Lodz, 22 November 1937

My dear brother, Sol, and family,

I received your long letter three days ago.  I happen to have a
free day today on which I am not working.  Joseph is also not
working today because he caught a cold and has been home for
five days.  He is feeling better now, and he will be getting out
of bed in the next day or so.  We're sitting together, my
children and I, and we're discussing how to answer you!  You
surely know, Sol, that I never lack for subject matter to write
in answer to a letter of yours.  However, your last letter
evoked so much enthusiasm in us that it's as if I were in a
daze, and I really don't know how to answer you.  

You write me that you have filled out the affidavits and have
taken care of everything in the best order.  I can let you know
from my end that Joseph received a letter from the consulate in
Warsaw saying that he should provide two birth certificates from
Kinsk approved by an official along with a character reference
that he has never been sued, as well as a document stating where
he lives and where he has worked for the last three years.  We
must send all of this to Warsaw, and they there make contact
with Washington (to determine) whether the person is considered
acceptable in America.  If so, one is called in for a personal
interview.  The consul asks questions and, in a short time, it's
decided whether the person gets a visa or not.  Surely, they
will also approach you for a review of the matter.  They will
seek information and ask questions.  In any event, Sol, this is
not a matter of a month or two.  Nevertheless, the glacier has
moved a bit.  I am happy that we have started to do something. 
I don't know how long it will take, and I also can't predict
whether our efforts will produce any results.  

However, I do see one thing.  Your letters, as well as the
letters from the consulate, have caused a commotion in our
house...  So, for example, a report has spread in the family
that Joseph is leaving for America in the next few days, and in
fact friends - family - acquaintances - and relatives have come
to see whether it's really true.  It's also made my Joseph
himself very happy to read in your letter that you have done
something for him.  To be sure, Sol, I know you very well and am
already familiar with your nature and character; when you
undertake to do something, you want to conclude it
wholeheartedly.  However, other people, who hear your letters
read and recognize that you are (prepared to) make a sacrifice
in order to rescue a person from Poland, are on the one hand
simply envious of Joseph for having such a devoted cousin and
are envious of me for having such a devoted brother and nephew
who is prepared to make a sacrifice for my benefit!!!  

You write that I glorify you and send you such compliments that
you are not able to recognize yourself.  Yes, Sol, I have to
tell you the pure truth, that we do not feel as helpless with
you as without you...  It is stated in the Book of Proverbs that
you can determine who is a brother in a time of need... 
Therefore, it's no wonder that people are envious of us for
having in our family (someone like) you who are so concerned
with our welfare.  And every person who lives in Poland and
senses that the ground is quaking under his feet...would like to
have the sort of brother and cousin that you are.

Further, dear and devoted Sol, as to your writing that I should
characterize Joseph for you, not as a son but as an objective
observer, I will attempt to do it.  In this letter, I will
accurately relate and portray his entire biography, his rearing,
starting with his childhood.  After reading it, you will have
more or less of an understanding of him, of what sort of person
he is.  

My Joseph was born on July 20, 1920, in Kinsk.  We moved back to
Lodz when he was six months old.  You have a picture of him
there in which he is standing together with all of us in one
photograph; he was then 2 1/2 years old.  I started him in a
cheder when he was five years old.  The rabbi taught him Hebrew
and the prayers.  When he was six years old, he was already
studying the Pentateuch.  I monitored what he was studying and
made a complaint to the rabbi...however, I soon became convinced
that the cheders of Lodz are not (on a par with) the cheders of
Kinsk, the rabbi's name is not Todros, but Yerochem...and the
student's name is not Shloymele, but Yosef.  

When he was seven years old, he began public school where he
completed a class each year.  Until he was nine or ten years
old, he studied Pentateuch and Jewish history with a rabbi, but
I realized that he was learning more in school than from the
rabbi.  He is an accomplished child, calm, even-tempered, not
adventuresome, would rather bear an injustice than cause an
injustice to another.  He is liked by everyone, the teacher, the
rabbi, friends, etc.  He completed public school when he was
fourteen and was really eager to continue his studies, but
recognizing the economic situation of our household he abandoned
further studies.  

At 14 1/2, he found work in a lamp factory where they
manufactured chandeliers; he earned $1 a week and worked twelve
hours a day.  He was not satisfied with this trade because they
sent him on errands and didn't let him work since he was too
young.  When he was fifteen years old, he got a job in a hosiery
factory where he learned to pound (in the manufacture of) silk
stockings.  The trade was a good one.  He worked for a year for
practically nothing; I even had to pay for them to train him. 
And when he was capable of being paid, the inspector did not
allow youngsters to work.  For the interim, he secured a job in
a store as a salesperson (where he intended to work) until he
reached eighteen years of age.  He has already worked at the
store for fifteen months.  They use him for the most menial and
dirtiest work.  He permits himself to be exploited, takes it in
stride, works hard, earns $2 a week at the same time that he
could earn $10 a week at his trade.  He is very well liked at
the place where he works; they are satisfied with his work, and
he carries out all his responsibilities in a complete fashion.

He was orphaned at the age of sixteen.  From the moment that he
lost his mother, may she rest in peace, he became very dejected
and depressed.  Aunt Estherl came from Opoczno at that time for
the funeral of Aunt Malke, may she rest in peace.  She felt
sorry for me and for my children.  She insisted on taking
Rivkele to Opoczno.  Joseph was supposed to eat in a restaurant
or at an aunt's in Lodz.  Some nice people, as well as
matchmakers, wanted to "be kind" to me.  But my Joseph objected.
 He hugged and kissed me (and said that) he would not be
separated either from me or from his sister whom he loves more
than he does himself.  His words weren't spoken like those of a
sixteen-year-old boy but like those of a forty-year-old man
operating at the height of his capacity!!!  I followed his
advice at that time.  I didn't break up my home.  We are all
united.  We consult with respect to every matter.  Love and
devotion exist between me and my dear children.  

And now, Sol, when Joseph heard in your last letter that (you
want me) to describe what sort of person he is, he didn't feel
insulted.  On the contrary, he says that if he were able to
write a Yiddish letter to you, he would describe himself. 
However, since he writes Yiddish poorly, he relies on me; but he
sits here as I write and is aware of what I am writing.  I ask
Joseph: "Won't it be difficult for you to leave your father and
sister whom you love so much???"  His answer is that the purpose
of his going is our benefit.  To my question of whether he is
aware of how difficult life is in a strange land with an unknown
language, he answers that at the beginning he may need your help
but under no circumstances does he anticipate becoming a burden
to you.  He says that he is young and wants to work as hard as
he can.  He doesn't expect any miracles, doesn't hope for easy
successes, has no fantasies, and has no expectations that a pot
of gold awaits him there...  He takes after me as to many of his
good traits.  He never looks forward to any great fortunes.  He
wants to work and live freely in a free country where one is
confident of life...and of tomorrow...  

I hope, Sol, that Joseph's coming to America will not cause you
any difficulty.  It's true that it will cost you money and
effort until he starts to earn something, but I hope that, in
time, he will repay everything to you.  Be that as it may, we'll
have to take his word for it, and time will tell whether he will
pay everything back or not.  I also give credence to his word
and also hope that he will repay you.

Do you know what, Sol?  The moment that Joseph leaves, my
situation will become serious and difficult...  I am no longer
young; I no longer have the strength to do hard work.  I need
Rivkele here; after all, she has to see to the household.  And
when will I ever be able to give her hand in marriage???  I pity
her; such a young child, and she has to suffer so....  What way
is there out of this?  What can she hope for from a poor, weak
father?  If I were to work for another fifty years, I would not
be able to save enough for a dowry from my wages for Polish
Jewish young men who have an appetite only for taking, and for
giving nothing...  Rivkele is a fine child, refined,
intelligent, kind.  She has been studying English recently (and)
runs the household.  Our whole hope has been that Joseph would
start to work and save for a dowry for her.  With his departure,
our situation worsens by 100%.  However, let us hope that the
passage of time will heal everything and that time will solve
everything!!!  

I close my letter because it's already too long.  I am enclosing
a picture from The Forward of a hosiery factory.  Joseph can
work in this factory as an assistant to a workman making the
bottom of hose.  Write me whether there are such factories in
Chicago and whether you included language in the affidavits as
to the purpose for which you require him.  Heartfelt regards for
you and your wife, sisters, son, and family from me and my
children, as well as the family.  With respect,

		Your uncle,

		Wolf Lewkowicz


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