30 January 2022

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 30 August 1912

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.

 


Postmark:

30 August 1912, Baranovka, Vol. [Volhynia gubernia]

Printed on address side of the card: 

Л. Лидерманъ. [L. Liderman]

Addressed to:

America
 
Mr. H. Berger [1]
94 Blossm street [Blossom street]
Lynn - Mass
U.S. of America

Translation

Translation by Khane-Faygl Turteltaub, z'"l, with recent input from 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]

With God's help 1912 Wednesday, the eve of Rosh Hashanah.[2] Let the year and its curses end, and may the New Year and its blessings commence.

My dear, beloved Moshe Shalom Mordekhai, long may you live.

I am now home. Today is the day before Rosh Hashanah, 10 [o'clock] in the morning. I went to slikhos [and said] Zakhor Bris last night.[3] First and foremost, even before eating or drinking I am writing you this postcard. It is more important than anything else to give you my blessing and your mother's blessing to all: to bless you all with a good and sweet year. May the Master of the Universe fulfill our wishes for you.

From Zanvel [we heard that] Shimon Galperin called him to a job. But we already told you. Zanvel is wasting all his time. It's been 2 or 3 weeks since Zanvel was written and he can't make up his mind. Perhaps he is deciding whether or not to go see Galperin. 

But at this time I know nothing. I should write him my ideas, but I can't do this either because I do not know the details. I wish I had enough vacation time to go to Galperin and Zanvel. Of course it would be good to know, but I do not have time off. I cannot leave the woods

[side 2]  

since this is our livelihood.[4]

[This last section includes contributions from translator Esther Chanie Dushinsky] We received a postcard from Yakov recently, and we answered him. What is going on now with him? You wrote to us that you will still write all the details about what happened to him. Write, please. Usually, we don't write anything to him about it because it is not appropriate.[5]

My son, my dear, a few times I already asked you to write details about yourself and you aren't writing. Write, write, my child.

Your father, who wishes you blessings and tranquility for the New Year. 

_____ _____ 


Notes:

1. H. Berger was Harris Berger. For more about him, see this post, footnote #5.

2. The eve of Rosh Hashanah in 1912 (1 Tishrei 5673) fell on Wednesday evening, 11 September, in the Gregorian calendar in use in the United States and 30 August in the Julian calendar then in use in the Russian Empire. 

3. Slikhos (or selikot) are prayers of forgiveness said in the days before Yom Kippur and other fast days. For more about them, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selichot. Zakhor Bris is one of the slikhos prayers and involves remembering the Covenant.

4. Levi Yitzkhak had been working in the Zhary Forest for a forestry concern in Polonnoye: the Zharskoy Forest Dacha and Sawmill. See this post for a map of the approximate location of his work. 

5. There were two men named Yakov, that I am aware of, related Morris. One was Yakov Simberg, Levi Yitzkhak's brother-in-law (his wife Frieda's brother and Morriss uncle) who lived in New York City. When Morris first arrived in the United States in 1910, he lived with his uncle and his uncle's family. The second was Yankel Garber, my grandfather. Yankel left Libau, Latvia (now called Liepāja) on 20 August 1912 aboard the S.S. Birma and arrived in New York on 3 September 1912 (Gregorian), about eight days before Levi Yitzkhak wrote this postcard. It seems possible, although perhaps unlikely, that a postcard from Yankel Garber had already reached his uncle, Levi Yitzkhak, in Baranovka. But, maybe.

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16 January 2022

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 13 August 1912

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.


Postmark:

13 August 1912, Baranovka, Vol. [Volhynia gubernia]

 

Printed on address side of the card: 

Л. Лидерманъ. [L. Liderman]

Addressed to:

America
 
Mr. H. Berger [1]
92 Bllossom street [Blossom street]
Lynn Mass
for Morris Lid.
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.] 

Baranovka                                         August 12/25, 1912 [2]

My dear son who sweetens my soul, Mr. Moshe'le, should live.

I traveled home today, and when I got home, as usual, I asked whether there was a card or letter from you. And mother, should live, said no. I asked her with this tone, as if she is a _____ to give me a letter from you. And she responds with the tone, as if she's excusing you for me. 

What came out of this, my dear son, is that it's good that we both wait so much for your letters?

I sent you a letter about 2 weeks ago, a sealed one.[3] Usually you have already received it. Perhaps you responded to that already, and it is in transit still, or not?

Today we received a letter from Shepetovka from H. Galperin.[4] The one where Zundel used to manage his _____ _____ [korros fadencia].[5] He writes that if Zundel wants, he can have a job there now. I sent the letter to Zundel'n and to H Galperin. I wrote to ask him he should await until Zundel arrives and he will work it out with him.

I don't have any news to write about us. I, mother, Feiga and Shakhna and the children are wishing you a good and blessed new year.[6] We wish to see you in health and in goodness.

[side 2]

After Yom Tov, we are considering moving to Feiga'n in the rooms.[7] Feiga already has a _____ the neighbor should have an apartment.

Our Sarah has acclimated a little bit to Baranovka with friends already and  she is already a bit _____.

Your father that loves you _____ _____

And your mother that loves you _____ _____ Moshe'le. I am asking that you should a send few _____. If not, I won't be calm. Be well. 

Notes: 

1. Morris was a boarder living with Harris Berger and his family in Lynn, Massachusetts. For further information, see note 5 for the letter previously posted here. 

2. 12/25 represents the difference between the Julian calendar date (12 August 1912), then used in the Russian Empire, and the same day in the Gregorian calendar date (25 August 1912), then used in much of the rest of the world, including the United States. It was a Sunday. Levi Yitzkhak posted the letter the following day.

3. It is not clear that the letter mentioned by Levi Yitzkhak survived. Most of the correspondence sent to Morris Lederman from his family in the old country came in the form of postcards. A few were letters that had clearly originally been inside an envelope that no longer survives. There are several letters in the family collection, but most seem to have been identified with a date or origin that do not match the letter cited.  

The letters that have survived were clearly sent in an envelope so that more personal issues could be discussed without prying eyes.

4. In the last letter I posted, it seemed as if Zanvel was in the community of Slavuta. Shepetovka is about 12 miles SE of Slavuta. I have looked through the 1906 Duma voters' list that have transcribed for the Zaslav District, which included Shepetovka, and I have not found H. Galperin (there was a Hersh Galperin in Slavuta in 1906).

5. Morris' older brother's name has previously been written as Zanvel or Zaidel. I am not sure why it appears differently here. In several cases in past letters I have been able to figure out the Russian phrase written in Hebrew letters. In this case, however, I am stumped. If anyone has any idea what this means (and in what language) please let me know in a comment below. Thank you.

6. Feiga, Morris' older sister, lived in Baranovka with her husband Shalom Shakhna Grinfeld and their three children. 

7. "Yom Tov" refers to the Jewish festival days on which activities are limited, similar to on the Sabbath. In this case, Levi Yitzkhak was referring to the next important holiday on the Hebrew calendar: Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1 and 2). In 1912 in the Russian Empire Julian calendar, Rosh Hashanah started on the evening of 31 August. For Morris, in the USA, it started on 12 September. Considering that Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur occur in quick succession and are often considered together as the High Holy Days, he may have meant that they would be moving after Yom Kippur (Tishri 10). 

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02 January 2022

Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 4 July 1912

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.

Postmark:

4 July 1912, Baranovka, Vol. [Volhynia gubernia] [1]

Printed on address side of the card: 

уполномоченный "еко" [authorized "eko"] [2]

Ш. Гринфелд  [Sh. Grinfeld] [3]

(Утвержденъ Мин. Дел 31 мая  14968) м. Барановка [(Approved by the Ministry of Affairs on May 31, 14968) Baranovka] [4]

Addressed to:

America
 
Mr. H. Berger [5]
94 Blosson street [Blossom street]
Lynn Mass

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.]

Monday, Rosh Khodesh Menakhem Av, 1912, 1/13 Baranovka [6]

My dear and beloved, beloved son Mr. Moshe-Shalom-Mordekhai, should live. My dear son! I received your card and I thank you very, very much, my son. You revive us every time, and we all feel blessed, my son. And you should be blessed too.

From what you wrote in your letter, my son, we understand that you have no money. We aren't even talking about sending money, but what is the reason and why did you decide to buy a watch for $75? You think it's a small thing? 75 dollars! Here it's considered _____ ruble. 

You're allowed to say whatever you want about me, my child and I tell you that it isn't OK. Bottom line, enough, enough to talk about it. For the future, my son, one doesn't need to be such a _____. One should think very well what to do.

We don't have any letters from Zavil, but we get greetings via mouth. Thank God for his health. But he is a _____, meaning from others, not from his own. Of course I would be happy if he'd receive from God's hand directly.

Now Sarah traveled to Slavuta with the goal to see Zaidel'n [or Zavil'n]. It isn't far from Slavuta to Polon [Polonnoe], just a few verst.[7] She left last week, and she will probably come back this week.

I was home this past Shabbos, and now it's Sunday night. I am sleeping at home tonight as well, so I am writing from home. 

Mother, should live, keeps on reading the card that you sent, as well as the card that I am writing now. We are wishing you a good night and it should always be good. Feiga, Shakhna and the children are greeting you three times. 

Your father, _____
 

Notes:

1. Since Levi Yitzkhak later says he is home for Shabbos, it appears that he, his wife, and daughter (Sarah) finally moved to Baranovka, near their daughter Feiga, her husband Shakhna, and their family.

2. Some of the text is probably under the postage stamps and it is not clear what this means. 

3. The last letter of the surname Grinfeld is probably under the postage stamps. Shalom Shakhna Grinfeld was married to Levi Yitzkhak's older daughter, Feiga. The couple lived in Baranovka with their three children: Leya (Leah), Raya (Rae) and Wolf (Robert). In a previous blog post, I discussed Shakhna's murder, probably in the 1919-1920 pogroms. Sefer Zvhil, a yizkor book that included information about Baranovka, identified Shakhna Grinfeld as a community leader. He served as a delegate to the Zionist convention in Leningrad. In addition, he may have worked with community organizations that provided aid for those unable to help themselves (see note 8 in the previously cited blog post).

4. Again, the meaning of this authorization by an unnamed Russian ministry is, unfortunately, not clear. 

5. While the letter is clearly written to Morris, it was addressed to H. Berger (Harris Berger). I have located Harris Berger, his wife Sarah Brenner, and their children (Kava/Kenny, Jenny/Jean and Samuel, Louis, Ruth, Laura and Evelyn) in census records from 1910, 1930 and 1940. For most of that time, Harris was a grocer. Harris and Sarah married in 1903 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. City directories from 1912 and 1913 indicated that Harris Berger, grocer, lived at 92 Blossom Street. In 1911, he was at 108 Blossom Street (the letter posted on 14 April 1912 to Morris was addressed to 108 Blossom). One of their daughters (likely Ruth) was born  on 14 July 1912 when they lived at 92 Blossom Street. I am not sure what to make of the discrepancy in the address except that it may have been a mistake. Levi Yitzkhak's next letter was sent to 92 Blossom Street. Regardless, the letter sent to 94 Blossom apparently did get to Morris.

6. The dates noted by Levi Yitzkhak are a little off. Based on his previous letters, the 1/13 in this card indicated day 1 of the month in the Julian calendar, then in use in the Russian Empire, and day 13 of the same month in the Gregorian calendar (in use now and then in the United States). 

The card was postmarked on 4 July 1912 (Julian calendar).  Later on in this card Levi Yitzkhak noted that he'd written the card on Sunday night, i.e., 1 July 1912, which actually would have been 14 July 1912 in the Gregorian calendar - not 13 July. 

As one might expect, Levi Yitzkhak, a religious man, was correct that it was Menakhem Av as he wrote the card.  Since days in the Jewish calendar start at sundown, the evening of 1 July (Julian) would have been the first day of Menakem Av in 1912. 

7. Slavuta is 34 miles, 54.8 kilometers, or 51.4 verst northwest of Polonnoe. 

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