Lodz, 27 February 1930

My devoted, beloved brother, as well as nephew,

Ten days ago, I wrote you a letter from Opoczno in which I
promised to write another letter from Lodz.  Yes, my devoted
one, I keep my word even though my head is all mixed up, and I
am tempted not to write, particularly because I don't have any
good news to share with you.  I can swear to you that, during
the ten days that I've been in Lodz, I haven't earned a cent and
yet I'm busy from very early in the morning until late at night.
 Do you want to know what I'm busy with?  So, I write you that
all day long I run around to the hospitals and pharmacies, to
the doctors, etc.  Is it a minor matter?  I have three invalids
to tend to and something to provide for each of them.  Today a
visit in the hospital, tomorrow a doctor, a third day something
else.  In a word, I'm running around.  

All that I can write you about the invalids is that Aunt Malke
is still in bed.  However, thank G-d, she is better.  It's true
that she had an attack, but the doctor says that it doesn't have
to do with her lungs but with her heart.  In any event, it's not
serious.  She will be in bed until Saturday, March 1.  As far as
Aunt Estherl is concerned, I visited her yesterday and also
spoke to the doctor.  She will have to stay in the hospital for
another fifteen days because the abscess is still draining, and
she feels very weak.  However, I think that there is no longer
any danger because the operation was successful.  So long as the
abscess doesn't return, she will be all right.  By Passover, if
G-d wills it, she will have fully recovered.  As to Balcia, I
have no good news to share with you.  When I visit my Balcia in
the hospital and look at her, I have enough pain to last a long
while...  The doctors also don't give us any good prognosis. 
The only hope is that it will get warm and that we will be able
to send her away somewhere for fresh air, or to a forested area.

Now, my devoted one, you can imagine what my current situation
is.  You are quite familiar with the fact that I was never
successful, that I was always poor and unlucky.  However,
devoted brother, I have never in my life been as unlucky as I
have been recently.  I don't anticipate any improvement in my
problems.  I know very well, devoted Sol, that you always stand
ready to provide help for your uncle's assistance.  But what can
I ask of you now when I feel so miserable lately that, quite
simply, the world is closing in on me?  I am completely
depressed, unconcerned with whether life is worthwhile or not. 
I had decided to be separated from my household-wife-children in
order to earn a piece of bread and salt in an honorable way. 
Apparently, things were going too well for me in Opoczno, so the
Master of the Universe saw to it that things would not be too
good for me...  Now I don't know how long I will stay in Lodz. 
Lazer writes that I should come to Opoczno and later return to
Lodz.  Aunt Malke doesn't let me leave, saying to me:  "How can
you leave three invalids without any means of living or
existing?"  And I am confused, as it were, not knowing how to
deal with such a situation.  In any event, dear brother, I think
that I will leave for Opoczno at the end of the Sabbath.  In
three weeks, when Aunt Estherl is ready to return home, I'll
come for her and bring her (home) in peace.

Further, what else shall I write to you?  I don't correspond at
all with the in-laws, also not with the brothers-in-law.  It's
enough for me to hear about their correspondence to others... 
Write me, devoted Sol, as to whether your back is better,
whether you are able to work yet and what's going on with your
health and making a living, how your wife is and how your
darling, your devoted son, is.  How do you feel in the new
apartment?  Has your business improved?  How is Ruchele, Bryndl,
Rifchele?  How is your father doing?  Do you now and then talk
to him about me in general and about my situation in particular?
 What's new with your uncles, family, in-laws, et al?  Give my
regards to your in-laws.  

Write what the overall situation is in America.  Are things as
bad there as they are here?...  Currently, there's a terrible
crisis in Lodz.  The statistics indicate 50,000 unemployed. 
Ninety percent of the factories have gone bankrupt, and it's
still going on.  There is no business being conducted, no
earnings.  This year, we had almost a whole winter without snow
and without freezing weather, a very mild winter.  Now it is six
weeks before Passover.  In other years, we would already have
noted that the season for tradesmen had begun.  However, this
year it is as if everything were frozen.  No season, no work,
and everyone is asking, "What's going to happen?  How are we
going to be able to hold out?  We have to pay rent.  We also
have to eat something.  And how do we go about earning something
to pay for all this?"...  Formerly, a religious person would
have answered, "G-d will help."  But there are no religious
people these days, and they no longer believe in the help of
G-d...  This has become a world of pessimists.  

So, heartfelt regards to you and your wife and dear child as
well as the whole family.  Answer me in Opoczno because I am
going to Opoczno after the Sabbath.  In my next letter, if G-d
will help, I will write to you that Balcia is improving and that
Aunt Esther is coming home in peace.  Please do not hold me up
with an answer because I am anxious to know what is going on
with you there in every respect.  Be well and regards from your
loving brother who hopes to hear good news from you soon.

		With respect,

		Wolf Lewkowicz

Aunt Malke and Aunt Estherl and my whole family send their
heartfelt regards to you.


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