Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 28 November 1912 Acquire US

This
publish continues translation of letters and postcards in Yiddish (and,
typically, Hebrew and a bit little bit of Russian) despatched
to Morris Lederman, who immigrated to the USA in 1910. Most of
the correspondence, similar to this one, had been despatched by Morris’ father Levi
Yitzkhak. For additional background, see the primary publish on this sequence.

For hyperlinks to different posts on this sequence, please scroll to the underside.

This correspondence was a letter for which we don’t have the unique envelope. We now have been fortunate, nonetheless, in that Levi Yitzkhak recognized the date on which he wrote to his son. By our calendar, the letter was written on 11 December 1912 (Gregorian calendar). Whereas the paper has been torn, we don’t seem to have misplaced a lot of the writing on the primary facet. We now have misplaced some textual content within the first two paragraphs on facet two, nonetheless. 

Many of the correspondence saved by Morris Lederman was on postcards. Just a few had been letters despatched in closed envelopes. This letter appears to have a bit extra private element than the others. Probably, this can be attributed to the truth that the letter was closed in an envelope and never accessible to Russian authorities prying eyes.

A number of facets of the letter stand out: the emphatic request that Morris depart the USA and return dwelling; the social unrest that made it unimaginable for Levi Yitzkhak to proceed his forestry work; and the marital challenges of the Grinfelds. 

Mail service between the USA and the Pale of Settlement was typically excruciatingly gradual. Even figuring out this didn’t maintain Morris’ mother and father from worrying about their son who was so distant. In our time of Zoom, texts and What’s App – the place communications are instantaneous over oceans and political boundaries – it’s troublesome to recall that letters similar to these had been normally the one ties that sure members of the family in any other case separated by nice time and distances.

“…You need to come dwelling”

Levi Yitzkhak famous that it had been three years since Morris had left dwelling. Morris had boarded the S.S. Noordham in Rotterdam on 20 August and landed in New York on 29 August 1910.[1] If Morris left dwelling shortly earlier than 20 August, then he had been gone about 15 months. It’s potential that Morris lived briefly in one other neighborhood earlier than heading to Rotterdam. However, on the passenger manifest, it acknowledged that Morris’ final everlasting residence had been his dwelling neighborhood of Annopol.

Most of the postcards beforehand posted right here indicated that Morris’ was challenged to search out significant and adequately paying work in the USA. His household at dwelling confronted extreme financial troubles. Evidently Morris’ mother and father had determined that having their youngest little one so distant and nonetheless struggling was simply not definitely worth the emotional toll. 

For some purpose – regardless of his troubles with locals as he tried to proceed work within the forests – Levi Yitzkhak thought issues had been wanting up. He anticipated that if Morris returned dwelling issues is likely to be higher for his household.

Morris’ son mentioned that his father by no means returned dwelling to japanese Europe – even for a go to.

Marital discord

Translation by Esther Chanie Dushinsky.

[Notes in blue as well as those at the end of the post are
mine. For ease of reading, I have
added paragraph breaks in the translation. The underlined words in this letter are as written by Levi Yitzkhak.] 

[side 1]

Chanuka, 28 November Russian, 11 December English[2] 

My expensive son who’s beloved like my very own soul, Mr. Moshe Shalom Mordekhai, ought to dwell! 

My expensive son, I obtained your card from the twenty ninth of August, English, Parshas Teitzei, the 18th August Russian. We obtained it in our dwelling in Baranovka on Monday, Vayeshev, November 20 Russian, the third December English. And it as been daily, to 95 days. That is greater than 3 months. And yesterday mom despatched it to me within the forest. 

We’re very happy together with your writing. Particularly as we’ve not obtained any letters from you in a protracted whereas and had been already frightened. We did not know what to do, particularly throughout such a time. You possibly can already think about how a lot angst it triggered right here. And second of all, we thank God that you’re not an American citizen but and you’ve got a selection, it’s higher and extra wise that it is best to come dwelling….

My expensive son, from that point, which means, from 3 years that you’ve got gone and all the things that occurred is not even potential to write down. And that is what we name if all of the waters had been ink…if all of the inhabitants had been scribes…if all of the forests had been quills…[3] It’s unimaginable to write down, and even now, till right this moment, it is just that God ought to have mercy and will say sufficient, sufficient of the troubles. However now there’s hope that there might be peace. I want, Pricey God, Amen. 

My expensive son, our opinion is that you simply ought to come dwelling. I consider it’s already time. Hopefully, with God’s assist, it’s going to enhance. So long as there might be peace. The world retains on saying that there might be peace. 

It should not occur to you, it is rather dangerous at this second for me. Which means, except for all the things that is occurring, for the reason that _____ there was nice anarchy, and pogroms throughout. They’re robbing us within the forests and claiming it’s theirs. The forests _____ _____ _____. They’re tearing it aside and there’s nothing we will do. I’m now in a bit forest subsequent to Rogachev, which is 20 verst from Baranovka.[4]

Final 12 months January, they began reducing right here. Now the non Jews from the encircling villages banished the _____ [Rogachover?] and they’re robbing them formally. They threatened me that I have to depart the forest and certainly, I must depart for dwelling inside every week or two weeks. God forbid, it is not harmful, however merely put, there’s nothing to do within the forest as a result of they do what they need and there’s no answer. There isn’t a regulation and no decide. We hope that God ought to assist and there might be peace and all the things might be again so as.

Sarah is in Kiev now. She left on July 18 this 12 months. She very a lot needed to see a giant metropolis. We thought she would _____, however in the long run, she needed to tackle a job. She sews in a _____. She earns 132 a month. However she would not think about serving to. 

The inflation right here is unbearably nice right here, particularly _____ [next to?] Kiev. 190 right this moment was valued at 10 previously. Each single factor, from the smallest to the most important is significantly costly. I now earn 160 a month, and I barely have a chunk of bread. We should ship packages of meals from dwelling to Sarah on a regular basis. For instance, bread, butter, schmaltz and so forth. Bread is at present 55-60 as a substitute of two.5-3 it was. Each single factor could be very costly now. However let or not it’s no matter it should. So long as God will assist, peace. 

They’re saying that now could be already a Pravda [The Russian word правда means truth.]. Maybe God may have mercy already and there might be peace. We may have the advantage that it is best to come dwelling already, for good causes in peace… 

[side 2]  

[The torn page has affected the readability of the first two paragraphs (especially the first one).]

My expensive son, I’m scripting this letter and [torn page]  

that we will write Yiddish letters already and a bit [torn page] 

what occurred right here. Ink and paper will not be sufficient [torn page] 

till right this moment one needed to write solely in Russian language [torn page] 

_____as you understand, we to _____ [torn page]  

My expensive son! You ask in you card about Feiga’s and Shakhna’s conduct. The story is that [torn page]

nothing to speak about, bear in mind? If you as soon as got here to Baranovka, we had been nonetheless Nareyvka [?], you had been protected Feiga and advised mom, ought to dwell, that we should always ship Feiga, however [torn page] 

there was little, 600, to ship for them? That is Torah and that is the reward! Now they [or she] [torn page]

behave this manner! One to a different, they do not enter the room collectively, they do not speak. Mom can also be very [torn page] 

we sit within the rooms, had been it not for this, I might not have needed to sit down right here. If they might [torn page] 

it’s _____ [Possibly the Russian word pustenya/пустыня, which means desert or wilderness] it is chilly, darkish and so forth…Occurs to be, Sarah is at present in Kiev and [torn page] 

additionally there, and they’re collectively in a single residing area. They pay 60 a month for a residing area.

[in the right margin]

Babekal and Rayka typically do go in to mom. Rayka sleeps over occasionally, as mom is alone at dwelling. It is not dangerous that Rayka typically sleeps over.[5]

[third paragraph] 

I’m writing a card to mom at dwelling and I’m writing that I wrote a letter to you in Yiddish. She might be very happy. She is going to really feel much less ache and heartache over all the 3.5 years that she suffered as a result of we could not write, it’s indescribable.[6] The tears nonetheless have not dried. Not a minute passes that she would not speak about you. However her complete consolation was that we allowed her to specific her heartache, that wealthy individuals and others would have wished for a similar. Much more, we have to thank and reward God that that is the way it turned out.

Backside line, my expensive son, I’m ending my writing, and God ought to proceed to assist and bestow kindness, amen.

Your father who’s awaiting to see you alive and in peace.

You peace 

Your identify peace [7]

Might or not it’s His will that He’ll shield you in peace.

[signature]

In fact it might be good if it would not take so lengthy till the letters arrive. The letters that we write to you and the letters that you simply write to us.

Ship greetings _____ Mirel, ought to dwell, how are you doing, Mirel?

Why do not you ever write to us?

My expensive son! I’m asking that it is best to write fairly often, as a result of that is at the very least a little bit of the pleasure after we obtain a letter from you. _____ it’s a sturdy _____ see please to write down typically typically, your father. 

Notes: 

1. Manifest, S.S. Noordham, Rotterdam to New York, arrived 29 August 1910, sheet 15, entry 19, Moris Lederman, age 19; pictures, Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 1542.

2. As famous in different letters on this sequence, by 1912 a lot of the world (together with the USA) had modified to the Gregorian calendar. Russia didn’t change from the Julian calendar till after World Conflict I.

3. The underlined phrases are quote from Akdamut Piyyut by Rabbi Meir ben Yitzhak Nehorai, cantor within the metropolis of Worms, Germany in about 1100. Custom states that Rabbi Meir was one in all Rashi’s academics. The poem is in Aramaic, a language identified to these Jews who examine the Talmud and its commentaries. So, if we didn’t have already got a good suggestion of Levi Yitzkhak Lederman’s character from all these playing cards and letters, we now certainly know that he was a deeply spiritual and realized man.

I’ve discovered this excerpt with an analogous translation:

If all of the heavens had been parchment

if all of the timber had been pens,

if all of the seas had been ink, and

if each creature had been a scribe,

they might not suffice to expound

the greatness of God. 

The poem is recited in synagogue throughout Shavuot, which normally falls on 6 Sivan (50 days after the primary day of Passover) – normally between Might and June fifteenth.  

For extra on this poem see here and Eliyahu Kitov, The E book of Our Heritage: The Jewish Yr and Its Days of Significance (New York: Feldheim Publishers, 1997), pp. 777-779.

4. I’m not conscious of pogroms within the space in 1912. There have been pogroms in 1905-6 and 1919-1920. I’ll proceed to analysis this era and see what I can discover.

Rogachev (Rogachiv) is 8 miles NNE of Baranovka (Baranivka)

5. Babekal and Rayka had been two of Feiga and Shakhna’s three kids. The oldest was Leah. Babekal grew to become Robert Greenfield and Rayka grew to become Ray Greenfield Younger after immigration to Cincinatti, Ohio.

6. Clearly, with about 30 playing cards and letters from Levi Yitzkhak, the couple did write throughout that point – and so they wrote in Yiddish. It’s potential that we don’t have all of the playing cards and letters. Additionally it is potential that when he says they “couldn’t write,” he meant that they might not write their true emotions in postcards that anybody may learn.

7. Levi Yitzkhak at all times refers to Morris by his full identify: Moshe Shalom Mordekhai. The identify Shalom means peace.

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