Edited by Roger Spitzer

Morris' grandparents Morris' father Yussef Morris' brother Barnett comes to America Moshe Bornstein Family Tree Belchatow Shtetlinks at JewishGen.org

Morris Bornstein with ?

Introduction

It is my intention to write my life story, to enable the future offspring of our family to know their family history and to enable them to trace their good and, bad habits. It will also give the reader a clear picture of his grandparents, as to their customs, standards of living, habits, health, education, environment, and religious conduct, as far back as the 18^th century.

          Morris Samuel Bornstein

[Editor’s note: most of the story is told third-hand from stories from his mother Sara, brother Barnett and possibly some other siblings.]

I, Morris Samuel Bornstein, born in the year 1890, exactly two weeks before Passover,according to the Jewish calendar. I was born in a small town in Poland named Belchatow. I was the last one of twelve children, with eight living, born to my dear father Joseph and my dearest mother Sara Debora. Her maiden name was Rabinowitz. [JRI-Poland database has her maiden name as Jacubowicz]

My mother’s father’s name was Moshe, and her mother’s name was Frieda, both natives of Pyetrikow Poland. We don’t know much about Moshe Rabinowitz because he died when my mother was a little girl and she hardly knew much about him. He was a tailor by trade, honest and religious person. My mother used to help him with his work, whereby she learned to be an excellent seamstress. There was no machines those days, and all the work was done by hand.

Mother had one brother, his name was Sholama. As a small boy he learned his father’s trade (tailor) by his father and when his father died he was yet young. His mother’s brother Mata the Soifer (the writer) took him to stay with him in Warsaw and sent him to school where he became a very educated man. He also took my mother to live with him. Mother was employed as a salesgirl by her uncle’s son, and when her brother married he gave up his tailoring and went in the restaurant business with his wife’s folks. He met with great success in his business and became wealthy.

My father’s father’s name was Moshe and his mother’s name was Sara, both natives of Belchatow. My ancestors on both sides came from the biblical tribe Levy and were believed to be the children of Spanish Jews that had immigrated to Poland at the time of the Spanish inquisition. I didn’t know any of them because they all died before I was born. All of my future writings about them are from stories that were told to me by my parents and the rest of the folks. There are no written documents of any of them. My father’s father was called by the townspeople with a nickname Safeaner. He was a tanner by trade, and because he specialized in tanning soft fine leather called safeane, therefore he was nicknamed Safeaner. He was of medium height with a medium size gray beard almost white at old age. He was known to be the most upright, honest, considerate, helpful, sincere, hard worker, religious and charitable person. He gave bread to Christian beggars as well as to Jewish beggars. The Christian beggars called him the good Jew. He always said that he would rather give than take. His daily routine was, to get up at daybreak and start to work, attend religious services in the synagogue three times a day, as the usual custom of every religious Jew in those days. He ceased his work Friday afternoon, and went to the community bath (mikva). When he returned home, he dressed in his Sabbath clothes. He was always the first one in the synagogue to light the Sabbath candles. Before grandfather left for the synagogue, grandmother lit the Sabbath candles that were placed in her brass candlesticks that stood on the table. She performed a prayer, by first moving both her hand around the flickering flames three times. She then covered her eyes with both hands, and said the Sabbath blessings.That was the precious moment which some women used to pour out their bitter hearts to God with tears in their eyes, prayed for better health, better luck, and better treatments from their husbands.

When the town merchants saw Moshe Safeaner walking Friday afternoon wearing his Sabbath clothes, with his prayer book under his arm, they all started to close up their business and get ready for the Sabbath day. After the services, he came home from the synagogue as he entered the house, he raised his hand and kissed the mezuzah that was nailed at the entrance. He found the house all lit up with candles which were only used on Sabbath and for the sake of Sabbath. First he bid everyone good Sabbath. Then he started with the usual saying: “Peace to you, angels of peace”, imagining that the angels of peace have entered the house together with him. The house certainly looked peaceful. The women folks with their faces shining and their hair braided tight and with their natural rosy cheeks quietly sat around the table to hear the men folks say a special praise for the mistress of the house.

A woman of virtue who can find? For her price is above rubies. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no lack of gain. She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchant-ship, she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also whilele it is yet night, and setteth forth provision for her household, and their portion for her maidens. She con­sidereth a field, and buyeth it, with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength and maketh strong her arms. She perceiveth that her earnings are good, her lamp goeth not out by night. She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she putteth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh garments and selleth them, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and majesty are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come, she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the low of loving kindness is on her tongue. She looketh well to the way of her household, and eateth not the bread off idleness. Her children rise up and call her happy, her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying, “Many daughters have done worthily, but you excel them all.” Favor is false and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit off her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

After this he filled his cup with wine and started with his usual Sabbath tune to say the kiddish prayer. He drank part of it and passed the balance around to the women folks for each one to take a sip, like the usual custom at the Sabbath table. After the kiddish, he washed his hands and said a prayer. Then he returned to the table and said the blessing of the bread. He lifted the small doily that covered the two white breads, cutting off one slice of one bread and dipping part of it in salt for himself to eat. He then cut more slices and passed them around to all the rest of the folks that sat around the table. It followed with several courses; first gefilta fish, then soup, meat and dessert. Between the courses Sabbath songs were sang in the loudest possible tone, to compete with next door neighbors that sang at the same time.

The next day on Sabbath morning, he did not get up so early, but early enough to rehearse the portion of the reading of the Torah. He rehearsed it in the usual singsong tone that would wake up people that were light sleepers. But the house folks were so used to it, that they didn’t mind it at all. The louder the voice the sounder they slept. After he was finished, he woke up the boys to take them along to the synagogue for the Sabbath morning prayer. The dinner that took place after the service was conducted in the same manner as the one that took place the night before, with the exception that one of the principal courses was the tshulent. Tshulent was a meat roasted together with potatoes that was put in the baker’s oven to bake all night, after which he took a nap for an hour or so. When he got up, he ate some fruit, which was also served to the rest of the folks and visitors that were present. It was customary for the married children to come home Saturday afternoon to visit the old folks and bring with them the grand children. Grandfather used to give examinations to the children that attended religious school, to find out how they stand in their learning, and reward the one, that knew his lessons well, by giving him fruit or cookies, and punish the one that didn’t know his lessons, by scolding him and not give him anything. He then started the usual reading the portion, the sayings of the sages that is full of philosophy, occasionally saying some of the important verses aloud, as follows:

Simon the just was one of the last survivors of the great synagogue. He used to say. “Upon three things the world is based- upon Torah, upon temple service and upon charity”. Simeon his son said, “All my days I have grown up amongst the wise and have found nought of better service then silence. Not learning but doing is the chief thing, and who is profuse of words causes sin.”

This last verse, he probably meant to teach some of the women folks, not to talk too much. This was performed with all the boys sitting around the table. The girls were exempt from the learning of the bible. They only had to learn hygiene, which was necessary for them when they became at a marriageable age, to enable them to practice the laws of the bible that women are supposed to know. When the Sabbath day was near over, he again went to the synagogue together with the boys to pray the last Sabbath prayer, after which they came home and ate the third Sabbath meal. It was almost dark then, and everyone had appreciated all the leftovers. Songs were sung to harmonize with the almost pitch darkness. Everyone in the house was watching with eager eyes for the first shining star to appear in the sky, to be able to light a candle, because you cannot make fire on the Sabbath day. The first shining star signifies that the Sabbath day came to an end. The songs that were sung at the Sabbath table had great significance in Jewish life. Their tunes have been com­posed at different times. Those melodies tell the history of the Jewish people, from the time that they lived in Egypt, Palestine, or in the Ghettos, and down through the ages. One could also hear in those melodies cries of persecution, blood accusations, fear, hate, love for God and his Torah, prayers and praises to God, courage to march on and carry on the light of the Torah to the future generations.

He started the new week with a candlelight and bidding to everyone in the house good week. The men folks started the new week with the evening prayer, and after the prayer grandfather ushered in the new week with the usual prayer over a cup called (havdalah) This was performed by having the youngest in the house, holding the havdalah candle up high at the performance of the prayer. If the new week happened to be with the new full moon out, a group of Jewish neighbors got together and went out side to renew the new moon by saying a prayer and saying to one another “peace to you” and the answer was “angels of peace”. It generally followed with a late evening meal called (lava malka) and more prayers for a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous new week. The God given new week has finally arrived, for which so much has been prayed to be a healthy, happy, and prosperous one.

Conditions were no better than all weeks previous to this one. The work was just as hard, toiling from early in the morning til late in the evening. The earnings were just as small, about six cents a day, but the faith in the almighty remained the same. It is unbelievable that from such small earnings he saved up enough money to buy a dwelling for his old age. I was told that food in those days was very cheap. A family could buy in the market place for a couple dollars enough food to last them a half-year. It was extravagant to eat meat every day and white bread such a luxurious food it was only served on Sabbath. The bread that was eaten during the weekdays was home baked of some coarse hand grit flour that resembled good garden soil. Candles were only used for Sabbath, otherwise kindle wood lit in the fireplace, or some cheap oil was used as a general illumination. Most of the dwellings had no wooden floors, and the dirt floors were sprinkled with white sand for beautification, and only on special occasions. The value of clothing was judged by its strength. A trousseau lasted a lifetime. Children’s clothes were handed over from the older child to the next younger one. There were no doctors in small towns. The inhabitants received their medical treatments from healers. A healer was a person that inherited the knowledge of the use of herbs for healing the sick and had a limited knowledge of first aid.

There were no newspapers. The townspeople received the news from the drummer. This drummer was paid by the government, and he used to come to the market­place and report the news. He first started to pound on the drum, and many people as well as children came running from all directions to hear the news. He then called out aloud notice of the day that recruits have to appear at the town hall to be examined for military service, also reporting new laws and their punishments for not obeying them. If there was a war, he reported the victories.

My father’s mother Sara died accidentally while only 60 years old. [Editor’s note: later parts of the story only make sense if Sara and Moshe were in their 40’s at the time of her death, so “60” likely refers to 1860.] She was bitten by a mad dog when she tried to rescue her daughter’s husband that was bitten by the same dog, and both died from blood poisoning. [Editor’s note: Most likely rabies] My grandfather became a widower at the age of 60. He then married my mother’s mother Frieda, who was also a widow. My mother’s mother, as a widow, was a merchant selling cloth in the markets in the different towns. She used to travel from town to town, and when she would come to Belchatow and the marketplace to sell cloth. That’s where she met Grandfather Safeanor. My father’s father (Safeanor) died at the age of 74 in the year 1888 and left four sons and one daughter. Their names were Samson, Hime, Hersh, Joseph (Yussef) and Rebecca-Rachel. Joseph was my father.

He was of medium height and his beard was partly gray at the age of fifty. His neighbors called him by the nickname Joseph Brite Bart, that means wide beard, which he possessed. He attended religious school til he was at the age of eight or ten years. He then started to work with his father tanning leather. The work was done by hand, which was hard muscular work. This kind of work gave him the opportunity to develop his muscular strength to enable him to tackle any kind of job, even the hardest ones. His mother died when he was at the age of sixteen. He then refused to stay home with his stepmother, Frieda, and no longer liked the conditions there. He decided to go to the big city where fortune can be found. He then made his way part by foot and part by wagon transport, heading for Warsaw, the capital of Poland. He soon found a job, the kind that was in competition[sic] with his muscles. He worked there for a couple years, til a polish revolt broke out amongst the polish people against Russian rule.

Then the Russian government started to round up young men for military service. He did not want to serve in the Russian army, and tried to get back home, which would be safer than in the capital. He had great difficulties to get out of the city, because all roads were watched by soldiers, and they asked everyone for a passport that wanted to leave the city. No young man that was of military age was permitted to leave the city. He spent several days at the border line watching and waiting for an opportunity to get out. It happened to be in the wintertime, and there was lots of snow. All of a sudden he noticed a group of people riding in a sled wanting to pass the border line. They all showed their passports and were permitted to pass. Accidentally, the sled turned over and the group was dumped in the snow. All the guarding soldiers started in a convulsion of laughter and he saw his best chance, and as lighting he ran through without being noticed. He helped the group with the turn­ed over sled and the soldiers at the post must have thought that he was one of the group. They gave him a ride to the next town.

When he came home he found that his stepmother had a daughter (Sara Debora) one year younger than him. [Editor’s note: Sara Debora was living in Warsaw with her uncle Mata.] My grandfather already spoke to grandmother about making a match, her daughter with his son Joseph that is coming from Warsaw. He liked his stepdaughter Sara Debora because he thought that she is very smart and good natured, and with all the good virtues that she possessed, she ought to make a good wife for Joseph.

It was agreed by the two parents that Joseph and Sara Debora will make a fine match. An engagement was arranged, and a promise was made by the girl’s mother, that a dowry of a certain sum of money will be given to Joseph at the arranged wedding day. It was not up to the boy or girl to choose their mate. Usually the parents has selected for them. In many cases, the boy or girl didn’t see each other before the wedding. It was a custom that the couple had to see each other before the wedding ceremony. If one didn’t like the other’s complexion they could change their mind and refuse to get married, but only in rare cases was the wedding broken up. In this particular case, my father saw my mother before they were married, because she was invited to come to Belchatow occasionally to be with her mother. They must have liked one another. Even if they didn’t, they were afraid of the old folks to object, because they would commit a disrespectful act against their parents.

At this time industries started to move into the small towns in Poland. In this particular town, the weaving industry came in. Father no longer liked to follow his father’s trade because of the small earnings. He was already used to the much higher wages and better living of the large city, and he could no longer see how he can make a living by earning six cents a day at tanning. He decided to learn weaving. If he had to go through the regular channels to learn it, it would take him three years. He was lucky that one of his cousins was a graduate master weaver, and he tought him the trade in just a few months.

It wasn’t just weaving. A weaver had to know every part of it, to enable him to manufacture cloth of every description. This required a knowledge of calculations, of which he could not learn in such short time. By practicing to weave for others, it gave him a chance to learn more about it. In future years he was able to manufacture very fine cloth.

The time of the wedding has arrived. The couple has been notified several weeks in advance, in order to get ready for the happy occasion, to enable the bride to learn by her mother all about married life, to prepare her trousseau and take ritual baths before the wedding. The groom also had to make preparations: to have his trousseau ready and go around with his father and the saxson to friends and neighbors to invite them to come to the wedding, which was customary to do in those days. The ones that could not come to the wedding, would say so, and wish them happiness.

There were unusual activities the Sabbath before the wedding day. It was a custom that the groom and bride are to be led by their parents to the synagogue. The groom was led by both, his and her father, and the bride by both her and his mother. If they had no parents, the nearest relative took their places. The townspeople watched the procession. In the synagogue the bride sat in the balcony on the front bench with both mothers, and the groom sat on the front bench on the main floor, with both fathers and relatives that took part in the services. The small boys were especially interested to be in the synagogue at such occasion, because after the groom had finished saying the MAFTIR, nuts were thrown upon his head from the women in the balcony, which was the usual custom. All the small boys threw themselves on the floor to grab as many nuts they possibly could carry in their pockets.

There was great excitement all day. The little boys had fights with one an other, on account of playing a game with the nuts. The loser was generally angry when he lost his possessions and tried to get his nuts back. The nuts were distributed by the mothers of the groom and bride to all the women that took part in the service. There was special doings in the afternoon. The groom invited his boy friends to his house, and the bride invited her girl friends to her house. They were treated with fruit and nuts and each one was called upon to make a speech or give a song. The women folks also danced with one another, and they all had a fine time.

Then came the preparation on the wedding day. The bride’s mother and relatives were busy with cooking and decorating the dance room, by hanging up white curtains on the windows and also preparing the bride’s chair. It was a fast day for the groom and bride. Their time was generally devoted to prayers, and to help the folks with the wedding preparation. The town’s children have been curious to find out what is going on all day; they looked in through the windows and report the progress to their folks. The children were especially busy when the musicians came in the afternoon to the bride’s house, and after to the groom’s house, to show their talents by playing a tune. Each one of them received a tip and some drinks from the parents. The town’s children have followed them through the streets to hear the music. In the eve of the wedding the groom and the bride were quartered in two separate rooms. All the men were entertained by the groom and the women were entertained by the bride. As usual, the groom invited his boy friends, and the bride her girl friends, which came in the evening dressed up in their best clothes. All men were sitting around by the groom and were treated with drinks, fruits, and nuts. So were the women treated by the bride. The bride was wearing her wedding dress and veil that covered her head and face. The music was playing and the women were dancing with one an other. This was conducted in a large room, where there was an arrangement made such as a wooden washtub covered with a white sheet, and a chair put on the top of it padded with pillows for the bride to sit on. Men and women did not dance together, because it was considered immoral. The older women were sitting around in the room and some sat next to the bride, telling jokes and stories of their experiences in their married life and funny things about their children. The bride was sitting high on her throne, and hardly spoke a word. Although her face was veiled, everyone could notice her shining eyes and her natural rosy cheeks.

Everything went well til the time before the ceremony, when shouts were heard that the Rabbi was there. Soon after it was reported to her that the marriage contract is being written, and every thing is well on the way. The saxson was dragging the canopy and inquiring about where to put it up. The dancers were notified to stop dancing, more men and women gathered in the room, and it was announced that the Batchan is coming. A Batchan is a man that possesses a talent of poetry, whereby he makes his living from it. He is hired to make a speech for the bride and groom in a poetic way, to tell them their future responsibilities and entertain the guests at the dinner table. When the bride heard that the Batchan was coming her heart started to beat. She hung down her head and her eyes filled with tears. She got her handkerchief ready as she knew what was coming. She knew because she heard them before when she was invited to other weddings. She was very much familiar with his dramatic tone. She remembered that at her friend’s wedding, the bride fainted at the speech. Here she can see through her veil that he is coming closer. Everybody is shouting hush, til the noise dies down. Here he starts with his usual speech, sing song tune, with “Dear bride; First I want to tell you, your responsibilities on the other side. The other side I mean your expected married life. To respect your husband and care for your children just like you would care for your own life.” Also telling her some passages from the bible and her punishment by God for not doing the right things. Everything was said with the usual rhyme.

The musicians followed with a special musical composition that was appropriate for that occasion. The bride would be holding her handkerchief over her eyes and sobbing, some of her friends standing by her side, fanning her, and holding smelling salts ready if she faints. The Batchan left for the groom’s room to give the groom the same treatment. After this, small colored candles were handed out to everybody, and they were all lit up. The saxson already had put up the canopy out doors, and four men were holding the four posts. The music was playing, the Rabbi and the saxson were waiting for the bride and groom to arrive, while the wedding march was in progress. Both mothers lead the bride and both fathers lead the groom. If they were not living some of their relations took their places in leading them to the canopy.

All the people were sounding and clapping their hands while the procession was on, til the bride and groom were placed, stand­ing next to each other under the canopy. The Rabbi started then to read the marriage contract. A cup of wine was filled and the Rabbi said the holy blessings. The groom is ordered to put the marriage ring on the bride’s finger, and said “Behold thou art consecrated unto me by this ring, according to the Law of Moses and of Israel”. Again the Rabbi started the second part of the holy blessing and took a sip of the cup of wine, and handed the same cup to the groom to take a sip and after to the bride to take a sip. When the groom broke the glass or a dinner plate that was put under his foot, they were considered that they were married, and were pronounced man and wife. The married couple was hurried back, to a separate room to serve them breakfast.

The tables were already set for the guests to have their dinner. Men and women were served at separate tables. Starting with blessing of the bread and finishing with special blessing for the young couple, and a praise for the Lord for giving food to all living. During the dinner the Batchan entertained the guests by singing and calling some important guests by their names and telling some good things about the in the usual rhyme, whereby receiving tips from them. The saxson, in most cases with an assistant, was busy performing special bless­ings to each one of the guests, and also received tips. After the meal the Batchan announced “Now the wedding gifts!” He called out aloud the name and the kind of relative he is to the groom or bride and the kind of gift he or she presented, saying a funny joke that made everybody laugh. For instance, he would call out “Here is a beautiful bake pan from the bride’s cousin and the young couple can bake together”. After this the men took over the dance floor the music played some lively tunes and all men formed a circle and danced around and around with great speed, always trying to have the groom join them. It was then getting late and some of the guests started to go home. As was the custom, every man danced with the bride. The bride held a large red handkerchief twisted around her finger and any man wanting to dance with the bride took hold of the handkerchief and turned around several times with the bride while the music was playing. When most of the guests have left and only the nearest relatives remained again they started to dance around in a circle with the groom in it, and they kept on dancing til they danced into a hall and someone opened a door and pushed him into a room.

There he found the bride alone with him in one room. At last they are all by themselves, and they hardly know one another. They never kissed one another before, or even held one another’s arm, and in many cases had not even spoken to one another. Now they have to get acquainted in such short time and live together as man and wife. Perhaps they felt that they have been robbed of their youth and their fun, and have not been treated like human beings, and they are only a part of the animal kingdom.

The next morning they sneaked out of the room hanging down their heads smiling bashfully. They already started to worry about their future. The young man put on the new TALIS that was as large as a bed sheet that covered him up at the morning prayer. He now felt that he was a married man. In the meantime, the bride’s beautiful hair has been shorn off her head and the usual headdress was put on her head. She now looked like any other Jewish married woman. The young woman felt that with her hair went her youth, her girlhood, and her beauty. She was almost certain that in the next few months she would become a mother. She didn’t know the kind of character her husband had or the kind of provider he is going to be. All she knew that she has to accept things as they come and make the best of it.

My father was eighteen and my mother was seventeen when they married. [Editor's note: The wedding was in 1865 according to Polish records] Each one had a distinctive nature from the other. Mother was kind, quiet and reserved. Father had a hot temper and tried to pick a fistfight at his first opportunity, protesting every time things didn’t suit his own self. He was religious like his father, but he translated the religion to suit his own self. For instance; he used to say, because Eve was a rib taken from Adam, therefore a wife is a part of her husband’s body, and a man can do with any part of his body, the way he pleases. Such statements he used to make often. Sometimes he said it in a joke, other times he really meant it.

Their first child was born and didn’t live long. By that time the young couple was already established, father was weaving and mother wound the spools to weave the cloth. The earnings were small and father was always angry. It so happened that his cousin that taught him to weave died and left a widow with one boy. The widow knew the art of dyeing colors in the yarn, of which there was a great demand at that time by the town weavers. She no longer could stay in the business all by herself, so she came to father with a proposition: to make a partnership with him in the dyeing business and teach her boy weaving.

As soon the town’s weavers found out that he learned the secret of dyeing yarn, they brought him plenty of work, and paid his demanded price. He got to be so busy that all three and the boy were working practically day and night, and still were not able to satisfy the demand. Mother had plenty of aggravation, together with lots of work. She used to tell us that father was always irritated. If a customer came in and started complaining that he was not getting the work done fast enough, father, having a temper, used to throw out the complaining customer and throw his merchandise after him. In some cases he slapped his face if he protested his action. Poor mother had always to apologize for him, and beg the person not to mind him. She used to watch threw the window, and when she saw customer coming she met him outside in order to prevent a collision with father.

They had earned more money then anyone in the trade. They had a good reason to save most of their earned money. It was in the Year 1848 [?] when young men were forcefully taken by the Russian government for military service for 15 years. If the town could not make up the quota, the authorities went around in the middle of the night and raided the houses. If they found a man-child 12 years or older, they took him along and sent him to an army camp to serve 15 years. One could buy himself out for 400 rubles (dollar), and that was the reason why father and mother worked practically day and night for a couple years to save up such a large sum of money. Those days 400 rubles was considered a fortune. Only very wealthy people could afford to pay for their sons, to buy them out of military service. There was a lot of red tape to go through. Before the government accepted the money father was recruited into the army and shipped from one barrack to another for seve­ral weeks. When the 400 rubles reached the headquarters together with his record, the headquarters gave the order for his release. In the meantime, mother with her cousin-partner, could no longer stay in the dyeing business, because it was too hard for them. When father came home, he was penniless, and with no business. They had to start all over again.

He started weaving, but it wasn’t as profitable as the dyeing business. He had to work hard and mother was winding the spools for the weaving and took care of the household. The work was generally shipped in by large manufacturers from the city of Lodz, in order to get cheap labor. It didn’t take father long to find out that weavers in the large city are earning much more then in the small town. So mother encouraged him to move to Lodz for two reasons: first, the earnings were too little, second, she couldn’t get used to the small town, because she was born and raised in Pyetrikow, which was a large city. She couldn’t stand the small town gossip and the idea of her neighbors looking into her pots to find out what’s cooking. She also couldn’t get used to the food that was available in the small town, especially the bread, which was so coarse that she was not able to digest it.

In the meantime, the progress in married life continued. It didn’t matter, good times or bad, there was a new addition to the family. In the city of Lodz father and mother were more content, especially in good times, when work was plentiful. They both worked hard and always saved some for a rainy day. In slack times father didn’t just sit around and ate all his money up that he saved in the good times. He usually used his skill and start to manufacture his own cloth. By doing so, he at least earned part of his living, and kept busy in the slack time. When times became better, he usually gave up his own manufacturing and again he took work from the large manufacturers. This was his big mistake, to stop his own manufacturing in good times because it didn’t pay him enough in the bad times.

In the same times the weaving industry grew rapidly, in the city of Lodz, and so did the city and its population. From all the small surrounding towns fathers brought their sons to the large city of Lodz, and contracted them to the master Weavers, generally for 3 years, to teach them the weaving trade. It did not take 3 years to teach one hand weaving. For most, it would take one year, but the apprentice had to work for 2 more years without pay to compensate the master weaver for his teaching. The apprentice received his board free, and if he was a good and willing worker, he would also receive a few cents a week for spending money. This was an opportunity for father to hire several apprentices to work for him; he then could take things easy. He spent more time in the synagogue. He organized a nursing society to nurse the poor sick free of charge. He too stayed up nights nursing sick people and helped provide doctor and medicine free. He also had more chances to exercise his muscles by beating up the apprentices that didn’t do his work properly, or that apprentice that was hard to teach. Poor mother wasn’t in any way better off. She had to cook and wash the cloths for more people, and had more to protect from getting a beating, to beg father to leave him alone and give him an other chance to use his brains before he blows them out from his head.

[Editor’s note: Barnett was born about 1870. Since Morris was born in Belchatow in 1890, the next section of the story occurs before the move to Lodz.]

Brother Barnett has now reached the age of 8 or 9. Father thought that it was about time that he started to work for a living, and made up good reasons for it. First, said he, I wasn’t any older when I started to work. Second, our sages said, studying the TORA (bible) without having a trade is useless. Third, if one works and provides for his father and mother, he will do a good deed according to the 10 commandments as it says, “HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER”. Mother was very much against it. She didn’t like the idea to put a child to work when so young, but it was no use for her to argue with him, because he was always right, and no one could convince him differently. Father did not take any consideration that he is only a child and would rather play then work, and he will just waste a lot of time on him, and so it was. More trouble started for mother. Brother Barnett received plenty of punishment for not wanting to do a man’s work. A wonder how mother and he could stand it.

It hurt her more then it did him. More then once she sent for grandfather to come, because she wanted to put an end to it and divorce him if he didn’t stop beating the child. Every time grand- rather came, he scolded father and negotiated a peace between father and mother, and left for home. The girls were usually treated better, because when they were too small to work they helped mother with the housework, and when they got older they learned to wind the spools, and mother used to help them so as not to give father a chance to complain about their work.. What they were not able to do she did for them.. Many times she stayed up til one o’clock in the morning to supply spools for the morning.

As the girls grew older, some of them learned to weave, and their work was more satisfactory to father, and much of the unsatisfactory conditions in the house disappeared. Some of the girls learned to twist the threads together. This work they did for other weavers, and mother liked it much better because they earned more than from weaving at home. There were other reasons too. She did not like father to know the exact amount they earned, so that she could once in a while shave off a few dollars to have a dress tailored for them, with trimmings that were stylish at that time, the kind the girls would like to have. Father always disagreed with mother and daughters on the dress question. He did not permit his daughters to wear dresses with trimmings, bright colors, or a low cut neck. He thought that a decent girl should not wear such styles. There used to be quarrels in the house on account of that, between father and daughters. In order to have peace in the house, mother fixed it up like this: she had two kinds of dresses made for each girl, one to satisfy father and one to satisfy daughter. In the house they use to wear the kind of dress that father approved of, and secretly changed clothes for street wear, to be in style with others.

Barnett was still weaving at home under the fear of father and the pleading of mother to do more work. She said to him,

“Now you are no longer a child. Why are you wasting the time, why don’t you work like other people do? When your father come home he will again start on the top of his voice: ‘You are now already of marriageable age. The matchmakers are already inquiring about you. Perhaps with the help of God, some good match will be proposed for you, and what will I have to offer? Can you make a living for a wife and children? If I could at least say that you are a big earner, perhaps we could ask a large dowry for you.’ Last night father made you work late, because you didn’t make the limit he gave you, and that was only 2 marks. Etcha and Shaya the apprentices make each 3 marks a day, and they don’t have to work late in the night, and for that father had tailored for each one a new coat for PASSOVER, and he even gave Etcha 10 rubles for his fare to go home for PASSOVER. Why is he treating them like a father and you like a stepfather? Even your sister Rebecca, who is two years younger than you, is doing more work then you are, and you are always going around like a rag picker. Can I blame father for not wanting to make for you some good clothes? It wouldn’t be right for us to rob some of the girl’s money that we are saving for her dowry and clothe you with it, because she is working hard for it, and you are not. Can I always stay in front with my arms stretched out and prevent father from beating you up? Some day I hope that you will realize that father was your friend and not your enemy, and you will say with you own mouth, blessed be the hand that smite me. It is for you own good.”

Barnett could no longer stand mother’s speech. A lump formed in his throat, he hung down his head, tears started to drop on the cloth that he was weaving, followed with a cry. “What am I doing? What am I doing?” he protested.

“This is just what I am trying to tell you, and that is your trouble, that you are not doing anything,” was mother’s answer. Etcha and Shaya, the two apprentices burst out with a loud laughter. “It is an old saying like one is to 7, he is to 70” she exclaimed with a sigh, and said, “God in heaven. For how long will I suffer like this, having this hell in my house? 0 Lord, please send the right match for him, that he may become his own master-weaver, and grant me peace in this house.”

Barnett was now about 17. The matchmakers were busy coming to father and mother with all kinds of propositions. Father and mother tried to be very careful to select a good match for him. They first inquired about the girl’s parents and their family, in regards to their character. If they found that there was a convert, suicide, or criminal in the family, they refused to look in to the matter ,any further. It was even called into question the kind of work the girl’s father is doing. A shoemaker, a wagon driver or a butcher, was generally rejected, unless the person was known to be pious and of good character. Finally the right match was proposed. The girl about 17, and her stepfather was the son of a Rabbi, and they had a store selling produce. This was enough to convince father and mother that the proposition sounds good, with the thought that they may even take him in their business, otherwise how could he make a living for a wife and children. They did not make any further investigations, and the matchmaking took place some Saturday afternoon, where the parents on both sides met in the girl’s house. A wedding was arranged, a MAZEL-TOV (good luck) was proclaimed over some drinks that were served at the occasion.

This marriage turned out to be a tragedy. After the young wife gave birth to the first baby, which was a girl, she became insane, and remained in that condition until her death. It was after the wedding when it was found out that insanity runs in her family, but it was then too late to change their mind. Barnett, not being even 20 and already being a father, had to care for a baby, and his wife disgracefully walking around the streets absent-minded. He gave the child to her parents to take care of her until her mother’s health will be recovered, but she never did recover. Now he was left with one loom, with the household furniture, together with a load of trouble. In order to unload all his troubles, and start his life all over again, he sold all his possessions and borrowed some money from sister Rebecca (which he later paid her back double the amount). He then made plans to go to the U.S of America, and to leave behind him all his troubles and forget forever his native land.

He was told that America is the land of fortune, with equal opportunities, and freedom to worship God as one pleases. Although it was said that it’s hard for a Jew to keep his Sabbath, and father heard it too. Before he left for the new world, father had a talk with him, in regards to keeping the Sabbath day holy, and not to be engaged in any sort of occupation on the Sabbath day. He promised him faithfully that he will do so. Father as well as Mother gave him their consent that he may go to the U.S. of America. He packed up his belongings together with a sack full of religious books, carrying them on his shoulder and leaving for America. He also carried with him the knowledge of how to manufacture cloth, of which he later made good use.

He landed in New York City, in the year 1892, carrying his books, which he valued as his greatest possession, his personal belongings and a few Russian coins which he exchanged for a few American cents. His face was overgrown with a good size beard of which he promised father never to shave because it is not within the law of the TORAH. In those days, immigration to the U.S.A. was not restr­icted, and many more like him, were coming here to the U.S.A., but some of them had friends or relatives already living here. He had no one here, where he could stay a day or two or where to sleep the first night, and only a few cents in his pocket, and a foreign language that no one seemed to understand. On his way coming here he got acquainted with a man that had his wife living in New York City. After traveling together with this man for many days, they became very good friends and promised him that he could stay in his wife’s house until he gets a job. The man kept his promise, and took him along to his house where his wife lived.

As soon as they entered the house, the wife asked her husband if he brought her shawl and tea-kettle that she left in Europe, and he said “No.” She didn’t give him a chance to explain any more about it, and started to curse him all she could, “and who is this greenhorn that you brought here with you?” she asked. He started in a soft voice to tell her that “he came in the same ship and…….” She didn’t let him finish his last word, and started on him with more curses. “You better tell that greenhorn to leave this house at once!” she commanded her husband. “I have enough one greenhorn, and I don’t need two of them.” Barnett left the house carrying the sack of books together with his personal belongings, and not having any food inside nor outside of his stomach. Walking in the streets of downtown New York, not knowing what to do and where to go.

He stopped in the street and watched passersby, and looked in everyone’s face, perhaps he will recognize someone that comes from Lodz, so he could tell him his hard luck story. Perhaps he will be kind and put him up overnight. He sees many people pass by and no one pays any attention to him, and everyone seems to be in a hurry. It was getting dark. It may not have been so late, but it was late for him. He was very tired and hungry. Every­thing looked dark to him. All of a sudden a man stopped and asked him when he landed.

“This morning”, was his answer.

“Where are you now going?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you any friends or relatives in this country?”

“No, not a one.”

“Have you any money?”

“Very little.”

“I understand now”, said the man. “Here is an address.” He wrote it on a paper, and handed it to him. “You go there, and they will fix you up with meals and lodging til you’re able to get a job.”

It was written in Jewish, the language that he could understand, and he read it carefully: “HEBREW IMMIGRANT AID SOCIETY.” He understood that it is a charitable insti­tution to help out immigrants. It was hard for him to make up his mind and go there and accept help from an institution. He said to himself. “I, the grandson of Moshe Safeaner should break the family tradition and accept charity? 0h no. It can’t be.” He remembered the words from grandfather that he would rather give then take charity. He remained standing in the street and again looking in everyone’s face. Perhaps someone will recognize him that he is from Lodz. But no one pays any attention to him. It is now getting darker, he will soon not be able to read the address. He has to make up his mind now whether sleep in the street and go hungry, or go there and accept charity. “Well,” he said to himself, “if I would borrow that wouldn’t be charity, so I’ll go there and accept everything they give me and pay them back as soon I start to earn some money,” which he did pay them back many times the amount that he took. That sounded much better in his mind, and he started to walk to the place that he had the address. When he came there, he applied to the office, and they immediately showed him to a clean bed and to the dining room, where he was served a good meal. He was provided with lodging for several days til he found work. The next day he inquired how to get a job. He was told that, if he wants to get a job , to go in the morning to a certain street. On the corner of that street he will find more greenies like him and employers come there to offer them jobs. He went right to the place. It didn’t take long til an employer came to him and asked him if he wants a job. “I am very anxious to get work” was his answer.

When the employer looked at his clothes and shoes, he was in no doubt that he found a greenie right fresh from the boat, and he will become the victim of exploitation. He immediately took him along to his shop, the place of employment. “Come along my friend,” he exclaimed, walking with him in a great hurry for several blocks and up several flights of stairs in half darkness in to a filthy tailor shop that was lit up with gaslights in the daytime. “Here we are,” he exclaimed. Now with a make believe friendliness he started to ask him all sort of questions. “What is your name? Where do you come from? Do you have a family?” and “when did you arrive?” He answered every question. “Now,” he said, “I’ll tell you about your job. I’ll teach you to press pants,” and he assured him if he works for him, he will see to it that he makes a good living. “You have to learn for two weeks with no pay. After the two weeks you will be paid at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents a week. Well, my friend, this is just for the beginning. You can work up to earn as high as $2.50 per week. You know, my friend, that is 5 rubles a week (in Russian money). That’s a lot of money my friend!”

Brother Barnett started in a stammering way to say that he can’t see how one can live on such a small amount. “Why I earned more in Europe!” he said.

The employer turned his head to the other workers, and said, “What do you think of this greenhorn? He can’t see how he can make a living for $1.50 a week. I’ll show you, my friend, that you can even save money, and this is the way you do it. First you buy a loaf of bread, a day or two days old is healthier and cheaper, costs you 5¢. One pound of fish, if it isn’t so fresh, it’s tastier, for 5¢. One cent for herring, and a pickle too for one cent. I can assure you that you will have plenty to eat for one day. All it will cost you is 12¢. Six days will cost you 72¢ and on Sabbath day you can get tow good meals for 50¢. 50 and 72 makes $1.22. You have now 28¢ left over. You can buy for 10¢ tea and sugar to last you for a week. I will let you cook your tea and fish here on this stove, at no charge. This makes now $1.32, and you will have 18¢ left over for yourself to save. But when you earn $2.50 a week you will be able to save $1.68 every week, and that way, my friend, you can save a lot of money.”

“And what about a room to sleep?” brother Barnett asked. “How much does that cost?”

“Now wait a minute,” was his answer, “and this, my friend, is just what I was going to show you, what I will do for you. I will let you sleep right in this shop, here on this long table. There are plenty of pieces of cloth. You lay them out on the table comfortably, and not a cent charge for this! For all this I want you to do something for me in return. I want you to get up early every morning about four o’clock and start a fire to have the irons hot for pressing, and when the men come in they can get right to work.”

To be continued.....