Opoczno, 28 April 1926

To the dearest of my dear ones, devoted nephew Sol,

You will surely wonder, "Why is there again a letter from
Opoczno, not from Lodz?"  So, my devoted one, I inform you
that I have already been here in Opoczno for ten days for
business reasons.  I will report all the particulars!!!

As I already informed you in my last letter, my sainted
mother, may she rest in peace, died two weeks before
Passover, and I spent the entire period of mourning in
Opoczno, so that my sister and also my brother-in-law
became interested in my circumstances...  At that time, we
had a discussion with your father-in-law about a bakery or a
store in Lodz.  However, my devoted child, whatever I
considered didn't seem to me to be practical.  First of all,
I must point out to you that, because of the terrible crisis
that Poland is now going through, all businesses are of
little value.  Second, we have the problem that there is no
extension of credit; they do not want to make loans because
the zloty is falling in value.  That means that a storekeeper
can only do business with the money he has.  Therefore, the
businesses don't get larger; just the opposite, they only
decrease in size.  Third, we have the problem that if you
want to buy a store or an apartment, you have to pay key
money, so that for a store with one room, one has to pay from
$300-$500.  Knowing that I wouldn't be able to make a go of
all of this because I don't have $10 of my own, I had decided
to go to go to the ends of the world in order not to be
ruined, chas v'cholilah.

Devoted Shloyme, I want you to know that I consider you to be
the most devoted person to me in the world, and I considered
very carefully everything that you wanted to do for your
uncle, but if it didn't work out it isn't my fault and it's
also not your fault.

Therefore, your last letter to me, with Mr. Dvorkin's
enclosed, that my brothers-in-law in Toronto got what they
wanted, not you, did not satisfy me completely.  I don't know
why, but if I don't have a trust in a person, I don't want to
have anything to do with him, no relationship, no dealings,
no business, etc.  Furthermore, you yourself have already
characterized them.

If I were able and had the opportunity, I would not only go
to you.  I would fly.  I would leave my best deals, and I
would go to you because I know very well that it doesn't make
sense to be in Poland and to wait for a few dollars from
America.  This is good for an 80-year old Jew, not for a
person who wants, and has the skills, to do business, but has
no luck.

You have known for a long time that, from a material
standpoint, the war ruined me.  Shloyme, each time that I am
in need, you stand on guard, and I think that you will also
not remain indifferent to my letter now because you yourself
once wrote me that I should take courage, not be depressed,
and I am taking your advice now, particularly when I see that
my sainted mother, may she rest in peace, is making efforts
on my behalf in order that I can remain alive and exist!
"...O mind not our former iniquities..."  I don't want to
remind myself of all my deals and of those with whom I did
business.  You have carried out your task in a holy and
honorable manner.  At that time, you sent me $150 to
establish a business.  The liquidation of the business made
me feel wretched as I remained out on the street without a
home, without money and without a livelihood.  For your
second $150, I bought an apartment for which I could get $100
even if I were to sell it today.  However, where will I move?
We can't live on the street.  And for the apartment to (be
sold to) provide me with food is also not practical, after
all.  Therefore, recently I planned to go elsewhere in the
world to seek a livelihood.  However, my devoted one, I
realize that the law is stronger than you and I, and it's not
as easy to actually go as it is to talk about it!

So, really, what can be done?  Ten days ago, I received a
letter from my brother-in-law, Eliezer, that I should come to
Opoczno for business reasons.  And now I will describe
everything in detail that I have accomplished during this
time and the purpose for my coming.  I approach the matter,
but I ask you to consider my words carefully.

I have already informed you in my previous letters that my
brother-in-law, Lazer, wants to assist me with $100 in order
to start a business if it will provide a living.  I have come
to the realization that I must dismiss America from my mind
for the time being, and I started to think, "Well, if there's
already $100, what can be purchased?  Not a store; certainly
not a bakery; and I don't want to begin if it's not going to
be safe."  My brother-in-law, here in Opoczno, had a
discussion with a miller from whom he purchases flour.  But
currently he's a bit squeezed, and he wants to take in a
partner.  As soon as I came, I looked over the business and
concluded that it shouldn't be too bad.  For the last four
months until the new harvest, it should certainly be good.
We contracted in writing to buy the business and undertook to
to put 200 measures of corn into the mill, $600 at today's
price, and the miller also is going to put in 200 measures,
so that the mill will operate the entire week.  I will start
as a worker, and will receive 50 zlotys a week, i.e., $5 a
week.  There will be an accounting every month, and then we
will see what further to do.

We have already put in the first 100 measures of corn and
next Sunday the business will begin to operate, and we will
have to put in the second 100 measures during the following
two weeks, i.e., by May 15.  Lazer didn't make the deal so
much for himself because, thank G-d, he makes a living.  It's
not a great business, but it provides food and clothing.  99%
of the reason he's doing it is on my account because recently
he has become thoroughly familiar with my situation...and he
wants to be of help to me to the limit of what it takes, but
since he is not a businessman he has no understanding of a
different branch of the business.  Furthermore, flour is an
article which is quickly consumed, and he himself uses 10-15
bags weekly.  In a word, it has a great many good points, but
it appears that he made the deal under a lot of pressure
because he is a person without wiles.  He can't make a move.
Not having a great deal of money, he was concerned that the
second 100 measures of corn would put him in a tight spot,
and he wouldn't be able to remain an honest man and perform
on a timely basis.

However, at the time that I looked over the business and
concluded that it would be possible to make a living from it,
I undertook to deal with the matter having complete
confidence in you, my devoted one, even though you will think
there about your uncle as you see fit.  But Sol, at a time
when I see that there can be a business, I gather courage and
energy and break through all obstacles.

Devoted Shloyme, it is difficult, very difficult, for me with
my pen to ask you to send me money knowing that you work very
hard, as you yourself write.  But I have no alternative.  The
deal has been made.  Not only can I make a living from it,
but I can become a partner in place of my brother-in-law,
Lazer, or we can split the partnership share between us.  But
the problem is money.  Where can we get it?  I have no choice
but to appeal to your pure conscience and to your refined,
kosher heart that you should not to remain indifferent now to
my current letter because we are not asking you now for
support.  We have made a deal, and we can't complete it.
With your assistance, we will be able to be successful, with
G-d's help.  If it is possible, it would be best for you to
telegraph it because time is of the essence.  Also, do not
send it in my name to Lodz but to Opoczno in Lazer's name.  I
won't indicate how much you should send because I can't crawl
into your pocket.  If you were here on the spot and realized
that you are putting to work and helping your devoted uncle,
you would surely not argue about the sum.  I rely completely
on you and on your "menschlich," kosher, pure heart!!!

So, nothing more of importance.  I send heartfelt regards to
you and your worthy wife and sisters, father, father-in-law
and mother-in-law.  Lazer is also writing a letter to you.
Please answer quickly and (send) your help for our
undertaking even more quickly.  With respect,

                              Your uncle,

                              Wolf Lewkowicz


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