This
post continues translation of letters and postcards in Yiddish (and, sometimes, Hebrew and a little bit of Russian) sent
Morris Lederman, who immigrated to the United States in 1910. The postcard translated here is the only one in the collection sent by Morris' sister Sara, who lived with their parents in Annopol, Volhynia gubernia, Russian Empire. 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.
Addressed to:
America
Mr. Morris Liderman
108 Blossm Street [Blossom Street]
Lynn, Mass.
U.S. of America
Postmarked:
14 January [Russian/Julian date], Annopol, Vol[hynia gubernia]
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.]
8 January [январь] 1912, Sunday [1]
Dearest brother! We received a photo from you before Shabbos, where you write about Chasa'n and you ask mother why she wrote to her that she should see you. I can write to you that on the 6th a letter arrived from Chasa'n to her mother. She wrote to mother that Moshe [son of] Levi was here a few times already and doesn't find me at home. So go to his mother and take his address from her and I will figure it out with him. We didn't think about it and gave her the address.[2]
Now I can write that our father, should live and be well, was home for Shabbos and he left today. He came home Thursday night and we planned to write to you on Friday. But he was busy on Friday. On Shabbos night, the Polish Rav and his rebbitzen came.[3] The _____ _____ [the plate licker?] Shlomo, son of Shmarya; Yakov Chaim, son of Ber; Yossele the Shamash, Barukh, son of Berka [or Basha]; Leifer were also here.[4] So, father didn't have time then either. I forgot to write what they were doing at our house. The Polish Rav bought the house for 420 and we have to move out in 6 weeks. God should help us already, we should be.
[side 2]
Moshe'le, mother is asking you many times you should write the address of uncle, as we received a photo from him and he writes he isn't well.[5] We wanted to respond, but the address got lost. We are asking that you send his address and write what's going on with him. How is everyone there?
Be well and happy. Send a few ____ if you want. Mother and I are greeting you. Yours,
Sara
Notes:
1. The date is the Julian calendar date (the one used in Russia at that time). The equivalent date in the USA (and much of the rest of the world) was 21 January 1912.
2. Morris must have stopped by to visit a young woman he knew from the old country. He left word of his visit, but did not, for some reason provide a way for her to get in touch. We do not know who she was or where, exactly she lived in the U.S.A - presumably in Massachusetts.
3. Rav means rabbi. Rebbitzen is the title given to a rabbi's wife. We do not know the identity of the "Polish Rav." A check in the book Latter Day Leaders, Sages and Scholars by E. Rosenstein and N. Rosenstein (1983) identifies only one rabbi associated with Annopol (aka Annapoli): Joseph Lamdan. Benzion Eisenstadt's book, Dorot Ha-Achronim, which is available online (https://www.hebrewbooks.org/2265), profiles Lamdan on page 120. He was born in Annopol and was appointed rabbi of Popelyan (now in Lithuania) in 1903. So, he was not likely in Annopol at the time this letter was written. Thank you to Noam Sienna for translating Lamdan's profile.
4. Regarding "the plate licker": in small towns people often had interesting nick names for others - nick names that they probably did not share with the person so named! A shamash (or gabbai) was a sexton - a person who was the caretaker of the synagogue, either on a volunteer or paid basis.
5. This uncle is likely Jacob Simberg, Frieda Simberg Lederman's brother (Frieda was Sara's and Morris' mother). Morris lived with Jacob and his family in New York City before moving to Lynn, Massachusetts. Jacob died on 10 July 1915 of heart disease. Bronx County, NY, death certificate no. 4424 (1915), Jacob Simberg, 10 July 1915; Municipal Archives, NYC.
Posts in this Series
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 27 December 1910"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 18 January 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 4 February 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 21 February 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 8 March 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 18 January 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 4 February 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 21 February 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 8 March 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 25 March 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 27 April 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 27 April 1911"
"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 13 August 1912""Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 28 November 1912"
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