche, your cousin. Things are not going so well for him there. I received your third letter with a profit and loss statement while Aunt Estherl was here. She really wanted to answer your letter herself. However, since she was ill, I assumed the responsibility of defending her, and I am writing in her name that everyone there in Opoczno is all right. You have surely answered their letter to you. Rivkele, Joseph and I are well, thank G-d. I am still not working, but I will start work this month. Joseph is working. Meanwhile, no information at all has arrived from the consulate in Warsaw. At this moment, all the paperwork and documents are in the hands of the consul in Warsaw. Nothing more of importance to relate. My children and I send our heartfelt regards to you, your dear wife, Esther, and dear son, Leonard. Further, the whole family sends regards to you. Recently, we have spoken a great deal here about you and about your deeds. In my next letter, you will also receive a picture that will be of interest to you. Heartfelt regards to Ruchel, Bryndl, and Ruth and her husband, Marshall. Although I should write a separate response to her long letter to me, she will excuse me; I will write to her in a short while. In any event, I thank her for her good letter to me. I sent a letter to Marshall four weeks ago. With respect, Your uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz Please answer promptly. All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.