(July 12, 1923)

Devoted and most dear Sol Zissman,

Two days ago, I sent you a letter and a picture of myself
and my family.  Now, I write you another letter because you
will read and reread my previous letter and learn everything
and learn nothing...  I must, once and for all, make it
clear to you so that you will understand me and my letters.
My present letter will be an addition to my previous letter,
and then everything will be clarified for you in detail
(respecting) the situation and the current status of your
devoted uncle!

Several months ago, when you sent me the $150, you requested
my word that I would write you the full truth, whether it be
good or, chas v'cholilah, bad, either way.  It would be
unkind on my part if I were not to fulfill your request.
But, dear and devoted Shloymele, up to now I have not given
you a biographical sketch.  Since I received the money, I
have not requested anything of you.  And you, my devoted
child, write to me in your last letter in this language:  You
will not subsidize me any more in Poland, but if I come to
America you are prepared to do everything in the world for
me, but before I come I should take into account that I am an
only son, etc.  I did not become angry at these words, my
dear child, but read them calmly and wept profusely.  If, my
devoted child, you were not so far from me, if the broad
ocean were not separating us, on receiving your letter, I
would have gone to you, my most devoted one, and opened my
heart, and then you would have discovered there the entire
truth.  But one only reads a letter.  What can one see there?
Black ink on white paper.

Six months ago, when I received the check for $150, I was in
a daze and overjoyed.  I had not decided what to do, what
was necessary to do.  I didn't consult with anyone.  But
since I was completely without merchandise, i.e., for the
last seven or eight years I was a salesman of everything and
nothing...i.e., I had completely lost the skill of business
methods; I totally lacked the prestige, the ability, the
shrewdness, the courage that a businessman must have.  I was
completely dependent on others...  I thought to myself that,
while I figure out what kind of business deals to make, I
would use up the money on food.  At the time, I was working
for my brother-in-law.  I earned a living, but at a minimal
level.  However, I was thinking about how to become
independent.  When I mentioned my ideas to my brother-in-law,
he approved.  He had a partner, also a tailor, but smarter
than he is, who was eliminated from the business.  And then,
a partnership was formed among the relatives, i.e., two
brothers-in-law, me, and my father-in-law.

We bought merchandise with all the money that we had, and we
advertised in the newspaper that from us, i.e., the Rotberg
Company, one can buy a handmade suit, an overcoat, a pair of
pants on payments.

Well, at the beginning, things went well.  We received credit
for two months to three months.  We extended credit to others
for five months.  What should I write you?  The first few
months, i.e., until Passover, we lived along with the
business.  I became acquainted with the merchants.  In a
word, I rediscovered the forgotten path that I had lost for a
full eight years.  And as I sensed the ability, I wanted to
exploit it in accord with my vision, with my understanding.
I wanted to use all of the business skills that I had left,
because a businessman is not a tailor...a business man has to
have a sharp eye, a sense of smell.  A businessman can
sometimes earn more in one day than a tailor can in a whole
year.  A businessman has to be enterprising, patient,
analytical and smart.  When I noted at Passover that a change
was taking place in the country, something abnormal, i.e.,
merchandise increased in price from day to day, we were no
longer able to get credit, the cost of living increased,
economic strikes everywhere, I said to my brother-in-law,
"Hertzke, do you know what?  I think we have to be very
careful of our merchandise now because we don't sell for cash
but on payments.  We have to begin immediately to give only
as much credit as we receive, etc."  This led to a lot of
arguments and quarrels between us.  He said that he didn't
think much of my opinion.  I demonstrated with facts that
"his head was sewn shut with a needle" and that he has more
luck than sense.  And what was the result?  From Passover to
now, merchandise has increased in price by 5000%.  The value
of the mark has fallen to almost nothing, i.e., for the money
we have coming from our customers, we can buy a knife and a
rope...

Now, my devoted child, you will understand my recent letter.
When I saw that our business was sinking, I said to my
brother-in-law that I wanted to leave the partnership.  He
proposed the sort of conditions that broke my heart.  I
didn't have anyone with whom I could discuss the matter.  I
was so aggravated that I became ill and was in bed for ten
days.  Now, if you look carefully at your uncle on the
photograph, you won't wonder why he looks so bad.  As if it
were not bad enough that my partner, pardon the expression,
is stubborn, a nonentity, a bluffer, he's also not only not
overly bright...but a big ignoramus.

Now, my devoted Shloymele, I have summoned my
brother-in-law, Eliezer, from Opoczno and disclosed to him
everything that is going on here.  But how can he help me?

I understand myself what the situation looks like.  If I had
some sort of apartment somewhere, I would forget about the
whole thing.  I would be prepared..."tamot nafshi eem
Plishtim"...to die with the Philistines.  But since I don't
have anywhere to live, but am dependent on two iron beds at
my in-laws', I am forced to keep my mouth shut and to keep it
inside.  Nothing good is going to emerge from our business.
Either the business will go under or I will go under.  To run
a business for someone else and have him go around and brag
that he, and only he, has the power to decide what he wants
to do and what he doesn't want to do, what he finds useful
and what he doesn't find useful...  In a word, my devoted
child, I can't describe it all for you on paper.

And when once I wrote you in a letter that I hope to see you
again, you should not have sought a hidden meaning.  Rather,
very plainly, I was overcome by a lonesomeness; I wanted to
confide in you...in no one else, but in you, because as of
now no one is as close to me as you, my devoted child.  No
one has taken an interest in my predicament as you have.
Therefore, my devoted and dear one, when I wrote you the
truth, you shouldn't have blamed me.  First of all, I had to
observe my promise and write you the truth as you asked.
Secondly, I haven't as yet asked you for help or, up to now,
requested tickets for a ship.  I continue to be of the
opinion that when you are so devoted to me, when you are so
generous to me, then it is my duty to convey to you in a
letter everything that is happening to me, in accord with
your own request.

But, devoted and dear Shloymele, I beg you to read and
understand my letters differently.  I tell you categorically
that you have done quite enough, perhaps more than enough,
for your uncle.  I would very much like to write you happy,
not complaining, letters.  I would very much like to write
that all is well with me, that I am making a living and
that that I don't need anyone's help.  I am not one of those
people who have (money) and want even more.  I am also not
one of those who believe it is a good deed to grab dollars
from Americans because it doesn't really affect them and here
(the dollars) can make one a millionaire.  I am straight
forward, simple, earnest.  I seek and want to find a calm,
modest life, no great exploits, no fortunes, but to live a
life that will make my remaining years sweet, because my
early years have been grim and bitter...

I ask, devoted nephew, that if you want to send a letter
in which you want to express yourself in a way that may not
be appropriate (for others to read) with respect to my
partners, or something else, do not send it to my address,
but you can send it to my brother-in-law, Lazer, in Opoczno,
and he will forward it to his brother for me.  None of my

letters come directly into my hands.  In a word, since I have
been in the business, I have to be careful about everything.
I hope that, in time, I will find a way out, if not with the
business then a way for me to exist.

For now, devoted child, don't worry about me because of
this letter because I know that when you receive my letter,
you will heave more than one sigh and think to yourself,
"G-d knows what my uncle is going through there if he has
come to the point where he writes me a letter like this..."
However, Shloymele, acclimate yourself, and be patient.  I
give you my oath that if only I have the opportunity for you
to share in my happiness, I will make sure you do because
you, and only you, have earned the same from me; no one else
has...

So, nothing more of importance to relate.  Let me know how
you are feeling, how is business, etc.  Write me how your
father is feeling, about his business, etc.  Write me some
news about America.  Write me about the climate there.
Here, it was cold until July 10, and just today it's become
warm.  Write me about the salaries there.  Write me how
expensive the cost of living is.  Write me if there are any
indications that the immigration law may be revoked.  Write
me who is likely to be nominated as president.  You can vote
for anyone, but not for Ford.  I am enclosing a newspaper
article that will have a meaning...

I send heartfelt and loving regards.  My wife and children
also send regards to you, your father, and family, etc.

                             With respect,

                             Wolf Lewkowicz
                             c/o Rotberg
                             Wolczanska 168

My children send regards to you.  Regards for Isaac Anker
and for Isaac Kutchinsky.


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