31 January 2021

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 11 September 1911

This post continues translation from Yiddish and analysis of letters sent by Levi Yitzkhak Liderman to his son, Morris, who was settled, initially, in New York City in 1910. For further background, see the first post in this series. With this letter, we find Morris has moved to Lynn, Massachusetts.

For links to other posts in this series, scroll to the bottom.

As noted previously, translation is an art. Any comments or clarifications by Yiddish speakers/translators are welcome.


Addressed to:
Mr. Morris Liderman
108 Blossm Street [Blossom Street]
Lynn, Mass.
U.S. of America

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.]

[side 1]

September 22, English, 1911

Friday, Erev Rosh Hashanah, should come upon us in goodness, year 5672

My dear and sweet son, the apple of my eye, Mr. Mosheleh, may you live.

Today is the eve of Rosh Hashanah, and I am home [in Annopol, Ostrog uyezd]. I came yesterday in the evening to celebrate Yom Tov [a good holy day]. With gratitude and praise to God, I found everyone at home healthy and whole.

As soon as I arrived home, mother gave me your letter that you sent, which included the letter to Moshe, son of Gershon, as well as the letter I sent to Moshe, son of Gershon, is with mother. I read every loving, pleasant word of yours and was very happy.

Let us pray to God, and may it be His will that we should see each other face-to-face in life and in peace. And now I, your mother and Sarah'le [Moshe's sister who still live with their parents] are coming to bless you with wholesome blessings that it should be a good new year. May this year start with blessings. I am wishing you blessings from the core of my heart.

Today we received your letter dated 7/9 [7 September] English, where you mention that you received my letter where I mentioned the Prizev that is from today two years.[1] Meaning 1913. And so, from your words I gather that you are happy about this. 

From Zavel [Moshe's brother] we also received a letter today. He writes that he has a job there for 25 a month. And now he is considering getting into business with a businessman named Madanski. He got Protekzia [favored treatment] from Khudosh [probably a surname] - from Shepetovka, that he is a relative of Madanski. And he wrote a positive recommendation _____. I, too, from my side, sent him on Wednesday, yesterday, a positive recommendation with someone from Polonnoe. He is the brother-in-law of Madanski, and he also wrote a recommendation that he should see to give him a job in his business. That in the name of this, and if God will help, his luck will get better. It is time, I believe.

At home I found that mother sold the house to Gershon'n recently for 440 and the deal is that during the Yomin Tom, we have to sit at home. 

Right now, about our plans, we didn't discuss yet where we will go, to Baranovka or Polonnoe, because we didn't find the right moment yet. I only came home yesterday evening. At dawn I was at Slikhus - "Remember our covenant" - Today it is indeed the time to prepare for Yom Tov.[2] From my side, and mother, should live, from her side is cooking and baking, etc...

Happens to be now, when I am writing this card, I just came from _____ _____ [Pinkhas? M___ ]. It's 4 pm now. Mother, should live, is sleeping now in her room. I woke up for Slikhus and she was standing at the oven, baking, cooking the good food in honor of Shabbos and Yom Tov. 

Mother just woke up and I let her know I am writing this card to you. She started sending you blessings, blessings and blessings. I will end, _____ _____ [cut off]

[side 2] 

I, mother and Sarah are asking you that you should write to us all the details about Yom Tov. How did you spend your time, where did you pray, and how did you pray and where do you live, how many people and how much does it cost? Do you have a good bed, what about food and sleep, etc.?...Bottom line, Moshe, do us a favor and write about everything in details. Only the truth, only truth.

Your father _____ _____

Notes:

1. Prizev (призыв) refers to the Russian military draft. Levi Yitzkhak wrote to Morris about this previously in his letter of 5 August 1911.

2. Slikhot, in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition starts the Saturday before Rosh Hashanah (or at least 4 days before the holiday). Worshipers recite penitential poems and prayers.

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17 January 2021

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 31 August 1911

This post continues translation from Yiddish and analysis of letters sent by Levi Yitzkhak Liderman to his son, Morris, who was settled, initially, in New York City in 1910. For further background, see the first post in this series. With this letter, we find Morris has moved to Lynn, Massachusetts.

For links to other posts in this series, scroll to the bottom.

As noted previously, translation is an art. Any comments or clarifications by Yiddish speakers/translators are welcome.

Addressed to:

Mr. M. Liderman [Levi Yitzkhak probably mixed up a letter in the Cyrillic alphabet with one in the Latin alphabet. The letter that looks like u is pronounced as an i in Russian]
108 Blossm Str. [Blossom Street]
Lynn, Mass.
Amerika

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.]

[Side 1]

Wednesday, Netzavim Vayelech, 31 August 1911, 12 September English, aproximately 10.[1]

My son, my dear and loving _____soul Mr. Moshe Shalom Mordekhai, should live. _____didn't write to you in a while because I did not know your address _____. I am wishing you that it should be to life and to peace, in your new home [?]. When you change your place, you change your luck.[2]

Mother writes from home that Sara writes letters to you every week. Most probably they wrote to you already that they have sold the home already, Gershon'n, for 440 _____ in _____ [unclear town or city].[3] I still don't know what will be, whether we will move to Polonnoe or Baranovka. I don't know yet. I will travel home for Rosh Hashanah, and we will decide.[4] What do you say, Mosheleh? Write to us about your _____[thoughts? opinions?]. 

We received a letter from Zavel'n and a card. He writes that he has a job for a Christian and he is a very bad person. That _____, in one word, he isn't happy with him, and his wage is very low [?], approximately 25 a month. What does it bother him, the bit of earnings? _____, food and _____, it is barely, barely enough to live on. He writes that he is asking and looking for a new job. There is a rich person there and his name is Madaniski [written in Russian].[5] This Madanski is from Polonnoe. He writes that he will be here with his family, that _____married a brother. He had protektzia here in the city, in order to have protektzia _____, sent him.[6] May God help that these efforts should bear fruit. 

There is no news here. We are all praying for the new year that is coming.

[upside down]

Last night I went to the people to work on the protektzias and didn't find them. I will go home already, meaning, to _____[Zavad?]. I will go back especially, and will still have to come _____ for this to the city until I can receive the protektzia and send him there. I would then write to you of Zavel's address. I don't have Zavel's address here. I will write about it another time.

[sideways]

I am blessing you, my son, to a good and blessed year, amen.

[top] 

I stayed here overnight in the city, because of the protektzia. But sadly I still haven't taken care yet, in Polonnoe, in the house of Yitzkhak Meier [?]. 

[side 2]

First I was at 9 pm, that the person _____ Zavel'ns protektzia. I didn't find the man. To _____ I will have to be in the city a second time because of this. 

Why don't you write to Faiga'n or Zavel'n? They have _____. You have Faiga's address already, and I sent you the address of Zavel. 

Mosheleh, write to me about your life, in detail. What is your job, how much do you earn? What do you do with your time? What's going on with your "Tefillin?" Moshe, Moshe, I am asking you, mother, should live, is asking you in 100 languages [?]...Mosheleh, I am wishing you that the new year should be a good year and full of blessings.

Your father who is blessing you with heart and soul. _____ _____ 

Notes:

1. The letter was posted in Polonnoe the same day it was written: 31 August 1911. For a summary of the Torah portion read on this date, see: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/53151/jewish/Nitzavim-Vayelech.htm

2. This is the first postcard sent to Morris after he moved from New York City to Lynn, Massachusetts. We do not know what Morris was doing for a living in Lynn. The community was known for its shoe factories and Lynn, at this time, also had a vibrant Russian Jewish immigrant population.

3. Levi Yitzkhak's house was in Annopol, Ostrog uyezd, Volhynia gubernia.

4. In 1911, in the Julian (Russian Empire) calendar, Rosh Hashanah fell on 9 September. In the United States, it was on 22 September.

5. We do not know enough to identify Mr. Madanisky/Madansky. I have searched through the 1906 and 1907 Novograd-Volynskiy district (which includes Polonnoe) Duma voters' lists and and located three Maidanskiys: Bentsion and Froim Gersh, both sons of Srul Ber, and Yankel Maidanskiy. It is not clear in which Novograd-Volynskiy town they resided. The voters lists were published in Volynskie Gubernskie Vedomosti, 1906 and 1907.

There is a listing in Vsia Rossiia 1895 Business Directory for Ester Maidanskiy of Polonnoe, who was listed a haberdasher/grocer and fabric merchant. "Visa Rossiia 1895 Business Directory," index, JewishGen https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/vsia/vsiaweb.htm .

There is also a burial for Yenta Maydanskiy (1871-1957), daughter of Yosef, buried in the the Jewish cemetery in Dnipro (previously named Ekaterinislav), where Zavel was trying to find work. Yenta Maydanskaya gravestone (1871-1957), Zapadnoye, Dnipro; image, Mizvat Emet, https://mitzvatemet.com/en/burial44469 .

6. Protektzia is preferential treatment. So, Levi Yitzkhak was trying to contact Mr. Madaniskiy (or Madanskiy), a wealthy businessman with ties to Polonnoe, who could possibly help Zavel get a good job.

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03 January 2021

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 9 August 1911

This post continues translation from Yiddish and analysis of letters sent by Levi Yitzkhak Liderman to his son, Morris, who was settled, initially, in New York City in 1910. For further background, see the first post in this series. 


For links to other posts in this series, scroll to the bottom.

As noted previously, translation is an art. Any comments or clarifications by Yiddish speakers/translators are welcome.


=====MECHANICAL=====
Cast-iron foundry
"Shuriev"
Polonnoe, Volinskiy Gub.
 
Wednesday, 9 August English 1911

[This letter was sent inside an envelope that has not survived.]

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.]

[Side 1]

My sweet and loving son Mr. Moshe-Shalom-Mordekhai

My dear and loving son...

I received your closed letter from 19 July English on the 4th of August English. I was very happy to read your _____ words that you will give thanks that you are starting seeing _____ in life and Tachlis.

And what is this, my son, that you found some pressure in the slur word that I wrote in my previous letter that I wrote the word "Busiuk."[1] God forbid that I should write such a negative word. I asked what the reason was that you needed to leave [or ruin] your apartment with your uncle, and that according to my opinion, your actions weren't good. But curse words, God forbid...

My son, in your previous card, before this one, you write some words that contradict every single one of your previous letters. You wrote these words: "It is a year since I am in America and I didn't accomplish anything." The entire time before that, you wrote that it is very good for you there. Do you know ____ [why]?

You write that you have given Avraham Abba's letter to Mottel'n.[2] What is going on with that? Why can't you send Mottel's address? I have asked you to send his address, and I will give Avraham Abba's, as _____ [they?] were emphatic that _____ the address isn't correct. They write and write and do not get a response. 

Moshe'leh, I am sending you an address of someone Shalom Shechtman. He is in New York already, and is traveling home. I happened to have been these days at his father's, "Abba [?] Schechtman." They know me very well in their home, _____ [we come over to complete prayers?]. They told me that their son Shalom is in America and is traveling home already, and one of these days he will be traveling from New York. Find him and go

[Side 2]

ask him if it is true. I gather that you might know him. I also saw his wife and she even told me that she will write to him about it.

From our Zavle'n I haven't heard any news to write. I haven't received any letters from him. That's because he still doesn't have anything to do. It is time that God should have mercy on him and life his mazel [luck].

There is thank God no news from us. Mother, should live, is alone in Anipoli with Sarah'n, in Anipoli.[3] I am here. There is no buyer for the home yet. There is one buyer from the"Maladekes," but wants to pay half price. 

Two weeks ago, I traveled through Baranovka to Faiga'n, and I stayed there overnight. She is complaining a lot that you don't write to her. I can't thank God about their health. Indeed, I can't understand you, and what happened to you that you don't write to her? Bottom line, she is _____ [sad?]. 

You write to me that the uncle and aunt have complained why I haven't written to them.[4] I believe that in every letter I sent greetings, and I haven't received a single good response from them. I sent a card to him not too long ago and I did not get any response. I will write to him again.

There is no more news. From your father who worries about you, and is asking for your success.

Notes: 

1. босяк [bosyak] in Russian and Ukrainian means either "tramp' or someone who is down and out. Several Yiddish translators have told me that Levi Yitzkhak's handwriting is difficult to read. In addition, he sometimes included Russian words written in Hebrew letters. Apparently, Moshe must have misunderstood something his father wrote in his letter of 21 June 1911 regarding Moshe's move from his uncle, Jacob Simberg's, home. 

2. This is a continuation of a discussion about my great uncle, Mottel (Max) Garber, and his parents (my great grandparents, Avraham Abba and Khana). Avraham Abba and Khana had been sending letters to Mottel but had not been receiving letters in return. See correspondence of 21 June 1911 and 5 August 1911. 


Lol! I have had trouble locating Mottel during this time period, too! Motel arrived in NY in 1908. I have located him with his wife Mary, whom he married in 1914 (in 1914 living at 201 E. 2nd Street), and his brother, Jacob (my grandfather) at 171 101st Street, NY, NY, in the 1915 New York census. He has escaped detection in the 1910 U.S. enumeration, I think. I have located a 1910 census record for someone recorded as Max Langer (or Lauger), a 22 year old egg candler and immigrant from Russia. He was a boarder at 377 E. 10th Street, NY, NY in the 1910 Census. Except for the surname (which might have been copied over incorrectly by a census superviser), this fits with what we know of Max Garber: he'd arrived before the 1910 census, was born about 1889 and was an egg candler at this point in his working career. He was living with the Max Weisser family. More research is needed to determine if this was my Max (Mottel). 1910 U.S. Census, NY County, NY, pop. sched., Manhattan, e.d. 1671, sheet 16B, dwell. 18, fam. 297, Max Langer; images, Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm pub. T624, roll 1012.

3. The family lived in Annopol, Ostrog Uyezd, Volhynia Gubernia. 

4. Uncle and aunt were Jacob Simberg and his wife Anna Prulman Simberg. Jacob was the brother of Moshe's mother Frieda Simberg Lederman. Jacob was from the community of Lyubar and arrived in the USA in 1899. Manifest, S.S. Konigin Luise, Bremen to NY, arrived 30 July 1899, page 225 [stamped], line 28, Jankel Sinberg, age 35; images, Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 76.

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