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).

Posts in this Series

"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 10 December 1910"

"Letters from Levi Yitzkhak Lederman, 17 December 1910"