Lodz,  22 April (1927)

To my dear and devoted brother, as well as nephew, with your
worthy name,

 Sol, and dear niece, Esther,

Today is one of the intermediate days of Passover, and I was
lonesome for you, my devoted one, and I have the desire to write
you a letter now.  I think that, before Passover, I wrote you a
letter and a post card from Opoczno.  I was working extremely
hard before Passover so that at that time I was not able to send
you a timely answer.  You may even think, dear Sol, that your
uncle has already become a success.  He is so busy that he never
has any time to write a letter to his most beloved and closest
one.  So, I have to make clear to you the reason why I made you
wait.

We milled at the mill all winter, and things were proceeding
almost normally, i.e., the cost of corn was $4 per meter and
(the price of) flour was 57-58 zlotys, $6.50, so we figured that
we would be left with about $.20 profit, or 150 zlotys for our
milling activities. Taking all our expenses into account, we had
approximately enough to make a living.  However, since winter is
the most difficult time for a mill, I endured all the burdens
and waited for summer to come, when a more favorable time
begins, i.e., a time when everyone buys, aware that prices will
not be cheaper until the new (crop).  So, we suffered a whole
winter and wanted to wait it out until after Passover. 
Unfortunately, the season started here two months earlier than
in any other year.  During the Purim season, we began to do
well, and we even sold (flour) that we didn't yet own, e.g., if
we sold 300 bags of flour, we should have purchased 600 measures
of corn at the same price, but when we went to buy corn we
discovered how much corn costs...  We didn't have any
alternative, paid whatever was demanded, and really lost a lot
on what we had sold...  

You will surely think, Sol, that I come again, chas v'cholilah,
to complain to your.  No, G-d forbid.  Even though we had such
an occurrence on this occasion, nevertheless, in spite of that,
we have survived the difficult time and now we are approaching
the best quarter of the year for millers.  I hope to recover
what I lost.  I have already worked in the business for almost a
year.  I have become more or less familiar with all the details.
 In Opoczno, I am considered to be somewhat of a businessman. 
Thank G-d, Opoczno businessmen have confidence in me; they trust
me from Friday after the market closes until Wednesday before
the market opens.  However, on Wednesday, I panic...I don't eat,
I don't sleep, until I cover all my (transactions).  After
Wednesday, I begin to breathe like a person newborn after an
operation.  I established the business in such a way that our
money is working (for us).  Six Hundred Dollars, i.e., of mine
and Lazer's, and one partner who also added $300 to the
business, so together it's $900; and money of others, i.e.,
money from bakers, money from businessmen adds up to $1,100; so
the business always operates with $2,000.  

You will surely ask, dear Sol, if the business operates with
$2,000, I should surely have a living in full measure.  So, I
answer you, my devoted one, first I take only 20%; the other
partners take 80%.  Second, we have very little working capital.
 Third, large debts, taxes, interest, etc.  However, despite all
that, devoted brother, I thank and love, first G-d, and then
you, for this because a year ago we didn't even foresee the
possibility of this.  I remember very well what a difficult
winter I had a year ago.  It was simply bitter and dark for me. 
We were all hungry.  No matter how much I wrote to you at that
time, I was still not able to convey to you what my situation
was...

From the moment that your father-in-law came to  Lodz, I placed
great hope on his arrival because I figured that he would
certainly be able to accomplish something for me in order that I
might be able to go to America.  Unfortunately, it all turned to
a bubble.  I had to abandon the notion of going to America or
Canada, and I realized that it was high time for me to come up
with a solution so that my wife and children would not go
hungry.  My sister and brother-in-law also became acquainted
with my situation...and, thanks to them, I entered the business.
 I won't say that I found my fortune in Opoczno.  No, devoted
Sol.  However, (having been) in such a tight spot, in such a
pit, in such torment in which I used to struggle, not being able
to earn enough for bread and salt, to have the opportunity of
this business in Opoczno where I sometimes earn $5 or $6 or $7 a
week, I really feel that I am a fortunate man.  "Ah," you will
ask, "how do you manage there with so few dollars?"  So I answer
that one manipulates a bit, one eats a bit at his sister's.  A
young man rooms at my house so I also get $2 a month from him to
apply to tax and rent.  In addition, my Balcia is working.  Even
though she doesn't earn anything yet, by summer I figure that
she will be earning from ten to fifteen gulden a week.  In any
event, life is getting easier, not more difficult.

I gather, Sol, that before a person lives out his few years he
has to endure everything.  He has to suffer and take his
punishment and agonize.  I have already endured everything,
suffered, and taken punishment and agonized, so that it would be
high time for me to write you letters saying that I am well,
live contentedly and make a living.  My life now is also not
focused in one place.  So, for example, my wife doesn't want to
return to Opoczno under any circumstances.  First of all,
because of a place to live; second, because of the children. 
However, I take things in stride; I can stand anything, no
matter how bad it is, as long as I make a living, even if I
should be delayed in "celebrating a bris..."  But what
alternative do I have?  Surely, this is what the times require. 
One more thing that I have to clarify for you, devoted Sol, is
that I have a child, Rifkele, the ray of sunshine of my house, a
child for whom it is a sin should her nail hurt her.  And this
child has a heart problem.  So, in Lodz she has the proper care
and attention, but in Opoczno I wouldn't be able to secure with
money the health care that I secure in Lodz without money.  I
went with her today to a doctor at the TOZ organization.  I want
to succeed in having her sent to a warm spa for fresh air.  It
may cost me as much as 200 zlotys, but I can't let that deter
me.  I will do everything that is in my power as a father to do.

What else, devoted Sol, shall I write you?  I have already
written everything.  I did not spare any tears at this year's
seder recalling that every Passover you used to send me the
wherewithal for the holiday  and this year, thank G-d, I
provided for Passover with my own earnings.  Good or bad,
everything is prepared, minimally, pure, clean.  And I sit and
think, "Master of the World," how fortunate would I now be if I
had you here now sitting next to me, if I were to drink a glass
of wine with you now as I drank yesterday with my
brother-in-law, Eliezer.  He left just today.  You know that
Passover is a holiday for a baker.  Therefore, he came to Lodz
for a short while to relax after a whole year of work.  We spoke
a lot of you, even though we speak of you often.  However,
during the intermediate days of this Passover when the family
gathered, we spoke of you in particular and of your late mother,
may she rest in peace, and of your grandmother, may she rest in
peace.  Write to me, Sol, whether you too have your mother's
family in mind as they have you in mind.  Also write me whether
you used the kiddush cup for the seder that I sent to you by way
of your father-in-law.  Also write me whether Elijah appears at
your seder as he does at ours and how does he get in there in
the face of the quota?  Also write me whether you "ruled" this
year...although these days kings are not in a secure situation. 
I think that by the time my letter arrives you may be preparing
to abdicate.  

Further, dear Sol, I ask you to write how you are feeling and
how your dear Esther is feeling, and what's new with your whole
family and your wife's family.  There is no news here with us. 
Everything is as it was.  Those people who were rich have become
poor, and the poor people have become paupers, charity cases,
poor devils, etc.  There is also no news at my sister's.  She
was supposed to write you a letter during the intermediate days,
but I don't know whether she wrote.  Do her a favor and write
her a long letter because she yearns so for your letters.  She
always asks me to write letters for her, but you certainly know,
Sol, how it is to write a letter for someone else.  She also
tells me to inquire in every letter when you plan to make a trip
to Europe.  She read in the newspaper that 50,000 Americans are
taking vacations in Europe this year.  She wonders why you and
your wife should not  be counted among these 50,000...  It's a
good question.

So, regards and kisses from your loving and devoted brother, as
well as uncle, to you and your worthy wife and family.  My wife
sends you heartfelt regards; the children also send you
heartfelt regards.  My sister, Uncle Lazer and children and the
whole family send heartfelt regards to all of you.  Please reply
promptly with a 24-page letter.  I wish you a successful summer.

		With respect, 

		Wolf Lewkowicz

P.S. I am going back to Opoczno right after the Holiday.  My
address is the same as it was.  L. Chmielnicki, 11 Kaluzna,
Opoczno, Poland.  Attention: W. Lewkowicz.

Special regards to you from my son, Joseph.  He is a fine lad. 
He asked many questions...but I have no explanations.


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