Rochel Lifshitz

from a taped interview with Reisa's granddaughter Eva Nelson from 1978:

Reisa went to the landlord and was able to get a piece of land for the family to build a house. There was a garden for growing vegetables. They had two horses and two cows. The peasants came and took the manure for their fields and in exchange, the family was allowed to seed the field with the first crop of potatoes. They obtained 400-500 potatoes. They hired peasants for a two days of the year to help pick the potatoes. They were given 25 cents a day. The family sold a small amount of dry fish, herring and liquor to the peasants. If the Katzenelsons did not have enough money to mnake Passover, Reisa would come and bring them 10 or 15 rubles to buy wine, matzo, and other things that were needed.