Opoczno, 28 July 1923 My very dear nephew, I am writing you this letter from Opoczno. I came to Opoczno yesterday to my brother-in-law because my sister, Esther, gave birth to a son and yesterday was the ritual circumcision. I would perhaps not have permitted myself such a pleasant experience, e.g., to make a special trip for a ritual circumcision, but since I received a letter from my mother that she is not well, I was not able to rest. As the only son, it was my responsibility to observe the commandment to honor my mother. And, really, I found my beloved mother lying in bed. The illness, chas v'cholilah, is not serious but, pure and simple, aged, exhausted, worn out, a foot, etc. In addition, she has not yet healed from the great wound that your dear mother caused her several years ago. Also, she has not been able to find a place for herself since my late father's death. If she is in Kinsk, she feels lonely. If she is in Opoczno, she also doesn't feel comfortable because she is a person who thinks too much. She says that in the sort of inflation we have these days and, without an evil eye, since Lazer has a family of little and big children, she feels she is superfluous, although my brother-in-law, Lazer, is a very good and devoted son-in-law. He treats her extraordinarily well, but it makes no difference. A healthy person always feels good and fine everywhere, but wherever you put a sick person he thinks that it's bad for him, that he would be better off somewhere else. And now, sitting beside the bed of my old, ill mother, I think to myself, "Ah, how fortunate I would be if I had a place of my own in which to live where I could keep my mother with me for a short while." However, who knows whether I would be able to satisfy my mother if, according to her view, it's difficult to be with a daughter. How would it be with a daughter-in-law? Briefly, I made clear to her and demonstrated that she has no alternative and that she should not fret so much about herself because she won't accomplish anything by fretting. She says that she hasn't received a letter from you for two months, and she worries a lot about you. All of this bothers her since she is not feeling well. So, Sol, as a nephew and a grandchild, we ask you to keep your word and write a letter to your dear grandmother every two weeks and console her because she is heartbroken enough. Because of this meritorious deed, G--d will help you so that you will be fortunate and will succeed in all your endeavors. Also write to her about how your sisters are feeling, etc. Also, what's new with your father? So, nothing more of importance. Be well and strong. From me, your devoted uncle who hopes for your good fortune, Wolf Lewkowicz Heartfelt regards to you and your partner and your family, Isaac Anker, et al. My dear sister who is abed with her new son sends heartfelt regards. Thank G-d, she now has four sons and one daughter. With all that, she is a fortunate person, firstly because she is married to a baker. Others worry these days about how to get bread to eat in such inflationary times, and a baker, no matter how expensive it may be, is never lacking for bread. In addition, if someone has four daughters these days, he can live out his years without being able to have them marry because a groom demands 30 million marks, a furnished apartment along with a bride, and... And my sister won't have to worry about all this. But, somehow or other, people in small towns live a more tranquil life than do those in larger cities. They are careless; they are not industrious, don't worry a great deal, don't buy new clothes, need nothing and have nothing. Therefore, my brother-in-law is also not more than a small-town baker in a small town who remains behind the times, just as have all the rest of the residents of Opoczno. In any event, he worries about what is, not what will be. He doesn't want a great treasure, and is not trying to find one. His main concerns are health and making a living, and he makes that, more or less. With respect, Wolf Lewkowicz Heartfelt regards from your loving grandmother, from my brother-in-law, from the whole family, and so on. All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.