As recalled by my parents Salomon and Tosia Lederberger Pictured above: The City Synagogue, capable of holding some 10,000 people (the largest synagogue in Galicia). As its completion (c. 1910) coincided with an anniversary celebration for Austrian emperor Franz Josef, it was also known as the “Franz Josef Synagogue.” I, […]
Holidays
9 posts
A laugh, a smile a funny jesteran uncle, an orphan a wife. A king alone without a queen A nation about to lose its life. The seeds of hope had been planted Still our fate seemed rather bleakUntil Mordechai so wise understoodthe disguise and said, Estherit’s your turn to speak. A laugh, a smile a funny jester, a divine plan is finally revealedA celebration for our […]
It is Thursday evening, December 22, 2022. The fifth night of Chanukkah. A few days earlier, our son had suggested that we sponsor a Chanukkah family get-together in our condo. My husband’s physical condition does not permit us to join our family at another location. “You will not have to […]
When my grandson, Nicholas, was 19 years old, the family was at our home for our annual Chrismukkah holiday party. We were sitting on the couch discussing the ways in which different people celebrate this winter holiday when Nicholas asked, “Granny Lyn, am I Jewish?” Some Family History “Not exactly,” […]
“Bah, humbug!” exclaims Ebenezer Scrooge, in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Move over, Ebenezer, because I’m on your side! It’s not that I have anything against Christmas. After all, my parents drove us kids down Eastern Avenue in Baltimore to see the beautiful lights on display in the neighborhood windows. […]
Memories of “turkey day,” aka Thanksgiving, from my childhood are sketchy. Perhaps that’s because they weren’t anything to “crow” about. Up until I was around age 12 or 13, we traveled up the Jersey Turnpike to spend the day with Dad’s maternal relatives in Northern New Jersey, the Zuckermans. Instead […]
Brussels, Belgium: 1948-1950 My first High Holy Day memory is from Brussels, Belgium. It is Yom Kippur sometime between 1948 and 1950. I was recently told that I was Jewish, not Catholic, and am trying to adjust to my new state. During a break in the service, a friend and […]
Honey cake is to Ashkenazi Jews at Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) what fruit cake is to Christians at Christmas. Mention these cakes, and one is sure to see wrinkled noses and some serious eye rolling. Fruit cake is often the butt of comedians’ jokes. “The worst gift is […]
My dad came from a very difficult family, and he himself was not easy to please. I was born when he was 40 and I guess times were different. I know he loved me, but feeling someone loves you is different but almost more important than knowing. We were living […]