The general economy is suffering and every household along with it. Even though I'm not a merchant, but a worker, yet when a merchant does business, the worker earns something. And so, for example, I work three days a week at starvation wages. It's not enough for a piece of clothing, for rent money. Expenses are always more than income.
Life is difficult and unbearable.
And, as of now, we see no prospect for better times. That's the reason, dear Sol, we are so depressed. That's the reason why we see more people in synagogue this year than ever before. Jews shout, cry, pray and want to be granted a better year than last year. They want to be granted the prayer that all the decrees will be revoked so that we will be able to breathe freely.