Bsd
It's Nittelnacht tonight, right?
And although tis technically Thursday all throughout the USA, I'm still posting a family story. Appropriate, as after a few months of travel, I'm ensconced on the family couch again. (Side note: It took 8 hours to fly from New York to Oakland. 8 HOURS.)
I'm a fourth generation Californian on my mother's side.My mother recently told me this story about her paternal grandmother, Pauline. Pauline's parents were divorced. Her mother ran a boarding home in Sacramento, and her father lived in San Francisco. Pauline and her siblings starred in vaudeville shows.
Pauline married a non Jew. Her father refused to speak to her after this. When she had my grandfather, she would take him down to the street where her father lived, and would walk my grandfather in the carriage up and down the street. This is how my great great grandfather knew his daughter had a son.
Pauline eventually divorced her non Jewish husband. She moved into her father's home, and he helped her raise her children.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
And a Merry, Merry Chanukah to One and All!
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146 comments:
Interesting.
My mother's father's parents had issues with my grandma. They thought she was a floozy. Because when their son started dating her at forty-five? Yes forty-five, he would come over to my forty year-old grandma's apartment and fall asleep reading the paper.
Um, this wasn't the most interesting story in the world...don't worry, mine (tonight) won't be any better.
(Does that mean my stories are interesting? Yay!)
Yeah, most of them are.
hey, it was 2:00 am! i'll try to have a better one next week.
it is hard to compete with LE7's stories though. let's hope trs' makes me feel better ;)
Thanks. With that kind of negativity before I've even contemplated which juicy stories to write...
all right, all right, i take it back. i'm sure the trs family has some incredibly fascinating stories in the archives.
i'm gonna have to ask for a recall, i guess. maybe on try number two, i'll be able to come up with something a little more captivating.
Cheerio I am waiting impatiently.
ooo, story sharing time. what's the criteria? i have some great family stories of my own
Hey, the only thing is I can't see your blog to read stories if you post them!
End of World: Start blogging again!
Shliach-really? and when my family is starving and floundering amidst the mounds of dirty laundry and random litter sprinkled throughout my apartment, will you come rescue us?
I saw that once I started, I got waay too involved...especially in the commenting part. Maybe I'll do spot appearance on blogs that are kind enough to spare a space for a reluctant writer such as I....
In any case, I was planning on writing some juicy family stories here....so c'mon, what kind of stories do you want to hear? I don't have religeous debates, but I do have fistfights and broken bones....and guns!
On a side note, I'm really getting irked over the amount of blogs who have chosen to title their post "Merry" something or other. If I recall correctly (flips through a history book) this "merry" culture of theirs has wreaked some not so merry havoc on our ancestors
End of World: They're merry mitzad sarcasm. And feel free to guest post by me.
The criteria for telling family stories is to have some gentile Christmas-observing blood a few generations back.
I, for one, am fourth cousins with Huckleberry Finn.
Yeah? I'm a direct descendant of the golem of prague.
Did I never tell you that Jimmy Carter grew up on an adjacent farm from the farm my grandmother grew up on?
That would explain a lot.
I'm lying. She was high school sweethearts with John Kennedy.
That's any better?
Okay okay I was lying again. But she did cook dinner once for FDR.
She should've poisoned him when she had the chance.
I'll run that past her.
Do so, please.
I don't think she'll listen though. She doesn't really like Jews. Thus doesn't like me so much.
That's kind of sad.
Yeah, maybe I should start telling stories about that side of the family, although truthfully they're a bit disturbing.
That means you'll get lots of hits.
my grandmother's cousin married mark twain's daughter...
endof - broken bones and guns sounds interesting...
Let's see...start with my maternal grandfather. Really sweet guy, nice smile, gentle, very smart.
Back in Europe, he was at his Rebbe's son's wedding (not sure which Rebbe...sorry), when a couple of Hungarian thugs burst in (hmm...must be somewhere in Hungary then). they were looking for trouble, maybe start a pogrom or two...
While most people were either a)fleeing or b)frozen in terror, my grandfather (along with a friend) beat the crap out of them. He was arrested by the local police, but at least the wedding continued un-pogromed.
Anyway, the community put together a nice sum of money for a one way ticket out of Hungary (bribe included). He headed to Israel and joined one of the resistance groups there (before 1948)
He used to keep weapons hidden in his house (under my grandma's sewing machine...lol. Grandma, could you fix my hem? Sure dear, just as soon as I move these machine guns out of the way).
the British never caught on, because when they would conduct random searches, they would find this sweet chassidish guy (my grandpa) playing 'kuglach' with his kids. They never bothered to search.
and wait until you hear about my paternal grandfather....
wow! now if you had your blog open, we could have all read this story there....
what's interesting to me is that you have the kind of grandparents "other people" (by which i mean FFBs have). Not nice Americanized folks like mine.
BS"D
Hey cheerio, I would've I can totally do a psycho-analysis any time :)
How r u feeling? When can we make a lunch/shopping/museum/something date?
Ps- I would've responded to you on TRS, but as you saw, he kicked me out :)
I didn't kick you off nothing. I just told you that if you wanted to practice what the rest of us preach then you should stop commenting. Of course, I'm not defending the dating post which is going up on Tuesday night...so if you want answers to the savaging, you better do it yourself.
BS"D
You told me I should stop commenting on your blog and try to get all the girls to stop doing so. I consider that an invitation to leave, with not much of a choice in declining.
If you feel that it was not an invitation to "kick me out", then perhaps I'll just reply to dating posts :)
It was not an invitation to leave, it was an invitation to become more frum. I don't think your mashpia quite understands what is going on here. If she did I guarantee she would never have allowed you to comment, even if it was a "toichendik" comment. The yh has many different disguises-sometimes he even comes dressed in a hat and jacket, with a long white beard and holding a likkutei sichos in his hand.
Anyway, yeah, I like your comments, if you can justify it to yourself keep them, along with the dating posts, coming.
It was not an invitation to leave, it was an invitation to become more frum. I don't think your mashpia quite understands what is going on here. If she did I guarantee she would never have allowed you to comment, even if it was a "toichendik" comment. The yh has many different disguises-sometimes he even comes dressed in a hat and jacket, with a long white beard and holding a likkutei sichos in his hand.
Anyway, yeah, I like your comments, if you can justify it to yourself keep them, along with the dating posts, coming.
and your mashpia lets you?
It's a complicated issue.
BS"D
You are right that my comments went further than my Mashpia would have thought was OK...
Let's leave at dating posts then shall we?
Sure. Our only contact will be about dating. How chassidish. :)
BS"D
Does that bother you?
I'm sure just his pure neshamale.
Not at all. I just think it's funny.
Take tonight's post on TRS. I guarantee you'll love it, but how will I know that?
BS"D
I actually do love it. Partly because of its toichen, but mainly because I am the #1 fan of the Roshette and a big fan of the Rosh. The Roshette and I have the most awesome rapor... I should give her a call one of these days.
Perhaps I should only comment on shidduch things and Farbrengens... but that would lead me back to square one, wouldn't it?
farbie,just wait, i've got a great post coming up that you can psycho analyze... ;)
i'll be back jan 7 - let's do something! i have lots of time on my hands while i "look for work". (i'm gonna have to take those parentheses off soon, i have no money anymore...)
also - you believed trs when he kicked you off? really? hahahahahahahahahahahaha... wipes away a tear of laughter.
maybe if i didn't have fever, i wouldn't think it was so funny, but i am and i do!
Yeah, I'm a big fan of the roshette too. Even though she did get my name on an extra-security list by the TSA.
Yeah, so just comment, nu. I'll try not to make you feel too guilty.
BS"D
Cheerio, I can't wait for both the post and your return :)
TRS, you're too mean for me to comment. You publicly embarrassed me (isn't that compared to murder?) and kicked me off. So, why return and let you benefit from my pointless commentary? :)
wait, so does that mean you guys are just going to use my blog to comment to each other? well, go ahead, it makes me look popular ;)
BS"D
Cheerio, you bring in a good point... Hmm, I've got to figure this whole blogging situation out. What's a striving-to-be-Chassidish-girl suppossed to do? (TRS, don't offer your opinion on this, I've heard it already thank you very much!)
Fab gal: do I have to get down on hands and knees and grovel for you to come back?
Cheerio: if you hadn't noticed, we all comment obsessively on everyone's posts.
Yeah we even did it to frum satire last night. His little blog community didn't know what hit them.
BS"D
Hmm, sounds like just maybe I would consider it then... But maybe not.
Think of something better... I mean a bochur on his knees to a girl who is currently only commenting to him regarding Shidduchim? Not exactly the image we'd like to conjure up, is it?
farbrengen - your presence on trs makes it more tznius for the rest of us (kinda like virtual yichud?). you are an inspiration. maybe just don't comment late at night?
trs - true. thank G-d for that, or we'd all feel like we're writing into a black hole...
BS"D
Cheerio, why would my presence make it any more or less tznius? But b"H i'm glad you feel I'm an inspriation. I like your suggestion about not commenting late at night... Now that's quite practical!
wait, what'd you do to frum satire?
that's me, practical as heck ;)
and a: numbers
b: you're quite a bit more chassidish than me, at least, so you're a positive influence!
Basically commented in momentous proportions.
which post? i imagine it'd be very entertaining to read?
I think so actually. His one about belonging to a community. Very recent.
BS"D
Thanks :)
We'll see how TRS's grovelling goes and perhaps I shall return?
ooh, trs, she's sending you a message... ready to grovel some more?
I'd do anything to win back the favor of a girl ;)
and you think a statement like THAT is going to make farbrengen feel comfortable enough to return to commenting as usual? ha. ha.
Someday you'll have to teach me how to treat a girl properly.
BS"D
TRS, I think that worse then me being on your blog in its effecting me, is you writing back!
If that's how you respond to my comments, maybe you're right and I shouldn't comment anymore?
But, if you'd really do anything...
You want to grade 24 Chumash tests?
BS"D
Between LE7, Cheerio, and I, I'm sure we can educate you on such matters eventually... If I do actually decide to return...
Yeah. Righty-o.
I'd love to, but I'm working on a iPod here, and it might not work too well.
The tests, that is.
yeah, dude, that comment made ME feel uncomfortable. and it's MY blog. and its ME.
This completely went over my head. Why should I feel uncomfortable?
BS"D
Hahahaaaa LOL.
Okay... How about putting together my lessons plans for next week?
BS"D
LE7, I would explain, but I'm not daring enough to do so...
Cheerio: what's your problem?
Fab gal: sure.
BS"D
Okay:
Something about being Bas Mitzvah
A Chumash worksheet for Parshas Toldos Perek Chof-vov
An introduction and game to understanding the concept of "Mundane to Holy"
Parshas V'Yechi
And... A modern day story to tell over regarding the power of Tefillah.
B'hatzlocha ;)
Tell me what was so terrible, and I'll work on it.
"Someday you'll have to teach me how to treat a girl properly."
in general, it's the mother/wife who trains a gentleman how to treat a woman properly. and none of us fit into that category. so what that statement implies made me and farbrengen a leetle uncomfortable.
does this make me daring? ;)
that's it? Fab gal and others (coming soon!) can teach me how to date but not how to be a nice guy?
and fab gal, when do you need this shtuff by?
perhaps it would have been better phrased "you all". then we would have understood its collective implication instead of being offended by the possible personal applications.
others coming soon? i'm excited!
BS"D
Actually, that's not what I was referring to... so umm... yeh.
Anyways,
If you want, I don't have to be your mother or your wife, but I can still teach you how to be a nice guy. It kind of falls into the "shidduch tips" section... Be a mentch, say things like a mentch etc.
now i have egg on my face ;)
alright, fab girl, let's get trs into "nice guy boot camp"!
This shall be cute. I'll observe.
BS"D
Cheerio, i think the problem with it though, is that it brings me back to the same reason as to why TRS did-but-not-really told me to leave his blog...
Cheerio: Wednesday night.
Fab gal: I have fanatic beliefs. I believe that if you're going to do something then you should do it right. Of course, I very rarely live up to my beliefs.
BS"D
Yet, even when I go and leave your blog, I still can't get away from commenting back to you via other blogs. So, of course, if I want to do things right I should, but would that mean it would be my departure from the blogosphere altogether?
It's like facebook-a friend of a friend is a friend.
BS"D
Not really. If I don't know someone on facebook, then I keep it that way.
But really, should I leave the blogsphere?
You say every day "al tivianu liday nisayon"
BS"D
Ooh you're mean.
You want lubavitch/kotzk or you want chagas?
BS"D
I hear ya, I hear ya...
BS"D
So, for now, I'm going to balance things out a little. No official declartions, but less blog commenting on my part b"H.
probably a wise decision on your part. i go through phases, frankly. sometimes, like now, when i have nothing better to do in my life, i blog incessantly.
but please say you'll at least continue to comment regularly on my blog? please? even if trs keeps stalking you? pretty pretty?
BS"D
Yes, Cheerio, I will comment regularly for you... Even if TRS who isn't really stalking me continues to stalk me.
Do you know that this 22 Shvat marks 5 years since we've met?!?
way to make me feel old... ;)
BS"D
It was sooooo freezing that day, and I was embarrassed to wear a hat.
Then I saw you, and you were bravely withstanding the cold... and wearing a hat. Very impressive. And so, it took us about 3,000 miles away from home to finally meet, and it will take that far for us to finally get together again!
i always see these girls in CH without hats, scarves, etc on the coldest days, when I'm bundled up to the nines, and wonder - is it me? them?
but then the wind blows up Kingston, and i'm grateful for my leggings and gloves and ear muffs.
its one of the few places where comfort trumps fashion in my life ;
BS"D
Agreed, agreed, agreed. Nothing is so awful as when the wind blows and you see more of a person then you've ever wanted to.
In any case, after that friday meeting, you came with Brocha to a Farbrengen at my cousin's house... Or was it only "Ferris" who came?
Maybe you could handle WI after all.
BS"D
So should I really come for a visit? I want to, it was so much fun last time, and that was when you were out of town... With you there it's b"H going to be UNBELIEVABLE :)
No if you come now. It's cold.
Yeah, ironic huh? The one time in the last entire year I haven't been in Wisconsin for Shabbos?
What the hey, it was gimmel tammuz after all.
Look what happens: I leave for half an hour and I get accused of stalking and the conversation becomes boring. Oh well, I suppose it'll help me get to bed faster.
Yeah right. Go to bed faster? Harumph!
BS"D
Well, yes you do stalk-but-not-really...
And no, the convo is not boring... We're reminciing about old 22 Shvat memories...
Ok, it's wrong to not be honest... It's more fun when you add in you 2 cents...
BS"D
Eli, after the snow thaws out, b"H me and chosson will come and visit...
Talk about a lame trip.
BS"D
Why, he'll be awesome :)
BS"D
Okay, how about, i'll be engaged but come and visit sans the chosson?
Much better. It's only fun hanging out with married people after they've been married a half a year and don't have kids.
BS"D
Okay, enough of back to the future for now... :)
When are YOU coming HERE?
Gimmel tammuz. Unless I come up with:
1) A more pressing reason before then.
2) Free time
3) Cash flow
well then, wish me luck. i have firm plans to hang out with my newly wed friend at her house when i get back to ny.
trs - i know, right? can you believe we're talking about the weather and reminiscing?
but i like farbrengen's suggestion: let's hear your two cents. what are your favorite 22 shvat memories?
BS"D
As my friend once explained to me:
Typical Bochur CH Convo at the begginig of Shvat:
Weather's a bummer...
Bad cash flow...
I'm cold..
I'm hungry...
But... it's worth it...
chof beis Shvat is coming.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!
What fab gal? There are no bochurim in crown heights for 22 Shevat.
My favorite memory is of rabbi oster's farbie in LA.
BS"D
I'm glad you think so... It's quite contrary to what I've seen...
where...?
BS"D
I've seen lots of bochurim in CH durring 22 Shvat, including my very own cousins...
Obviously there are bochurim there, but not nearly as many as there are normally.
The beginning of this discussion was about family stories. I didn't read the last 100 comments, but whatever. Here's my family story:
We have a family tree going back ten generations. The guy on the very top of the tree (i.e. my father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father) is named "Berel." He was in charge of drafting people to the army. The goyim wanted him to draft a disproportionate amount of Jews. Old gramps Berel didn't want to. So the goyim doused him in alcohol and burned him alive.
That's a very chassidish story
Another family story:
My great-grandfather was staying at his daughter's house (i.e. where my mother was growing up). One night, as old gramps was getting ready for bed, he asked his granddaughter (i.e. my aunt) to get him a cup of water. She brought him a cup, and he proceeded to put his teeth in it. My aunt was fascinated. Apparently Zeide disassembles at night! So she brought him another cup and said, "Now the eyes, Zeide!"
I don't even know of Berel was a chassid. If he's my father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father's father, would that make him pre-Baal Shem Tov? I don't know. Someone care to do the math?
LOL. That is a brilliant story.
wow. e, people like you and endof scare me.
Why? You frightened of gezheh?
deeply.
So you're afraid of some dead people. OK.
hey, can't explain a phobia...
We can get you help if you want.
really? what kind of treatment would you suggest?
Marry gezheh and realize that it makes not an iota of difference.
i don't judge people! Heaven forfend! i'm just a bit terrified by anyone who can actually trace their lineage that far back...
hmmm. marry gezhe.stranger things have happened, i guess!
All it means is that someone recorded someone else's urination.
And yes, much stranger than you could possibly imagine.
i'm sorry, WHAT?
What didn't you understand?
trust me, i know that the world is a place where very strange things happen, but recording urination? what the H e double hockey sticks does that mean???
What do you think gezheh is?
obviously not what i thought it was. care to explain the source of your statement?
Gezheh=ancestors pishing in nevel.
i still don't get it. i guess this proves how un-gezhe i am.
Man, this is difficult.
What makes someone gezheh by your definition?
they've been lubavitch since the time of moses. or at least three generations. any sooner than that, and you're still a newcomer.
So the difference between you and them is, they're ancestors pished in Lubavitch or wherever it was, and yours didn't.
very interesting thanks!
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