Opoczno, 23 August 1927

To my beloved and most devoted brother, as well as nephew, 

 and niece with your worthy name, Zissman,

You will surely wonder, my devoted one, what the reason might be
for my silence.  You will surely puzzle over it, and really I
have never put off a letter for so long as this time.  I always
arrange it so that one letter is on the way to you when I write
a second one.  In this way, I have been accustomed to receiving
a letter from you every fifteen days.  Today, since I have made
you wait for a whole month, I may perhaps have to wait for an
answer for a month!

The reason for my silence was quite simple, because I wanted to
write you something correct, something important, because last
month, July, is the time for us to make a balance of how much we
milled during the whole year; and the old grain ends, and a new
year begins with new grain.  Naturally, we also refurbish the
mill; we hammer the stones; we sharpen the rollers; we sweep; we
put things in order, just as we do for Passover.  This takes a
whole month's time.  During this period, we buy fresh grain; we
prepare everything.  In a word, "Let the year and its curses
conclude...Let the year and its blessings begin!"  

I also took advantage of this month for myself, and went home to
my family for eight to ten days.  However, unfortunately, my
partners are so reliant on me that, after being home for three
days, I received a telegram that I should return immediately,
get into harness and take the reins, because in the event we
drop the reins we might once again, chas v'cholilah, be reminded
of how "wealthy" all of us are...  I am enclosing the telegram
as proof for you.  

Yes, my devoted Sol, in an earlier letter you wrote me about my
standing guard at night, that I have become just a watchman, and
that this profession does not suit you.  So, my devoted one, I
can report that I do harder things than standing guard.  This
last year I have been working very hard, so that I even forget
where I am, or whether I have a family, or whether I have a
home, or whether I have a devoted brother in Chicago to whom I
have to write about everything, etc.  I have to point out that
our business is too small for us to be able to produce
everything that we require.  Seventy-five percent (of our gross)
is eaten up by wages, taxes, interest and refurbishing, and four
families are supported by the remaining twenty-five percent.  I
worked for a year, and I only wanted to maintain the capital
which we invested, i.e., Lazer's and my $600.   However,
unfortunately, it was impossible for me to maintain the capital.
 "If that's the case," you will ask, "why are you in business? 
Why work when the capital becomes valueless???"  So, the answer
is that I  am not dancing because I'm in the mood to dance but
because I've been ordered to dance.  And they are standing with
a whip and using force.  One is not permitted to stop 
for a single day; just dance.  So long as everything is in
action, so am I.  What will emerge from all this?  Just as I do
not wish to know of anything evil, so do I not know what to
write to you. 

I thought that after such an effort, after such work, after
having labored so, I would at least have the honor of being
able, my beloved and devoted one, to share with you the good
news that I had been in business for a year, that I survived and
showed a profit of $100.  Unfortunately, what happens is not
what a person wants, but what circumstances bring about.  We
have a similar fortune.  They also say about you, "Shloyme is
doing well.  Shloyme is in good shape.  Shloyme's wealth is
growing."  In the final analysis, who knows better than I how
Shloyme twists and turns and manipulates... The best proof that
you are still lacking a bit to having $100,000 is that you did
not make a vacation trip to Europe.  

Yes, my devoted one, two days ago I had the honor to make the
acquaintance of a man who came to Opoczno on a vacation trip.  I
went outside very early.  In front of the mill stood a man with
American glasses.  His wife was sitting nearby.  He was standing
and fishing.  I said "Good morning" to him, and he introduced
himself to me.  I started a conversation with him, and we spoke
from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m.  I asked him about all the
aspects of life in America...of their art of bluffing.  He told
me that over a million people came to Poland for a vacation, and
I thought to myself "If (only) I were deemed worthy by G-d to
speak to my most beloved and most devoted one as I am now
talking to this man."  I tell you, Sol, that this man made such
an impression on me that I immediately entered my room, reread
your letters and started a letter to you.  

But what does one write to such a devoted brother?  I don't have
anything pleasant to write,  and I don't want to write anything
unpleasant because I've already written enough about unpleasant
things.  Then again, as to current events, you can imagine what
sort of current events I can impart to you from Opoczno...  I
have been in a variety of towns and villages, but such a
backward town as Opoczno I have never in my life seen.  It was
no accident that King Casimir III (the Great)  ran off with a
Jewess, Esterka, and gave this forsaken town the name of
Opoczno, because it was here that they spocznyet, rested.  It is
quiet, silent as the inside an ear.  If it weren't for the fact
that once in a while an accomplished speaker comes to the House
of Study and makes a good speech, the whole town would fall
asleep.  I tell you that to die here and to live in America is
wonderful.  It was no coincidence that my mother, may she rest
in peace, came here to die.  It's really dull.  If it weren't
for the peasants who come for the market day once a week, it
wouldn't pay to open the stores.  

However, Sol, as far as that's concerned, even though the people
are listless and backward, they nevertheless have a good memory.
 So, for example, they remembered to add 20 gulden ($2.20) to
Lazer's tax and 25 gulden ($2.80) to mine.  In response to my
protest, they answered that I use their community ritual
bath...and so on.  In short, Sol, I
pay the tax, and am a resident of Opoczno.  But believe me that
an American watchman is perhaps happier than I.  But who worries
about this, Sol?  I know that if I worry and fret, I'll just
spoil my head.  

I thank G-d that I found suitable partners who are businessmen
who know the tricks of the trade, not tailors or shoemakers. 
People say that they will get me into financial difficulty just
as they have done to themselves...  But what difference does it
make to me?  My responsibility is that the mill continues to
operate and that everything else runs smoothly.  And if it does,
my family and I will also able to eat.  Taking all this
together, how will this wind up?  Perhaps you know, Sol, because
I don't know, and I don't want to know what the future may
bring, but only what the present is like...

In your last letter, you write to me about the news concerning
the sinking of the ship.  I read about it only today in the
newspaper.  There is nothing more to do than to express regret,
as is true of all the events that take place daily because who
has the time to pause at all the happenings that take place
these days!  What's the latest news about Sacco and Vanzetti? 
Will they be pardoned or not?  The whole world is occupied with
these two people.  I myself am also in favor of pardoning them. 
And you, Sol?  

As to your writing that busines is slack, you should be
accustomed to it by now.  The worst time is now, summertime. 
People have gone away on summer vacation.  To whom do you want
to make a sale?  Wait a bit.  The wind will blow; it won't be
long.  They'll begin to come to look around for what they need. 
Furthermore, I deal with an article of food that is eaten every
day.  Nevertheless, everyone became satiated simultaneously, so
that I haven't taken in a cent for three weeks.  The
explanation:  new potatoes, fruit, cucumbers are my competitors.
 I would give you a piece of advice, Sol, as to how to do
business.  If you would bring a ship full of grooms here,or if
you would take a ship full of brides home from here, and if they
all married, they would all have to establish homes.  So, where
would they go to buy if not from you!

I thank you and Bryndl, Sol, for the photograph that you sent to
us, even though it's a bit difficult:  one photograph and two
people, an uncle and an aunt.  However, we'll handle it.  May
things be good.  Bryndl's husband looks very nice, like an
athlete.  Bryndl too.  It's just a pity that my sister is not
living and is not able to see her children growing and sending
out branches, like a tree with fruit.  I still remember your
mother's words that she would  arrange a marriage with a lawyer
for Bryndl.

Further, dear brother, I can write that all of us are well,
thank G-d.  I was in Lodz for several days and brought two
children back with me, Joseph and Rifchele.  Joseph is a lad who
is very bright, calm, interesting.  He will begin school the
first of the month.  Rifchele is feeling a little better after
being away for the summer.  Now she will be here for three or
four weeks.  However, she is still not fully recovered.  The
doctors are encouraging.  Further, Malke is well, thank G-d. 
Balcia is working and earning a little, but not much.  She still
is provided with clothing and food at home.

Further, concerning my sister, everything is the same as it was.
 She keeps pestering me to write a letter and, for the sake of
G-d, not to forget about her, to write that she doesn't have any
time to write.  And, in reality, she doesn't have any time to
write.  It's not enough that she stands and sells all day from
5:00 in the morning to 11:00 at night; she also has poorly
behaved children who have no pity at all for their mother.  They
don't do as they are told, act childishly, play around, don't
help at all.  They leave everything for their parents to handle.
 They think that they're entitled to act that way.  They don't
belong to the category of children to which we belonged, Sol.  I
have a lot of aggravation from this, but I can't help because
they also don't pay attention to what I say.

So, I have nothing more of importance to relate.  My wife and I
send heartfelt and loving regards to you.  We also send regards
to your wife.  Why doesn't she write a short letter to us?  We
send regards to your sisters, in-laws, family, et al.  My
children, Balcia, Rifchele and Joseph send their heartfelt
regards to you.  Aunt Estherl, Uncle Lazer and children send
their heartfelt regards to you all, without exception.  

Please answer quickly with a long letter in which you describe
all the minor details of all the happenings that take place
there because your letters satiate me as water does a thirsty
person.

		With respect,

		Wolf Lewkowicz

Mr. Baruch Marianka, of Kinsk, told me that he hasn't received a
letter from his son, Chaiml , for three months.  He asked me to
write to you.  Perhaps you can call him and ask him the reason,
or perhaps you have seen him recently.  See that he writes to
his father because he's very concerned.


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