Opoczno, 29 September 1929 My beloved and precious brother, Sol, You will be surprised by a letter from Opoczno in the handwriting of Uncle Wolf. So, my devoted one, I write you that I have already been here in Opoczno for four weeks. Before I left for here, I received a letter from you and this week Malke also forwarded a letter in which was enclosed a letter from Berish and also a letter from the steamship company. Dear and devoted Sol, Aunt Estherl, Uncle Lazer and I have just returned from the Selichot service, and the three of us are sitting together now. All is quiet because the clock reads 2:00 a.m. already, and we're thinking about the sort of answer to give you to your short, wise letter. I don't know, Sol, whether another person in my place would know how much your letter should be treasured. In every word that you write, there lies a wealth of wisdom, good judgment. And, nevertheless, you write me that you will do whatever I decide. Don't you know, devoted brother, that I am drowning and want to save myself? On the other hand, you are the only one who sees that your uncle is drowning and you stretch out your hand to save me. However, consider carefully whether, instead of saving me, I might not, chas v'cholilah, pull you into the quagmire... I am not able to help myself, and my opinion also plays a very small role since I have described my wife's brothers so much that by now you should have understood them, more or less. Again, I write to you that recently I have corresponded with them very little because Berish understood too well (what I wanted). On the other hand, Shia completely disagrees that my Balcia should come to Canada. The only ones who want Balcia to come to Canada are her grandmother and grandfather, but their opinion is not significant, and they can in no way be helpful because they themselves are dependent on the assistance of their children. In any event, devoted Sol, in your last letter to me sent to Lodz, you express your opinion and predict that, on the basis of your study of the matter, you don't anticipate that my Balcia will be in Canada in 1930. Yes, I can rely on what you say. Your letters are like gold; each word a pearl. At present, I can only answer as follows. If you can arrange it so that the $200, the security deposit, will be safe, let's say in two years, i.e., if the same can be deposited in a bank under your name, fine. If not, I am not agreeable to putting the money in the hands of an agent or anyone else. Don't think, Sol, that because you are so generous to your uncle that I am required to take your money and to throw it into the street. No, money is a very delicate thing [to me, perhaps not to another person, because I don't have any]... According to my reckoning, if my wife's brothers wanted to be helpful, first of all the permit should have been secured. Then, a steamship ticket would be obtained on payments. And the security deposit should be the final (issue). Also, I should have had the rapport of both brothers because, in such a situation, it's better for the matter to be pursued with everyone's agreement so that, later, one won't place the blame on another saying, "After all, you brought the girl; see to it that she is fed," and so on and so forth... Further, I have already written you that my Balcia is not yet mature enough to get along on her own in a foreign country with an unfamiliar language and, nevertheless, devoted Sol, I had decided to send her away because of a concern for the future. I don't believe that she will have an existence here. She can expect nothing from me because how can an impoverished father help his child, other than to send her to a factory to work? She hasn't even gone to work for the last four months because she was ill, and the doctor ordered that she go immediately to a forested area for fresh air. I pawned whatever I could and sent her out to a summer place. Thank G-d, she is somewhat better, but she is still ill. For the time being, she is not able to work. My wife writes from Lodz that she is coming back home this week. Now, my devoted one, you are surely interested in knowing what I have been doing in Opoczno for four weeks. So, my devoted one, I write that surely you were already aware from my letters that recently I was working in a factory, and I worked hard, very hard. So, I sensed that I would not be able to keep it up. Unexpectedly, Uncle Lazer came to Lodz to purchase products for the confectionery for which Wolfche had been trained. Seeing the condition I was in when I came home from work, it made a great impression on him and, arriving back home in Opoczno, he talked it over with Aunt Estherl, and they wrote for me to come here. Arriving here, I asked, "What is the meaning of your writing for me (to come)? It's true that, here with you, I won't be short of bread with which to fill myself, but I must, after all, have some occupation in order to earn my bread. I want to work, but where???" Briefly, there are a lot of plans here, but all these plans cannot be realized so quickly, so, e.g., Uncle Lazer wants you, my devoted one, to help us accomplish a necessary remodeling in order to have a kosher, mechanized bakery in the building in which he now lives. So, he wants me to remain in a partnership with him, and then I would have something of an existence. Then there is a plan that I should run the confectionery with Wolfche in a partnership. There is a third plan that I should buy corn, mill it, and Uncle Lazer would take the flour. This would all be good if I had the capital because, right now, Uncle Lazer is in a pinch. The store that he bought, together with the remodeling, cost him $600, but they made a nice store. It can be said that it's the only one of its kind in Opoczno. For the time being, I work there and sell bread, rolls, sweet rolls. Naturally, if customers come in. However, Wolfche can bake more than I can sell. One can't yet be sure of what the result will be because it's just begun. However, whatever the case may be, my sister is not lacking for any jealousy and hate here in Opoczno. Opoczno is not Chicago, also not Lodz. Here you can count every customer with your fingers. However, whatever turns out, my devoted one, I recognize one thing...that my sister and brother-in-law are taking an interest in my situation and will help me with all their might. Whether they will be successful or not, time will tell. At present, Rosh Hashona is coming to the country. I even forgot to send you a greeting card eight days ago so that it would arrive right on Rosh Hashona. However, my devoted brother, this time you will surely forgive me since you see so clearly how your uncle is wandering around the world in search of a living. The result is that the body is in Opoczno, the head in Lodz and the mind in Chicago and Canada...and so on. What should I wish you, my devoted and precious brother? I wish that the coming year will bring much good fortune to you and your family. May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life, in the Book of Good Health, in the Book of Good Fortune, in the Book of Sustenance. In a word, may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year. I also wish that your father, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and your whole family, sisters, brother-in-law, uncles, aunts, cousins, et al, be inscribed and sealed for a good year. Now, I send you heartfelt thanks for the picture that you sent to me. My wife writes that they carried the picture around and marveled. Your child's picture will surely be a treasure in my home. Your son's picture also made a big impression here at my sister's. It evoked so much happiness from us that we wept. May G-d help so that you will be able to raise your child without difficulty, without an evil eye. May you be deemed worthy of rearing him to the Torah, to the wedding canopy and to good deeds. Amen. So, nothing more of importance. Regards and kisses from me, Your uncle, Wolf Lewkowicz I plan, G-d willing, to be in Lodz for Rosh Hashona. Then, I'll return immediately to Opoczno, It's possible that I'll write you another letter in the interim, either from Lodz or from Opoczno. However, I ask you not to make me wait for an answer. For the time being, you can write to me in Opoczno at Uncle Lazer's address. Also write me advice as to what I should do. Should I get involved with Uncle Lazer or should I return to Lodz, because recently life has been very difficult... My wife and children and the whole family send heartfelt regards to all of you, especially your wife and your precious only son. Everyone wishes you a happy, healthy new year. With respect, Wolf Lewkowicz Enclosed herewith is a letter from Aunt Estherl, Uncle Lazer, and so on. To my dear nephew and niece, I write you that we are well, thank G-d. I hope to G-d to hear good news from all of you. Now, my dear one, I will answer a letter of yours that was returned to Chicago. I am amazed that the postman wasn't able to find me. This all took place due to the fact that our correspondence was interrupted. This never happened before that. Now, my dear nephew, I thank you very much for the wonderful picture that you sent me, and I am not able to describe my happiness in writing. I express my opinion that your son will be the handsomest in the contest. I kissed his dear eyes, his beautiful chest. Ah, how happy I would be if I were really able to kiss his face. Then I would have the feeling that I was kissing (him) on behalf of my late sister. Yes, Shloymele, you will surely say that Aunt Esther remembered to write me a letter after four months. No, my dear one, don't accuse your aunt of not being interested in you. I read the letters that you write to your uncle anyway. As to why I haven't written to you, you surely know that recently I have had problems of my own. They were sniping at me from all sides. I became ill due to fear. It's over. The less I tell you about it the better. You would not have any pleasure (if I were to write about it). May dear G-d grant that from now on everything will be well. Now, my dear one, since a new year is approaching, we all wish that you may succeed in praying for a good, healthy year with good business. May you have whatever your heart desires. I wish you this with all my heart, more than I can write. Now, my dear one, write me why Bryndele doesn't write a letter to me once in a while and why Ruchele doesn't write me at all. To be sure, Rifchele doesn't know me, but they, my sister's daughters, do know me and don't write to me. I wish them a good year, a year of health with much good fortune. Now, my dear Shloymele, write to me how your dear wife is. Do we have reason to hope that we will rejoice together?... I would like to have one look at you in your home. A few children...and to toss them to each other... There is no more news at present. Be well, you have our regards and kisses from the depths of our hearts. From me, your unforgotten Aunt Esther. Heartfelt regards for my dear niece and her beloved son, may he be well. Heartfelt regards for Bryndl and her husband and her son, may he be well. Heartfelt regards from my husband to all of you. Heartfelt regards to Ruchele and Rifchele. I request of Rifchele a photograph and a letter. Heartfelt regards also to your in-laws; I wish them a good year. Good night. May you succeed in praying for everything good. Esther Chmielnicki Dear and devoted nephew, I thank you for your letter and for the picture of your dear son and wish that you rear him to the Torah, to the wedding canopy and to good deeds. Dear nephew, if you want to give real help to your Uncle Wolf to have an opportunity to live and to rear his children, don't throw the money into the water or to agents. Rather, send it here and you can be sure that he will make a living in full measure. In fact, I wrote you a letter (about this), but you didn't answer it. You persist in posing questions, and your uncle is not a born schnorrer who would demand that he be given charity. So, there is one plan pursuant to which your uncle can be reborn if you are prepared to be generous. It involves $400-$500. It will cost more, but I am also here. I will write to you about this separately. Meanwhile, be successful in praying to be inscribed and sealed for a good year. Your uncle, Eliezer Chmielnicki Regards to your wife as well as your dear son and best wishes for the new year. All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.