ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 113951 - Translation - Yiddish - Russia - Moscow - Zaretsky, Shapiro


	The Genealogical Research Division of

About Mission Our Team Get Involved Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself! Research Search All Records Country & Topical Databases Holocaust Database Burial Registry (JOWBR) Cemetery Discovery Project Memorial & Plaques Database Shul Records America Family Trees (FTJP) Sephardic Text Search Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information! Discover Blog Town Finder (Communities Database) Yizkor Books KehilaLinks Regional/Topical Research Divisions JewishGen Press Publications Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today. Learn Online Classes Search Methodologies & Research Advice Student Program in Poland Peter and Mary Kalikow Center Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences. Connect Family Finder Discussion Group Jewish Genealogy Portal ViewMate Success Stories Yahrzeit reminders Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community. Donate General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Yiddish
Approval Date: 3/11/2026 2:35 PM
Family Surname: Zaretsky, Shapiro
Country: Russia
Town: Moscow
Date of Image: 1926

Click the picture to enlarge

This letter is one of several that belonged to my grandparents, Sarah and Joseph Zaretsky. It was written by Berele Shapiro (Joseph’s brother-in-law), an actor and author whose stage/pen name was Berele Kopatkevicher. There are 3 "sections" - this is section 2/3. I apologize in advance for the condition of the letter, but would greatly appreciate a translation either in it’s entirety or just any pertinent information you may discover - names, relationships, places, events, etc. Thank you very much!

Response

3/14/2026 1:59 AM

This seems to be a description of a version he is making of Tevyeh the Milkman, to be made for the cinema ["קינא" = Kino = the German word for cinema]. There's a description of the troubles and toils of Tevyeh and his family, including Petlyura pogroms in Kiev - and "then come the Poles and cut off his beard take out an eye of his horse" and eventually hiding in Moscow.
He mentions that he alone will play the role of Tevyeh in the movie.
He's expecting to sell it to the movie makers Vaupku[sp?] and to receive 5000 (five thousand) Rubles for the acting and the script.
The numbered lines refer to other theater pieces he has planned / directed

The last four lines address the person he's writing to, asking about his well being, family etc. Then, referring to his own family he says "mine: Hersh'l is studying well" "Sonia, may she live is a [wonderful] housewife a mother in the home. Visits the theatre ("it doesn't cost her anything, thank God, so why should she not give herself that pleasure, is my opinion")
I'm no communist yet - my sister yes."

[Comment:]
I read Line 6 of VM 113952 as a commitment to give the brother in law full rights [פולמעכטיגונג] to sell and --- [produce?]in theaters all of his pieces. And the present text could be a detailing of all those things he's giving the rights for.

ViewMate Posting VM 113951

Submitted by Harlene Rosenberg

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences.

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 113951

Submitted by Harlene Rosenberg