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.
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"
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