Lodz, 5 April 1923 Devoted, Esteemed and always Beloved Nephew, Appropriately Named Sol Zissman, I received your precious letter, in which you enclosed $5 for my dear mother, on the first day of Passover. I let my mother know about it immediately and asked how I could get the $5 to her--if I should mail it or if she knew of anyone going to Konskie. But on the second day of the intermediate days of Passover, my sister, Esther, and my brother-in-law, Lazer, came to Lodz for a short while to find out how things are. I gave them the letter and the $5, being more than certain that my dear mother would receive it in good order. I feel that I am responsible for her getting it, unlike other jokers I could name...about whom I once heard a story concerning $2. Believe me, Shloymele, if my mind were as sharp as it used to be years ago, I could write a book dedicated to perfectly illustrating our whole family, the poor, the rich, even my sister would be included among them. From time immemorial, it is a deep rooted fact that the poor hate the rich. But, my dear child, I give you my honest word that, if I dislike some people in my family, it is not because they are richer than I, but simply because they have less human decency. With no breeding, they grow (useless) on G-d's good earth and waste the very food they consume. How much grief do you think I've had over the letters that were written to you for matsos, for money to start businesses, etc.? I have berated my brother-in-law and sister many times merely for their lack of tact. Dear Shloymele, I want you to know that the whole family envied me, because Wolf was sent dollars, because Wolf has "America in Europe." They then expected that they too should receive a hundred dollars--and that you, dear Shloy- mele, are such a "fool" that you would send them money. It seems that they missed the mark. On the one hand, I kissed your letter for its wisdom, but on the other hand I became very upset because I take things immediately to heart. This is what I thought: How do you, Shloymele, sitting in Chicago, know what's going on in Opoczno? I know that you are well informed about Lodz. Are you really a bit of a prophet, or do you read every single letter so profoundly, do you penetrate deeply into everyone's heart? I ask you, is everyone capable of this? What good is the passage, "Happy is he who is content with his lot?" How long do you think I have wrestled with the pros and cons of the matter and tried not to write to you for money? Have you found in any of my letters one word about sending me more money? Has anyone in our family except me and Uncle Emanuel suffered so much during the seven years of the World War? Nevertheless, all my hopes and prayers to the Almighty Creator were that I should yet have the honor in my life of writing you that things are going well for me, that I am earning a living, that I have amounted to something, and so forth. Dear nephew, in your letter, you write that you work hard, that you carry stoves weighing 450 pounds. No one will comprehend whta you write as I, your uncle, do. I well understand that the bigger the city, the harder it is neces- sary to work. Nevertheless, dear Shloymele, as a young man of twenty, you have managed to accomplish quite a bit--in the area of business as well as in the personal domain. As to your maturity, I tell you truly, without any ulterior motive at all, that one can come to you for advice on busi- ness matters. Concerning my mother, that is, your dear grandmother, I want to let you know that she has rented the apartment and from the rent she receives she pays Estherl something for food, perhaps 10,000 marks a week. It is a ridiculous sum, amounting to ten to twelve cents a week. I asked Estherl about this paltry sum--twice nothing is nothing. She told me that my mother vowed not to (live and) eat at the home of any of her children without paying. So let it be. If you want to be a devoted grandchild, if you love your dear grandmother, although I know that you are not overflowing with money, send her something from time to time--but send a small sum. Since she doesn't need the money for the busi- ness, and she also does not, G-d forbid, lack for food, it will enable her to buy herself something to wear every once in a while. Let her know that she has a grandson, a strap- ping fellow (as you write), in America. This is the sole comfort such as it is, which permits her to forget her great sorrows, the wounds of which are still so fresh and which are impossible to heal as soon as you think. Let this be her comfort, a few dollars, a letter, a photograph, etc. Concerning me, dear child, for the meanwhile I can write nothing definite. Today is one of the intermediate days of Passover. During this time, we will take inventory of the business, and only then will I know where I stand in the world. I would like, my devoted and beloved nephew, to write you a letter of good news. I would like to be able to write you that the wish you wished for me from the bottom of your heart has been fulfilled. I long to write you that I am making a living, that I have accomplished something with your hard earned $150. I also long to write that you and only you have helped to establish me on a firm foundation. Unfortunately, it is a bit premature to write all this. You must have a bit more patience and wait together with your uncle. I pray to the Almighty Creator that all those who have had a share in my suffering will also share my happi- ness. It will be as it is written in Psalms, "They who sow in tears will reap in joy." I close my letter with heartfelt and loving regards to you, your father and sisters, your family, and so on. My wife and children send your family warm regards. Lazer and Esther also send you regards. Please don't hold their writ- ing to you against them. They didn't realize that you would be smarter than they. From me, your uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.