UPDATE: I misread the date of one letter in this series and posted this 14 April 1912 postcard before the 19 March 1912 postcard. So, go the my post for the 19 March 1912 card first here: https://extrayad.blogspot.com/2021/12/letters-from-levi-yitzkhak-lederman-19.html . Then, come back to this one.
This
post continues translation of letters and postcards in Yiddish (and,
sometimes, Hebrew and a little bit of Russian) sent
to Morris Lederman, who immigrated to the United States in 1910. Most of the postcards, such as this one, were sent by Morris' father Levi Yitzkhak. For further background, see the first post in this series.
For links to other posts in this series, scroll to the bottom.
Translation
is an art. Any comments or
clarifications by Yiddish and/or Hebrew speakers/translators are
welcome. Despite the best efforts by a talented translator, there are
always places where the handwriting is challenging or the meaning
confusing.
Company name printed on address side [side 2] of the card:
контора Office
Жарской Лесной Дачи и Лесопильн Завода Zharskoy Forest Dacha and Sawmill
Addressed to:
America
Mr. M. Lederman
108 Blossm Street [Blossom Street]
Lynn, Mass.
U.S. of America
Postmarked:
14 April 1912 (Russian/Julian date), Baranovka
Translation
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.]
April the 13/26 1912 [April 13 was Julian (Russian) calendar date. April 26 was the date in the Gregorian calendar - the one in use then (and now) in the United States.]
My dear and beloved son, who is as beloved to me as my own soul, Mr. Moshe - Shalom - Mordekhai, should live. Thank you that you sent us the letter. You simply revived us all.
I can't begin to describe the pain and aggravation that we experienced because we didn't hear from you the entire time. The Pesakh that we had, your mother, should live, sadly didn't eat or drink, and that's how the entire Yom Tov was.[1]
We only received your letter the next week on Monday. I wasn't home anymore at that point, and mother sent it to me.[2]
You write in the letter that you want to know why I don't write to you. You are of course my child, true. But believe me that it is also unpleasant for me, but simply I am very busy here in the forest [?]. I simply don't have time. But God forbid it isn't for any other reason. I have nothing against you, my child. God should help us that we should see each other and see much nakhus from you.
Zavil is home now, most likely mother wrote to you.[3] God needs to have a bit of mercy on him already and show him a sign, a situation.
To start, we haven't moved yet to Baranovka. The hindrance is that we can't get a wagon. The way is very bad now, mud. Faiga already rented an apartment in Baranovka for us. Nu, over the summer. There is a neighbor in the shtiblakh who will only continue after Succos.[4]
Moshe'le, you wrote about sending money. You asked where to send it to. We will be moving to Baranovka, so you can send it to my address in Baranovka.
[side 2]
I am asking that you write to me about what's going on with you, every detail, only the truth. How much money do you have, and other details that are important. Write about your thoughts on everything.
Moshe'le, send us the address of uncle Yakov.[5] We don't have his address and that's why we haven't written to him in a long while.
Most importantly, Moshe'le, what is indeed the story as to why you haven't written in such a long time? Why? What's going on that you, Moshe'le, should not write often? The entire town of Annopol went crazy in Bais Midrash, at the market, very single person did not ask more than whether your letter arrived.[6] Day after day.
Your father that loves you and worries about you.
Notes:
1. Pesakh = Passover. Yom Tov = Jewish holiday
2. Morris' mother (Levi Yitzkhak's wife) and daughter were still living in Annopol. It is not entirely clear where Levi Yitzkhak had been working (i.e., I have not determined where Zharskoy forest was), but he appears to have been living near Baranovka - where is daughter Feiga lived with her family.
3. Zavil or, more correctly, Zanvel, was Morris' older brother. He had been in Ekaterinislav (today Dnipro) working and trying to find work at a living wage.
4. A shtiblakh is a small room set aside for prayer. In this case, it is hard to know whether Levi Yitzkhak literally meant there was a shtiblakh as part of the house or that there was a very small room rented by a third party. In 1912 (the Hebrew year 5673), Succos (aka Sukkot) was 25 September to 2 October.
5. Jacob Simberg (Morris' maternal uncle) lived in New York City and Morris lived with him and his family for much of the time he was in Manhattan.
6. Bais Midrash a hall for the study of Torah, distinct from a synagogue.
Posts in this Series
