Lodz, 30 December 1923

Devoted, beloved nephew, Sol Zissman,

Today I received your first and second letters. I have no
response to your first letter.  Your writing about your
sister's illness and about Bronye made a deep impression on
me.  I wouldn't have believed that your father's behavior
would change so much. I will write him a letter one of
these days.

This shabbos, dear Sol, whatever family I have was here.  I
have no idea who got them all together...perhaps my wife.
Or perhaps they had heard about my latest plans from
Opoczno.  I'll tell you exactly who was there and what
everyone thought and said about me.

At my house were Uncle Emanuel Lewin, his wife, and
daughter; Aunt Dina Raizl and her husband; Sarah (your
aunt's daughter whose husband left her); Rochl and her hus-
band, whom she married last year; my brother-in-law, Hetske,
and his wife , and so on.

When I came in from the street and saw the family gathering,
I was a bit shaken.  I have suffered and struggled so
lately, and no one knew anything about it, and all of a sud-
den... But to get back to the point, I decided to study the
gathering carefully, to restrain myself and say nothing
until I heard what they wanted. The discussion started
among the women, and I was only able to hear disconnected
phrases, such as, "America," "dollars," "an apartment,"
"children," "wife," "mother," etc.

After a while, I could no longer pretend to remain disin-
terested, so I asked the company what the "happy occasion"
was to which we owed this gathering. My oldest and wisest
uncle, Emanuel Lewin, spoke up and said that they had come
to say good-bye, since they had heard that I was going to
America.  They came a little early for that! In short, I
took your letter in hand and started to read.  A silence
descended on the house, and they listened to every word in
astonishment.

After I had finished reading, I sat down to listen to
everyone's opinion.  The discussion began: Moshe, Rochl's
husband, started the discussion, saying, "I wish that I had
such a chance to go." Sarah said, "When you're ready to go,
you should take me along." My Uncle Emanuel said, "If he
wants to help you, it would be better for him to help you
here in Poland." His wife, my aunt, said, "He's already
sent $150 and what has he accomplished with that?" My Uncle
Yankl said, "If he would only send you enough to rent an

apartment, you wouldn't die of starvation in Lodz either."
My Aunt Dina Raizl said, "In my opinion, he should send for
the whole family, and an end to it!" My "smart" brother-
in-law said, "If he only sent enough to expand the busi-
ness, then Lodz would be America!" My wife said, "I'll
probably be dead before anything happens."  My (daughter)
Balcia didn't stop crying and plead, "Mama, don't let Daddy
leave." Rifchele said, "Even when Daddy's here we are
hungry; how will we be able to have enough to eat if he
leaves?" My youngest child, my most-beloved son, hearing
that I was leaving asked, "Papa, will you tkae me with you
to America?" Toward the end of the discussion, a cousin of
mine asked my mother-in-law what she thought of the letter.
My mother-in-law answered crossly that she hasn't been on
speaking terms with me or Malke since Succos. In her own
words, "Of course, now that they've robbed and cheated a
world of people, now they're going to America."

Dear and devoted Shloymele, I'm the patient.  Everyone has
something to do with my illness. Everyone is discussing my
ailment. One says that I'm in a bad way. Someone else says
that I'll recover. Yet another says that I should leave. A
fourth person says that I should have an operation. A fifth
says that only a specialist can help. And I, dear child,
your uncle, lie on the sick bed but am still conscious
enough to understand my condition. I listen to everyone's
opinion, but I am unable to answer, since the illness is
such that I am able to see, hear and understand, but I am
unable to speak. And above all, I don't have anyone to whom
I can speak.  With you, dear child, I could easily talk,
since you are indeed the only young doctor who wants to help
me with all the powers at your disposal. You and only you
understand the malady from which I have been suffering so
many years.

I have listened to everyone's ideas, and I turn to you, my
dear child, to find a means to save your uncle from his ter-
rible disease. I know very well that you are true and
devoted to me, that you want to help me and that you will
help me. I want to let you know that I need your help.
Only yours! I make only one condition, that you should not,
and must not, G-d forbid, ruin yourself, no matter what.
Don't, G-d forbid, make it so that you'll have to work a
whole year (to make up the loss). No, dear one!  Consider
well, since your every penny is earned by the sweat of your
brow and is very dear to me. Think it over carefully. I am
ready to obey you and to follow your advice, and I hope that
your advice about coming (there) will be in my best
interests.

I have nothing more of import to report, so I close my
letter with heartfelt regards. I send you loving and heart-
felt greetings--to you, your sisters, family, and so on.

My wife and children send their best regards.

Please excuse my poor penmanship. I wrote in haste and in a
nervous state.  Hoping that my letter will find you in the
best of health, is your uncle, who hopes for your happiness,

        Wolf Lewkowicz




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