Opoczno,  8 November 1927

Esteemed and beloved brother, as well as nephew, and niece

 with your worthy name, Zissman,

I have made you wait for five whole weeks for an answer.  For 35
days, I delayed my writing and let you wait for an answer.  It's
really a little too long.  However, my devoted child, if you
knew everything that your uncle experienced during the last two
months, you would surely not judge your uncle harshly.  I will
now relate everything in brief fashion because I am still so
upset that I simply feel sick.  Another person in my place would
certainly go away for a month's rest...

Perhaps you remember, dear Sol, that I wrote you a letter at
Rosh Hashana in which I made it clear that our business was not
going well because corn had increased in price, and the crop was
not a good one this year.  In 1926, at this time of the year, it
cost approximately $3 per meter, and today it's $5 per meter,
i.e., more than 60% more expensive.  Sales are so slow, and the
competition is so great that it's not possible to survive.  From
the month of July until now, we have lost a good deal of money,
our own and others'...  Coincidentally, my contract terminates
at the beginning of 1928.  If I were to leave now and make an
end of it, it would be very bad...  On the other hand, I am also
not able to stay on because, in the face of such prices and
competition, we would surely be ruined because the taxes eat us
up on the one hand and the percentage of interest we pay on the
other.  Furthermore, a year ago I had a good reputation.  My
note secured corn for us.  I obtained it from Friday to
Wednesday without money.  Now we have to pay in advance, credit
is harder to get, etc.  You can imagine how my head spins for
days and weeks at a time, so that one even forgets that he is
supposed to answer a devoted brother, as well as nephew.  So, I
have given one explanation.

Now, my devoted one, I will write of news that will also not
make you happy.  I was in Lodz for Sukkoth.  Coming home, I
learned that my in-laws are going to Canada.  The news hit me
like a bolt of lightning...no minor matter, "such" in-laws. 
But, after all, it was a holiday, our Festival of Rejoicing, so
I didn't want to be terribly sad...  The first days of the
holiday passed; the intervening days; on Hoshana Rabbah, I went
to synagogue to  secure a favorable result, as you yourself
advised me to do.  However, I thought to myself, "What does it
all matter if my mother-in-law..."  Returning home, I find them
sitting in my house after our not seeing each other for five
years.  We meet, and she embraces me and wants to...I cry out,
"Stop"...I remain standing, stunned.  However, immediately I
hear my wife and children, father-in-law and mother-in-law
crying just as if, chas v'cholilah, someone had died...  Malke
comes close to me and, sobbing, pleads with me to forget, to
cast my stubbornness aside because her parents are traveling to
such a distant point.  "Let bygones be bygones.  G-d is also
forgiving.  Today is Hashana Rabbah."  The children are crying,
pleading, kissing.  

Even though, dear Sol, they didn't have it coming, not so much
my father-in-law as my mother-in-law, that I should speak a word
to them in my lifetime, I simply realized that there may still
be found in me a drop of humanity which I inherited from my late
father and mother, may they rest in peace.  I extended my hand
to them, and there was peace.  

Thereupon, I familiarized myself with the entire correspondence
from their sons in Toronto, how they are at each other's throats
there, Berish and Shia.  Shia says that they should send for
their parents; Berish says they should not.  Shia says, "Day;"
Berish says, "Night."  In a word, it's worthwhile to familiarize
oneself with all the letters which they have received up to the
last moment...  At the start, both agreed to send for their
parents.  Currently, Berish regrets it.  Shia insists that he'll
teach him a lesson.  They scurry to the immigration department,
they withdraw the requests, the affidavits; they create fear (in
their parents),  etc., etc.  I was disgusted to read it... 
However, merely one letter found its way into my hands which I
am enclosing with my letter.  The letter was sent by Hertzke,
their brother, my former partner, may the partnership rest in
peace, from Lodz to Toronto.  Just as soon as Berish saw that
his brother begrudged the fact that he should send for his wife,
but rather spoke on his own behalf, he took the letter and sent
it back to Lodz for his wife to read.  Apparently, before
leaving for Canada, his wife showed it to my in-laws and teased
Hertzke because he couldn't convince his brother to do something
bad to her.  Sol, if you have time and are not busy, put your
mind to the task, read every word and understand everything.  If
you were not entirely familiar with these people, this letter
will completely acquaint you with them...

So, to be brief, the holiday passed peacefully.  They all let me
know that it had fallen to my lot to accompany them to Warsaw to
secure the visa at the Consulate.  I turned down this pleasure
and deferred to my wife for her to take care of it.  Right after
Sukkoth, l left for Opoczno, but on the 30th I received a
telegram to come immediately because they were boarding ship on
November 1.  I thought it over and went to Lodz and then from
Lodz to Warsaw.  I trembled the whole time lest they "steal" my
mother-in-law.  I spent three days in Warsaw and ran around
quite a bit, without regard for my feet, from one office to
another, from one doctor to a second.  One doctor wanted to
approve my father-in-law's departure and have him leave my
mother-in-law...  I asked him whether he might reverse his
decision...  He said, "No."  I gave him a wink, and he permitted
her to heal her eyes by herself over a 10-day period.  So be it.
 To be brief, I say my goodbyes, complete everything in the best
of order.  Neither the son nor the daughter took care of this,
but, in fact, I.  They left today for Danzig, and on the 14th
they should board the ship.  

In any event, Sol, you should know that there is a saying making
the rounds here, "I have you in Danzig".....so you understand
how today I "have" my mother-in-law in Danzig...  My loneliness
is "impossible" to describe in writing...  How can you
understand?  You are a "hero" since you have your mother-in-law
close to you, see her when you want to, speak with her when it
pleases you.  But I...it's "sad" for me now...I can not find any
consolation...I will become ill because of my loneliness...not
so much because of my father-in-law as my mother-in-law... 
However, as far as that's concerned, I wished them a

good trip.  They asked me whether I would come if they sent for
me.  I answered that I would fly to them on an airplane.  And,
in fact, Sol, until the time comes that I go to them, traveling
by air will become so widespread that it will be possible to fly
to them...  So now you have a second answer to the question of
why I haven't written to you for such a long time and made you
wait so long for a response.

Now, Sol, I have more news, Opoczno news, for you.  What's
really important is that you read my writing carefully and
understand how treacherous the world is and how one person wants
to take the bread out of the mouth of another, oblivious to the
fact of whether the other is a brother, a sister, a
brother-in-law.  Just grab from whomever you can!  As you know,
two years ago serious arguments took place between Moshe
Zilberspitz and his brother-in-law, Lazer Chmielnicki.  I had
not known that their relationship was so strained that Uncle
Lazer wanted to drown himself at the very same mill where I am
now working.  Dear Sol, it isn't necessary to describe for you
on paper Uncle Lazer's kindness and fine character because there
is not a person in Opoczno who has a complaint against Lazer,
businessmen as well as workers.  As far as family is concerned,
it isn't even necessary to comment.  But, but, this one Moshe is
not satisfied that Lazer has enough bread to fill himself.  If
you want to know how wealthy he is, ask your father (-in-law),
Mr. Anker, who will describe his home, his life, his children,
etc.   An authentic Opoczno style of living...

During the time that I have been in Opoczno, I have tried a
number of times to bring about peace between Moshe and Lazer. 
Since Uncle Lazer has a great deal of confidence in me as a
mensch, I convinced him to loan Moshe 300 zlotys which, together
with 150 zlotys that Moshe has owed him for a long time, would
make 450 zlotys, about $50, on the condition that Moshe would be
responsible for repaying the $50 over a two-year period at the
rate of 50 cents a week, just about equal to the interest on the
sum would be if he were to borrow it at a bank.  This took place
about a year ago, but you can be sure that Lazer figured from
the beginning that he was making a gift of the amount.  During
the whole year, Moshe didn't even repay one cent and Lazer
didn't dun him for more because he knew that Moshe was a poor
man.  

However, he forgot that Lazer is far from being a wealthy man...
  A new circumstance arose.  The Sanitary Commission came to
Lazer and said, "If you want to be a baker in Opoczno, you'll
have to observe the rules of the Commission.  A bakery must
consist of four rooms:  a room for the oven; a room for the
workers to dress; a room for grain; and a room or a store for
selling bakery goods."  However since the whole building which
he inherited and purchased consists of only four rooms, it
figures out that he would have to live in the street.  

To be brief, however, we're dealing here with his living.  If
they decree that he cannot bake, it will be worse.  So they
began looking for solutions.  In the building there was also a
room used by the Alexander Chasidim that adjoined the bakery.  I
began to negotiate with the Chasidim and explained to them that
we were dealing with a man's ability to make a living and that
they should put themselves in his shoes.  Briefly, he made a
deal with them to rent another room for them at a cost of 350
zlotys, and Lazer would be able to refashion the bakery as
required and according to the demands which they made of him,
although it would have to cost him a fortune, over $150.  But
did he have an alternative?

To make a long story short, the Chasidim are taken care of and
are moving out today in order for the necessary remodeling to be
made.  Guess what happened tonight.  Moshe Zilberspitz moved
into the room through force.  I happened to be in the mill. 
Before dawn, they come running for me.  When I arrived at the
spot, I was stunned.  Half the town was standing around, one
person in his underwear, a second bare headed, a third without a
coat.  There is shouting, yelling, weeping.  I was confused, not
knowing where to begin.  I run to Moshe and begin to plead,
weep, kiss and hug; (I ask) him to move out willingly since
we're involved here with a man's living.  However, my words were
like a voice crying out in the wilderness.  He keeps hollering
that he is an heir, that he is entitled to a place to live.  He
doesn't care where his place to live comes from.  From his point
of view, erect a 15-story building and give him a place to live.
 You can imagine, dear Sol, what went on here.  I have to tell
you one thing.  I am 41 years old; I have never raised my hand
against anyone in the world.  Nevertheless, at the moment, he so
infuriated me that I gave him a blow to the head.  He fell at
once.  In a nutshell, the police came immediately, made a
report, threw everything out on the street.  To be sure, he's on
the street all day and all night anyway.  

The following day, when he calmed down from all the excitement,
he thought it over.  What did he do to his own brother-in-law? 
All of his good friends who talked him into doing it had
disappeared.  He recognized that he had made a mistake.  I
wasn't able to do anything with Lazer.  He was so upset that I
had to keep him locked up the whole time because if I had left
them together the results would not have been good.  The
following day, I took Moshe aside and pointed out to him the
error of his ways.  As my cousin and his friend, we began to
seek a solution.  (We sent) a telegram to his parents.  Aunt
Chaya Rifke came immediately.  She scolded him severely.  Later,
I insisted that all of his things be taken back to his old
apartment where he had lived up to now.  Further, I insisted
that Lazer agree that he would not be opposed to Moshe obtaining
an apartment in the other building and moving in and living
there peacefully.  That's the most important thing.  In this
way, I was able to complete the task.  However, that Moshe
suffers from a sort of madness, a mania about inheritances, I
can assure you.  I can swear, dear Sol, that in the whole house
where Lazer lives there's not one apartment that's even as nice
as the bakery where your grandmother lived in Kinsk.  So, you
can picture what they're fighting over.  True madness.  A true
mania about inheritances.  

I ask you, Sol, if they fight in Opoczno over this kind of
inheritance, what will take place in America after the death of
Henry Ford?  According to reason, the ocean will turn to blood;
isn't that right?

In any event, dear Sol, trouble didn't fail me over the last
five weeks and, therefore, you will have an answer, my dear one,
as to why I haven't written to you recently.  In any event, Sol,
I ask for you to forgive me for making you wait for an answer
until today, and I ask you not to take revenge on me and not to
make me wait but to write a long letter to me right away about
everything that's going on there and how my dear niece, Esther,
is doing and what's new with your in-laws, how business is there
in general, how the season wound up, whether you sold all the
stoves, whether it's winter already.  It's not winter yet here. 
The weather is disagreeable, rainy weather.  

Also write to me, dear Sol, what I should do.  Should I remain
in Opoczno or should I return to Lodz because I am not making a
living here now.  Would that it would improve to the extent that
it has deteriorated.  In a word, devoted brother, we don't hear
anything favorable, and we don't foresee anything favorable.  I
prayed to G-d this Rosh Hashana that, if I am destined to live
for a few years, they be good years, not filled with troubles,
with aggravation, etc.  

So, there is nothing more of importance to relate.  Regards and
kisses to you, your worthy wife and in-laws, sisters, father,
family, et al.  My wife and children send heartfelt regards to
you, your wife and family.  Regards to you also from Uncle
Lazer, Aunt Estherl and family.  They have no time to write to
you.  You can imagine how upset they are after such a quarrel. 
I am enclosing a picture of Lazer's three sons, Wolf, Moshe and
Yoske.  Not bad looking boys, eh?  

I have already asked you whether you ever see Chaiml Marianka in
Chicago.  His father asks me to find out if he is alive because
it's been a year and a half since he received a letter from him.
 Write me the truth as to whether or not he is alive.

		Your uncle,

		Wolf Lewkowicz

Please return the letter that I am enclosing.

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