After Anatevka: The Story of Motel & Tzeitel

The small table was crowded into the kitchen of probably the tiniest apartment in Warsaw. But it was situated above the tailor shop, so they didn’t really have much of a choice. It was by a stroke of sheer luck that Motel Kamzoil was the owner of the shop. The previous owner was ready to close it and retire when Motel and his wife Tzeitel arrived in town, looking for work. Motel, already a skilled tailor, took over the business completely within a few weeks. They were able to move into the apartment above the shop almost immediately. It was cramped quarters for their small family. Baby Aizik was only a few months old, so he didn’t take up too much room. Not yet, at least.

That was early spring 1906 when the Kamzoils moved to Warsaw from their tiny village of Anatevka in Russia. Tzeitel’s parents and younger sisters, Shprintze and Bielke, had moved to America. Motel & Tzeitel’s intent was to save up the money to eventually join them. Prospects looked good for them to save the money quickly. However, things did not go exactly as planned. Tzeitel planned on finding work, but with the baby, it was difficult. With no family around to help out, and no one else willing to watch the baby, Tzeitel had to stay at home. She took in laundry when she could and did small jobs for people who didn’t mind the baby tagging along. The income from the tailor shop was modest, but not quite enough to save a lot of it. Especially when the babies kept coming.

Avigal was born in the summer of 1907, and the twins, Beila and Leib came the following summer. 4 babies in 2 ½ years was just about enough for Tzeitel. By that point, she couldn’t work at all outside the home. But Motel was making quite a name for himself in Warsaw as a fine tailor, especially after the mayor himself was pleased with a suit he purchased. And an old friend from Anatevka, Mordcha, visited and told everyone in town that Motel made the best undergarments in all of Europe. Things were looking up for Motel & Tzeitel. However, as winter set in over Poland, Tzeitel found herself pregnant again, and very sick. She was bed ridden, and Motel had to watch all of the children as well as run the shop. Luckily, Tzeitel’s sister, Chava, came from Krakow to help out. She took over the care of the children completely. However, Tzeitel lost the baby in early January. Chava stayed until Spring, when Tzeitel was finally well enough to resume her duties.

Two more years passed. Business remained good, but there still wasn’t enough to make definite plans to move to America. Zindel was born in early 1911. He was a happy baby of 9 months when his mother and father sat at their cramped kitchen table with all of their money piled in front of them.

“Count it again, Motel. Are you sure it’s enough?” Tzeitel asked, bouncing little Zindel on her knee. She didn’t have much room for him on her lap, as the next baby was due in a few months. Tzeitel thought it might be twins again.

“I’ve counted it three times, Tzeitel. We have enough to get us to England at least. Depending on how much the boat fare costs, it may get us all the way to America. After that, I don’t know. From what your Mama writes, it’s a long way to Texas from New York City.” Motel replied.

“We can’t stay in this apartment much longer, Motel. We need to leave,” Tzeitel said.

“I know, but we have to wait at least until the baby comes.” Motel scooped up the money and put it back into the coffee can.

“If we don’t leave now, we’ll have to wait until next year. I know it’s only September, but the baby isn’t coming until December at the earliest. We can’t wait that long,” replied Tzeitel. “I’m fine now. I’ll be fine for another month or two. That’s enough time to get to England, don’t you think? We’ll take the train. The children will love it!”

“Well, I can make a few inquiries in town. Maybe someone will buy the shop,” said Motel. Tzeitel’s eyes brightened.

“Seff might buy it. He’s apprenticed with you off and on over the past few years. I think he knows enough to run it himself,” she said.

“That’s an idea. I’ll talk to him tomorrow!” Motel stood up, and bumped his head on the shelf above him. He growled miserably as he rubbed the perpetual lump. “More than 4 years here, and I always hit that awful shelf. Tzeitel, we have to move.”

The next evening, Motel came barreling into the apartment, shouting happily.

“He’s going to buy it! He has the money now! Tzeitel, we can leave as soon as we’re ready!” he exclaimed. Tzeitel leapt from her chair, squealing with joy. The children watched their parents in awe as they danced around the tiny room. Tzeitel kissed Motel and held his face in her hands.

“I knew this was right. I knew it would work! We’re going to America!” she cried. “Oh, I must go write to Mama and Papa. They will be so happy! It’s been so long!” Motel kissed each of the children in turn, then sat down and tried to explain to them what was happening. Aizik & Avigal seemed to understand, but the twins seemed more concerned about leaving their few toys behind. Motel assured them that the toys could come. There weren’t that many to begin with. He promised them that Grandma and Grandpa would have all kinds of toys for them. That seemed to be enough for Leib, but Beila still seemed a little leery. Motel laughed and hugged his cherub-cheeked little girl who was an exact copy of her mother.

Three weeks later, the Kamzoil family boarded a train for France. Even with the money they had saved and the funds from the sale of the tailor shop, they had still had to sell almost everything they owned. Their meager possessions packed, they set off on their journey west. Aizik and Avigal stared out the window of the train as it started chugging along.

“How long until we see Grandma and Grandpa?” Avigal asked.

“It will be a very long time, Avie,” Motel replied. “We will stay with some old friends from Anatevka in London until Mama has the baby. After that, as soon as we can book passage on a ship to America, we’ll leave. But it will still be awhile after that. Grandma and Grandpa live in Texas. It’s in the middle of the country…and America is a big place.” Avigal nodded solemnly. Tzeitel cuddled baby Zindel close and tried to count the months until she would see her parents and little sisters again. Her best guess was that it would be summer before they would make it to Texas.

It was early October by the time the Kamzoils arrived in London. They quickly found their old friend Avram at his bookshop. It was a wonderful reunion, and soon everyone was settled. Motel secured work at a local textile factory. He didn’t earn much, but it was enough to add to their travel funds.

In late December, Tzeitel gave birth to twins. Both healthy girls, they named them Chayele and Reina. Tzeitel had a hard recovery, but by late March she found that she was ready for travel. Motel quit his job at the factory and spent his days trying to find the cheapest way to get a family of 9 to America. It wasn’t until early April when he found a ship that was leaving very soon from South Hampton that they could afford. It was a bit of a stretch, but Motel bought tickets for the entire family.

Early in the morning on April 10, 1912, the family arrived at the dock. Tzeitel instructed the children to hold onto each other’s hands and onto her shirt so that no one would get lost. She held Chayele and Reina in her arms, while Motel held Zindel. They all stared in awe at the huge ship in front of them.

“Are we going to ride on that all the way to America?” Aizik asked.

“Yes, Aizik,” Motel replied. “All the way to America!”

The line seemed impossibly long to get onto the ship, and the children grew restless. They wanted to run around, but Tzeitel was afraid they would fall into the water and drown. When they were just 50 yards from the ship, Beila tugged on Tzeitel’s skirt.

“Mama, where is Aizik?” she asked. Tzeitel gasped and looked around frantically.

“Motel!” she screamed. “Where is Aizik?! He’s not here!” There was still a tremendous crowd of people, and Aizik was no where to be seen. Motel’s face went white as he looked around. He handed Zindel to Avigal and pushed Tzeitel and their few bags out of the line.

“You stay right here. I’ll find him. Don’t get on the ship until we get back!” he shouted. Tzeitel tried not to burst into tears, as she knew that would scare the children.

Tzeitel grew frantic as time passed and Motel did not return. It was almost time for the ship to leave. She watched in horror as the large doors were closed. Several people asked her, in English, if she needed to get on the boat. She understood a little English, and spoke even less. All she could do was shake her head with tears streaming down her face. The ship was just pulling away from the dock when Motel came running up, dragging Aizik behind him.

“I’m sorry, Tzeitel. He wanted a closer look at the ship,” Motel said. “Aizik, what do you have to say?”

“I’m sorry, Mama,” the forlorn little boy replied.

“Well, we’ve missed the boat now. What are we going to do?” Tzeitel asked.

“Don’t worry, Tzeitel. The RMS Titanic isn’t the only ship sailing to America.”

(c) Angela Johnson

June 28, 2008

Name Meanings:

Motel - Warrior

Tzeitel – Princess, Noble

Aizik – He will laugh

Avigal – Father’s Joy

Beila – Beautiful

Leib - Lion

Zindel - Son

Chayele – Alive, Living

Reina – Pure, Clean

Birthdays:

Aizik – February 1906 in Anatevka

Avigal – July 1907 in Warsaw

Beila & Leib – June 1908 in Warsaw

Unnamed Baby – January 1909 in Warsaw

Zindel – January 1911 in Warsaw

Chayele & Reina – December 1911 in London