Opoczno, 30 January 1927 Valued and devoted brother, as well as nephew, and niece, S. and E. Zissman, I have received your dear letter of January 12, and I am answering the same promptly. As to your writing that I receive two of your letters and send only one answer, it seems to me that you owe me an answer to an earlier letter, so we're even now. And from now on, I ask you, Sol, to conduct yourself properly and write every 1st and 15th so that I will receive them regularly, and I will answer you regularly. So, as to the principal issue, we have arrived at an understanding without a court. Now, dear brother, as to Bryndele's marriage. First of all, I wish a mazel tov you, Bryndl and the whole family. May she really meet with success and good fortune wherever she turns and goes. Your account of your impressions of the wedding, the conduct of..., your opinion of... left me, my sister and brother-in-law with a bad impression. With tears in our eyes, we read of how, as you stood and blessed your sister, the bride, your dear sister entered and wept on your shoulder. Yes, Sol, it's sad. I, your uncle, and my sister, your aunt, can well sense how broken are your young hearts. We would not want our worst enemy to be subjected to your experience. But what can we do? We have to take things as they come. We have to steel ourselves and accept all the things that happen to a person. You are not the only ones whose fate it was to be orphaned at an early age. Many similar circumstances can be found in the world. Admittedly, you are not consoled by this since I know very well that you feel your mother's absence every step of the way, particularly at such a time, when there is a celebration of a sister's marriage... However, you have to bear in mind that it's a fact. That's the way the world was made; people live, slave away, suffer, are plagued, rush about, and before you know it, one is called away, and nothing... Remember well, Sol, eleven months ago my mother, may she rest in peace, was still alive. How happy I was then only to have the honor to look at my dear, devoted mother, may she rest in peace. Nevertheless, I had to accept my mother's death calmly because I couldn't be an exception to what happens in the world. I merely fulfilled my obligation as a child and a son, mourned for my mother, said Kaddish with devotion, erected a headstone, etc., although it still tugs at my heart, and I would so like to see my mother, may she rest in peace, even in a dream. But, really, a dream is not reality. I always felt that even though you children lost your mother at an early age, nevertheless, your father would not hold you in low esteem. However, as I see, Sol, your father is not fulfilling his obligation to you children. He thinks that he will live forever, that he will always be young, that he will always be wealthy. May G-d help him in all his endeavors, but may he not commit a sin against you children in his treatment of you... You know, Sol, that your uncle does not converse with G-d, and I don't say it because of piety, but only as one who has become convinced by similar circumstances which I have experienced. But, let us leave this subject. The passage of time will determine the matter. With respect to Bryndele's husband, and your new brother-in-law, although it's a bit too soon to discuss it, nevertheless I must express my feelings, not against your brother-in-law with whose character I am wholly unfamiliar, but I am more pained by your sister, Bryndl, who perhaps doesn't understand enough about the relationship and manner of dealing between sister and brother and father and child... I believe, Sol, that you once wrote me that you are waging a battle with your father and ....., in fact because of your very same sister who was no longer able to remain with her father. I know that, at the time, it caused you much pain, and you demonstrated your brotherly feelings for your sister, and why didn't your sister take this into account...now, at the time she takes such a momentous step in her life...? No matter how free America is, really, at such a time when one is making such a decision, why should it not be with the agreement of the sort of devoted, generous, only brother that you are??? Who can be more devoted and generous to her than you, Sol? Now, about the $100. It was very nice on your part, but not very nice on the part of your sister and brother-in-law who didn't want furniture for the house instead of money. I suspect that not only Bryndl but even your brother-in-law, with the understanding of his 28 years, also still has his head in the clouds because if he were mature and sensible, he would have attended, first of all, to establishing a home with furniture, with household goods, etc. And if he were already in decent living conditions, he could have borrowed $100. On the other hand, if they haven't set up a home for themselves, the $100 will disappear... However, Sol, don't think about it too much. You fulfilled your duty as a devoted brother. Don't let it cause you pain. I commiserate with you. You wanted a better result than Bryndl supposed. Bryndl doesn't understand you. I do. But don't trouble yourself about it too much. It shouldn't bother you whether your father gives or doesn't give. If your brother-in-law is the sort of bird who says that your father will have to give, don't mix in. He will come to his own understanding with him, not as a son, but as a son-in-law...! And, nevertheless, I hope to hear from you that all of you there are living happy and satisfied, and to that very same Bryndl who didn't even find it necessary to send an invitation to her uncle and aunt I wish much luck from the bottom of my heart. I would really like to write her a letter and become acquainted with her and with her husband. However, first of all, I don't know whether she can read and write Yiddish; secondly, someone would have to clarify for her who Uncle Wolf is. It's questionable whether she still remembers me from her childhood and whether she knows what I put up with from her... Further, dear Sol, as to your writing that things are quiet there these days and you're not doing any business, I am anxious to hear about what you did about buying the building, whether all the paper work is done already, how much it cost you, whether you will remodel it and whether you will move in there. It seems to me that you should not give up your current store, at 2954 (Lincoln Avenue), until you establish yourself there, attract customers, work yourself in, etc. You write about big snowfalls and cold weather. We happen to be having a mild winter, as we did last year when your father-in-law was in Europe. Sol, the first of next month will be the second anniversary of your wedding. There's talk in the family that during these two years you should have made...(a bris). And my answer to all of them is "Be patient," just as you (Sol) tell me to be patient. "I am more than certain that Shloyme is my best brother and friend. When he has made...(a decision), he won't hide it from his uncle." Furthermore, I have time to wait. Whoever doesn't want to wait may inquire of you himself on the telephone or by wire. Isn't that right, Sol...? Dear Sol, I write you that I have been pestered by Aunt Chaya Rifke lately. She wants to have your address. For what??? You should understand by yourself. I really wasn't able to avoid her. I gave her an address, your name with the wrong street and the wrong number. However, the letter was returned to Kinsk. I don't know what she wants from you... If she gets your address from Lodz or from somewhere else, you should know that I am taking no part in it. Thank G-d, I am not short of situations in which influence and intermediaries are required. Don't think, Sol, that I influence anyone not to write or that I don't help. However, in this circumstance I have to remain neutral because you know very well the different sorts of people that are found in the world. One asks for bread, another asks for a piece of clothing, a third person asks for help in making a wedding for his child, a fourth person asks for help to enlarge his business, and go try to be smart enough to know who is in need and who is not.. So, I close my letter with heartfelt regards. Heartfelt and loving regards to you and your worthy wife as well as to your in-laws, father, sisters and family. My wife and children, Aunt Estherl and Uncle Lazer send their heartfelt regards. Your uncle, who wishes you the best and who hopes to hear an answer promptly, With respect, Wolf Lewkowicz All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.