Lodz, 17 August 1936

My devoted, unforgettable brother, Sol Zissman,

I am now writing an answer to your two letters that I received
five weeks ago.  You'll think to yourself there:  "It's not very
nice of Uncle Wolf to receive your two letters and make you wait
five to six weeks for an answer.  Something's not in order. 
It's not Uncle's nature to delay so long and not to answer..." 
So, my dear and devoted brother, I once learned in Ecclesiastes
that (there is) a time to write, a time to speak, and a time to
keep silent.  Although I am certain that I cause you pain when I
don't communicate because you don't deserve to have to wait for
an answer from me, yet I didn't have an alternative to remaining
silent.

I began to write this letter to you three weeks ago, and each
time I have to lay the pen down from my hand because my mind is
not working.  I would feel very fortunate and satisfied if I
were able to tell you, my dear and devoted ones, that we are
well and all right.  Unfortunately, it's to be regretted that I
am not able to write such letters to you, and I have no desire
to write you sad letters.  First of all, you don't merit my
constantly crying on your shoulders.  Secondly, don't you have
your own worries and problems of making a living there?  It's
not really good, Sol, when a person is smart and perceptive;
it's better to be foolish, ignorant, not perceptive, and I am
none of these...  

At the same time, I have often decided to myself that no matter
what happens to me, no matter what occurs in my household, I
will not write to you of anything bad...I will only write to you
of good things because there's no solution for the bad things...
 I don't want to list for you all the things that are classified
as bad because you might interpret it there as Uncle Wolf trying
to coax out a few dollars again...  I tell you that I am
embarrassed to write you such tearful letters although I am not
out after anything in what I write because, whatever the case
may be, I feel that I have no other brother and friend in the
world in addition to you, Sol.  And even though you, as my
dearest and most devoted one, do not deserve to know about all
the punishments and troubles that befall me from time to
time...and yet, when I seat myself to write a letter to you,
Sol, I want to pour out my heavy, embittered heart to you
thinking that perhaps I'll be somewhat relieved if I unburden
myself to my dear brother.

In general, I can write you that troubles surround me on all
sides; there is no end and no limit to my troubles...  You
surely know, Sol, the sort of bitter winter that I experienced
with Aunt Malke.  She lay in the hospital for nine weeks; I
endured enough fright and suffered enough anguish until, until,
I led her a bit of the way back.  Then, six weeks ago, Aunt
Malke became ill with a kidney ailment; her feet were swollen;
she had to lie in bed and, meanwhile, she has a bad heart, so
every illness that attaches itself to her can cause fear of a
catastrophe.  And Rivkele wasn't home at the time because she
didn't feel well either, so I sent her away for a time to
Opoczno to Aunt Esther for a rest.  Joseph is working in a
store, not at the trade which he learned, but as an errand boy,
because he's not yet eighteen years old.  However, in any event,
he is working and once a day he at least brought food for
dinner.  To be sure, as to me there's nothing to discuss.  I
have already become accustomed to going hungry just like "that
other poor man."

In this manner, we were abased for six to seven weeks.  Right
now, thanks to G-d, Aunt Malke is somewhat better; while she
can't yet get around, the doctor who examined her yesterday
reassured me and promised that the danger has passed.  She won't
have to go to the hospital.  May G-d restore her to complete
health.  Rivkele also returned from Opoczno this week; she feels
better.  Thank G-d, Joseph is well and works a little and earns
a little.

Further, concerning me, i.e., physically, I can write you that I
must be healthy and strong enough to withstand all these
problems and troubles and punishments that rain down on my head
from all sides...  I have become such a pessimist recently; I am
so pessimistically inclined toward every event and happening
that I no longer care at all about what might occur...  I'm just
like that sick person who is no longer concerned about any
medicine or shot.  I believe and hope that, however it is, I
will struggle through with my pack of troubles to the finish
line...  It's closer to the end than to the beginning...  I
still thought about being able to rescue a few years of my life,
but I have become convinced that I was in error; my life is
played out.  My principal concern is that my children will be
able to support themselves, that they will not have to struggle
and be tormented like me...

Therefore, Sol, when I stand in the synagogue this Rosh Hashona
and offer an accounting to the Heavenly Court, I will try not to
mention my name, but, but, the children and family.  I will pray
for my family and my friends near and far to be inscribed and
sealed for a good year.  Perhaps I will also be helped by reason
of their merit.

To go on, dear and devoted Sol, that will be enough about me for
today.  What's new with you as far as health and making a living
are concerned?  You wrote me in your last two letters that you
liquidated your restaurant business with your partner, and while
you wrote everything to me in brief form, I understand that you
didn't make a profit on the partnership.  Perhaps you remember,
Sol, that I warned you that you have to be on guard as to your
partnership arrangements.  However, whatever the situation is,
don't let it bother you too much because it could have been
worse since your partner was a sharpie and a swindler.  He
wanted to cheat you out of your building.  However, since you
are not a fool, you anticipated (what might happen) and guarded
against a catastrophe.

Further, dear and devoted Sol, as to what you wrote to me about
your father, Sol, believe me that you cut my heart with your
words, and no blood flows.  However, how can I help you?  If I
were at least there with you on the spot and were to witness
what was taking place there, (I might be able to help). 
However, I recognize only one thing from afar - that you miss
your mother, may she rest in peace, at every turn.  Your
father's treatment of you is not that of a devoted father to
children; rather, his treatment of you is foolish.  I believe
that his wife has made a fool of him.  You can't expect a great
deal from your father.  May he not have to turn to you
(children) for help to (him as) a father because the shouting
would be even louder than it is.  

In any event, Sol, you must always remember that this is your
father, your flesh and blood.  You should never take revenge on
anyone who has wronged you in the past.  At the most, you can
break off relations with him, not have anything to do with him,
but you should never bear a hatred for another person.  It's
true that you fight because of the wrongs committed against your
sisters because, while you can forego fighting for your honor,
you can't forego fighting for the honor of your sisters because
it pains you as a devoted brother.  But what can be done when
fate demanded that you as young children should, at a young age,
lose the finest and the best that a person can have.  You can be
certain that if your blessed mother were alive today, things
would be altogether different...  My advice is (to have) as
little as possible to do with your father's wife who absolutely
has not been suitable for our family...  From my side, I wish
for the new year that your father may be inscribed and sealed
for a good year.  I also wish that he may become wealthier,
smarter and more understanding so that he will be a good father;
surely the children will also be good children to him.

Further, devoted brother Sol, from the bottom of my heart, I
wish you together with your wife and son much good fortune (and)
unbounded happiness.  May G-d inscribe all of you in the Book of
Life (and) in the Book of Sustenance and Success.  May good
fortune increase without any limit.  In a word, may you be
healthy, wealthy and happy; this is the wish of your
well-wishing uncle and brother, Wolf.  I also send special
wishes for the new year to your wife for health, good fortune
and life.  To your darling Leonard, I send separately my
blessing that you will merit leading him to study, to the
wedding canopy and to a life of good deeds.

Further, I wish your sister, Bryndl, her husband and son a
happy, healthy new year and much good.  We, the whole family,
send regards to them.  Why don't they write once in a while? 
How are things going with them as to health, making a living,
etc?  Further, regards from the whole family for the whole
family in America.  My children and wife and Aunt Estherl and
Uncle Lazer and family send regards to everyone, without
exception, and wish that everyone will be inscribed and sealed
for a good year.  I thank you for the punctual arrival of the
newspapers.  With respect,

		Your uncle,

		Wolf Lewkowicz

Please answer promptly without paying attention to my having
made you wait for an answer.


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