Lodz, 20 April 1938

To my devoted and beloved brother, as well as nephew, and niece,
S. Zissman,

Shortly before Passover, I received two letters from you, in one
of which you write a little about politics concerning Hitler,
Stalin, and Mussolini and in the second of which you say you're
going to the H.I.A.S. to do something about the denial of
Joseph's visa.  I also received a third short letter from you
which was enclosed with the last newspapers you sent. 

Well, I'll begin by answering your first letter.  First of all,
dear Sol, I ask you to forgive me for answering all three of
your letters in one letter.  There were several reasons and
chief among them was that, prior to Passover, I was running
around to a number of factories looking for a job, and while I
have not found a job so far, I was nevertheless not content to
sit with folded hands until someone would come to hire me.  So,
I spent entire days and weeks steadily seeking and not finding
(a job)...  

As to your writing that three dictators have gathered courage
from each other and threaten the whole world with war, that they
want to rule Europe, Asia, etc., so I write you that the world
has been smitten by a madness.  The great powers want to choke
the masses, want to seize everything with dictatorial power and
rule over it, and the foolish masses are blind and permit
themselves to be controlled by such leaders who will steer them
to hunger, need, suffering and unemployment...  However, dear
brother, why should we (debate) the politics of others when I
have my own problems...?  Of what interest is the world to me
when the world doesn't want to take any interest in me?  I tell
you, Sol, that for all I care the world can go to ruin, a war
can break out, there can be sweeping changes.  None of this
matters to me.  My rabbi in cheder once translated a Hebrew
expression as follows:  The entire world is hanging by a hair. 
If this were so, I would cut through the hair and, once and for
all, let there be a conclusion, an end, to the whole world with
its brutality - gruesomeness - insolence - etc.  

You write that it pains you there when you see that your kinsmen
here in Europe are being persecuted and plagued.  So I write you
that the times are such for us these days in Europe that we have
to be silent, irrespective of the sort of trouble we experience.
 Irrespective of the sort of suffering they mete out to us, we
must be silent.  We have become so accustomed to being silent
that we accept the greatest injustices as a matter of fact... 
So, for example, I can relate two incidents that happened to me
myself.  

Incident No. 1 (took place) when, several months ago, we went
out to the cemetery to set up a headstone for my late wife. 
Joseph and I were set upon by two knife wielders who attacked
Joseph and me.  Seeing that we could become victims, I searched
for a place to escape, but one of them stabbed Joseph in the
back with a knife.  We fled and wound up just being frightened. 
This is how we saved ourselves from two bandits, by a miracle.  

The second incident took place when another worker and I went to
look for a job.  In the center of the city, two Endikys
approached us and began to attack us for no reason.  I fled, but
my friend didn't manage to get away.  They tore his overcoat,
threw him down to the ground and beat him up.  This time, my
friend didn't make a report to the police because in many cases
the police are powerless or come too late!!!  So, we are not
able to do anything about the hateful and taunting Haman. 
Shouting and complaining no longer help.  We realize now that we
have been abandoned and that they can do what they want to with
us.

Now, dear Sol, I will try to answer your second letter.  You
write that you have not yet given up on the plan to bring Joseph
there and that you are stunned at not accomplishing your aim. 
Yes, Sol, I myself am also stunned, and Joseph is also
aggravated that all our plans have come to nothing for an
indeterminate period.  I think, Sol, that in this case there is
no one to blame.  We did everything that it was possible for us
to do.  Ah, it didn't work out successfully, (but) it's not our
fault.

It seems to me that, in every undertaking, in every transaction,
we lack a bit of good luck.  The best indication that I have of
this is that if I had more luck, I wouldn't be unemployed today;
if I had more luck, my Joseph would not be working for $2 a week
as a messenger boy but would be working at his trade and earning
$7-$8 a week; if I had more luck, perhaps I would already have
arranged a match for my Rivkele, perhaps my wife would not have
died prematurely, (perhaps) I would not feel so lonely and
depressed.  In a word, Sol, everything is due to out bitter fate
and our bitter luck!!! 

Now, dear Sol, as far as Joseph is concerned, I don't know what
to write to you although I, as well as Joseph and Rivkele, would
like to improve our lives because the circumstances and
conditions of our lives are really unbearable.  Nevertheless, we
can't help ourselves because our love and attachment to one
another are too strong for us to separate.  Imagine, Sol, how
difficult it would be for us if Joseph were to leave us and go
away for a period of time.  If things are not going well for us
when he is with us and helping us to carry the burden of making
a living, chas v'cholilah...you can imagine what would happen to
me and to Rivkele if Joseph were to leave.  How will I be able
to live and exist and, on top of that, to manage to provide a
dowry for her?  

Nevertheless, dear Sol, irrespective of my difficult situation,
I would have considered myself fortunate if I knew that Joseph
were in a country where he was pursuing a career.  I would also
consider myself fortunate if I were able to make a match for
Rivkele at the right time and to observe some happiness in her
life because, alas, she has never experienced anything good in
her life.  As for me, it's like this.  In the event that I were
still able to rescue a few years to live by working or in
business, that would be good.  If not, I would try to be
admitted to a home, i.e., to an old people's home, in order to
live out the balance of my years.  

However, it's unnecessary to make plans.  Time brings about its
own plans.  I work out various plans in my mind, but to what
consequence when I am not able to actualize them...?  So, e.g.,
I had a plan to see you again during my lifetime; I had a plan
to go to the World's Fair in New York in 1940.  I would like to
actualize, to complete, many things while I am still alive. 
However, as far as I can see, Sol, I am getting older with my
plans, and I fear lest I wind up with (just) all of my
plans...because life is constantly becoming more difficult and
more unbearable...  More than once, I have been envious of my
late wife who freed herself of all problems and assured herself
of rest and respite.

I think, Sol, that this letter will be enough for today.  Hoping
that my letter will find all of you well and happy there, I sign
off with heartfelt regards for you, your dear wife and dear
Leonard, and for your sisters and family.

		Your uncle,

		Wolf Lewkowicz

My children, Rivkele and Joseph, also send heartfelt regards to
you, your wife and Leonard, as well as your sisters and family. 
We are also sending you a photo which I promised to send you in
memory of the grave of Aunt Malke, may she rest in peace.  The
whole family sends heartfelt regards to all of you, without
exception.  

Now, dear Sol, I thank you sincerely for the $10 which you sent
me for the holiday of Passover.  Imagine, Sol, when I am not
working and not earning anything, how useful the $10 were to me.
 You really brought about (the words from the Hagadah):  "Let
all who are hungry come and eat..."  Even more, I am amazed by
your refined manner in that you did not even mention in your
letter that you were enclosing several dollars for your uncle. 
Others mention it a half year before (sending money), and you
handle it so simply, in such a refined way, so well, i.e., a
real anonymous donor.  With respect, your uncle who hopes for a
prompt reply from you as well as from Ruth and Marshall.

		Wolf Lewkowicz

In your earlier letter, you write that I should inquire into the
Poznyske Company to determine whether there might be an
inheritance that belongs to Marshall's family.  So, I write that
I looked into it.  It's true that Mr. Yisroel Kalman Poznyske
left quite a large factory along with houses, land, etc. 
However, everyone died during the World War and since the firm
was a stock company, Italians purchased all the stock of the
owners, and they, the Italians, are continuing to operate the
factory.  Inquire of Marshall's family as to whether they have
any shares of the Poznyske Company.  If not, I doubt whether
they will be able to accomplish anything.  However, they can
make inquiry through a lawyer, through an attorney, as to
whether something was left for them or not.  This is all that I
was able to learn about the Poznyske Company.  Let me know why
Ruth and Marshall don't write to me.  How are they feeling?  Are
they working?  Are they making a living?  Give them regards from
everyone here.  Regards also to Ruchel and Bryndl from me and
from my children.  From me, 

		As above


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