Opoczno, 15 August 1926 Most beloved and most devoted nephew and also my most beloved niece, E. Zissman, We have received your letter to me and also a letter to your Aunt Esther. I put off (answering) you for two weeks this time because of various reasons. However, I hope that you, my devoted one, will forgive me for my delay in answering you. You know very well that it is not your uncle's nature to make you wait for an answer. The reason was a bit of a concern because of my daughter, Rifchele, who is ill, and I had to do what I could for her health. Thanks to G-d, it cost money and she is, thank G-d, a little better. The second reason was due to business. Since, in a mill, before the New (Year) there's a bit of a season, so I was quite occupied with work. We had to travel around to buy corn and sell flour, etc. Dear Sol, when you read my letter, you will surely be interested in the bottom line, the result, of the business in which I have recently been engaged. So, I can inform you that as curious as you are and (as much as you) want to know, I would want even more to convey good news about my business, but one can't evaluate it so quickly on paper, and I don't want to bluff you. I want to write you the pure truth, whatever it is, because you are entitled to know! Respecting your grandfather's (sic) question as to which mill I am a partner of, so I write that you should tell your dear grandfather that it is the mill that is located on the road from Drzewica to Kinsk. At one time, the mill belonged to a certain Mr. Berel Schwartzman, then to a German, then to a certain Jew, Mr. Mendel Birenboim, and now to three partners, Mogelnitzer Jews, Hasidim in fact. I have absolutely no notion of their wealth; they may be rich or poor. The extent of their wealth is unknown, but since the crisis over the last two years also did not pass them by, and they were left far behind because the taxes and various other problems hit them so hard, they were at a complete standstill at the mill, and they didn't mill for approximately eight months. Not having any alternative, they searched for a means by which bakers would mill flour and pay them for the work. Some were willing, and some were unwilling. They were negotiating with my brother-in-law, Lazer, who is considered to be among the larger bakers in Opoczno, not due to what he bakes, chas v'cholilah, but due to the taxes he pays along with all the large ones. At that very time, by chance, my sainted mother died. I was in Opoczno for the entire mourning period. So, my sister and brother-in-law were concerned with my situation...and he immediately made a deal with the millers on the condition that I, the well known capitalist, Mr. Wolf Lewkowicz of Lodz...would become a partner, and the mill would begin to operate. At the outset, to tell the truth, I was in doubt as to how the thing could get done. I was in Lodz, the mill was in Opoczno, and I had no idea where the money might be... However, at the time my brother-in-law, Lazer, displayed so much courage and energy that, thanks to him, I made the deal, i.e., he was in favor of my completing the deal. I bought 30% of 66% of the mill owned by two of the partners, i.e., of every 100 gulden earned by the two partners, I would get 30 gulden. Then, the third partner, who saw that he wouldn't have anything on his own, entered the deal, and it was agreed that the three partners would would get 80% and I 20%, i.e., from gross income. They contributed the mill and the equipment, etc., and we contributed 200 meters of corn with a value of $600. Dear and devoted Sol, it is unnecessary to write you how difficult it was to put this sum together. First of all, we closed the business; it was in May. Then, my brother-in-law, Lazer, emptied all his pockets...even sold the empty bags and finally put together $300. I immediately bought corn; we started the mill and, meanwhile, I stood by trembling, anxious to see what would happen because, consistent with my luck, I figured the mill wouldn't run, the water would disappear, and G-d knows what would spring forth, sawdust or paint.... But when I saw that the mill was running, that there was water and that flour was coming out, fine flour, and bakers were buying and paying, it wasn't a dream. In short, we had a good piece of work to do, Lazer and I, because the contract provided that we had to add the remaining 100 meters of corn by June 1. We borrowed $300 at interest, paying $20 interest a month and began to write letters to you, my dearest one, with respect to which we were certain and convinced of your devotion to us. And, with your assistance, you demonstrated your humanity. I have been running the business for three months already. It doesn't look bad. For the time being, I am pinched, and I am here with my devoted sister and dear brother-in-law. I don't spend anything because I eat with them and sleep here. In a bakery, food for one person is really not a problem, but it's really gracious of them. For the time being, the money I earn goes, first of all, toward paying back the $300 we borrowed on interest. Later, when we have repaid the loan, we will figure out a way for me to be together with my family. My sister and brother-in-law want me to move to Opoczno, but I haven't agreed to it. Perhaps it will continue this way until Succot is over. In any event, I'll see what the business will look like! It's difficult to decide to move from a large city to a small town, particularly for me it is the fifth time for moving from one town to another. Besides that, the town of Opoczno has so many wonderful qualities that it is worthy of being written of in a separate letter. However, let's leave it for another time. Dear Sol, you know that, if one is involved in a business matter, one doesn't consider what else might happen. I believe that your father-in-law was also aware of my situation. I didn't have any alternative in order to live and exist. We have to accomodate ourselves to everything in the world. You have an example in the fact that my sister has already lived here for fourteen years although the accommodations are not good, but in any event, chas v'cholilah, not sentenced to hunger or to experiencing need! Further, dear Sol, how are you feeling? How is your dear and devoted wife, Esther. You write so little about your wife. I'm surprised that you haven't yet taught her how to write a Yiddish letter. I'm sure you'll say that you don't have enough time for her, but I don't believe you, Sol. Last Sabbath, I noted that the weekly Torah reading of Shofetim contains the laws respecting the deferment of serving during wartime for the first year after marriage, etc. Ah, you may say that it's more than a year. True, but what have you accomplished? One can't observe that you are married, and one can't observe that your wife is... Oh, America, America, so occupied with business that one forgets where in the world he is. You see, my dear one, in Opoczno we're a bit deficient as far as business is concerned, but on the other hand, in other matters Opoczno is making progress... With respect to the great heat in America, I am sure that by the time my letter is delivered it will be cold. I have a hint of this in the fact that the shofar is already blowing, the strong Elul wind, and so on. So, no more of importance to write about. I send my heartfelt and loving regards to you and your worthy wife, Esther, and your worthy sisters, Ruchele, Bryndl and Rifchele. Heartfelt regards for your dear in-laws, particularly for your father-in-law, Mr. Isaac Anker. Your Uncle Lazer and dear Aunt Esther send their heartfelt regards. She thanks you for your letter; you'll get an answer from her, but not so quickly because she has so little time and slaves away and works from morning to night. So, regards from all to all. Aunt Malke and the children send their best regards to you all. Please send a long letter and write about everything, how you're feeling and how business is going, etc. etc. With respect, Your uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz Address: I. L. Chmielnicki 11 Kaluzna Street Opoczno, Poland Att'n: W. Lewkowicz All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.