Audrey Blumenfeld Posnock (6/53)
My grandparents, Sarah and Harry Holtzman, belonged to the Avon Avenue Shul. I also went to Hebrew school there for a year; my teacher was, if I remember correctly, Mr. Grossman. When I came to class, he would pinch my cheeks. It was annoying
Every Yom Kippur (day of Atonement) I would go to shul and sit in the balcony with my “Bubba” (grandmother) and look at my grandpa praying with the men. At that time, I was living on Springfield Avenue and went to Madison Avenue School. We moved when I was 13 to Willoughby Street and I went to Weequahic High. However, I continued the tradition of going to see my grandparents every Yom Kippur. What wonderful memories.
Rabbi Herschel Cohen officiated at the weddings of my parents Seymour and Molle Blumenfeld, my sister Lenore to Arnie Beerman, me and Michael Posnock and my niece Erica to Eric Friedman. All those years flew by, but those wonderful days are in my heart. Audrey
Janet Einhorn Hirschfeld (56)
My father was a Russian immigrant and had two daughters, Elaine and myself. My mother thought we should go to Hebrew school. My father not so much! When she asked my dad if they had boys, would they go and he said, “Yes.” A few days later we enrolled in Hebrew school, but not for long.
Don Kauffman (1/57)
To Bill Freedman (55), I, too, attended the Hebrew Academy on Clinton Avenue after my classes at Avon Avenue School. I also was suspended for inappropriate behavior prior to my bar mitzvah but Rabbi Halberstadter agreed to give me private lessons as a personal favor to my parents. I can't say that I enjoyed Hebrew school, however, was glad when it was finally over and I became a “Bar Mitzvah Boy”
In retrospect, it was an interesting and informative period in my youth as I began to understand what it meant to be a Jew in a Christian society. Don
Roberta Blake Abramson (1/54)
As to Phyllis Scharago’s (60) note as to the shul on Avon Avenue and 13th Street my brother Mel Blake attend there. I was a member but my family did not pursue me having a Bat Mitzvah. Roberta
The Rabbi insisted we were called by our Jewish names. Here it comes! My sister's name (Elaine) was Yenta and mine was Yocha! We sounded like a vaudeville act! It gets worse. When the Rabbi asked for our telephone number, I gave him the wrong number. We were out of there. By the way, when I look back, my mother taught us we were just as good as boys! Janet
Jack Lippman (50)
Rabbi Fenster, to whose temple we later belonged on Long Island, was also active in the civil rights movement in the 60s. Eventually, we learned that he had been a rabbinic intern under Rabbi Prinz at B'nai Abraham. And I recall that one of Fenster's interns became the rabbi of a large temple in suburban Las Vegas. So Rabbi Prinz's influence really spread across the country. Jack
Eliot Braun (1/64)
To Rita Kirsch Morris (64). Yiddish is a full-blown language with many dialects (e.g., "Litvisch” (Lithuanian), "Galician” (Galicia, eastern Europe), with many words loaned from Russian, Ukrainian, Polish (etc.). It is most similar to German. It has a long history and a very rich literature. Isaac Bashevis Singer won a Nobel prize for his works in Yiddish. It is not merely "slang," and as little as I understand it, I do know that Yiddish has its own slang. Eliot
Reminiscences of the past:
Natalie Confield Tublitz (52)
Chancellor Avenue Playground was not just that, but it was a summer “day camp.” Where else could you play sports, learn arts and crafts and appear in Gilbert and Sullivan, all free. And be lucky to have the attention of Mr. Harris and young people who volunteered to help us kids do our projects. It was the place I learned to make rag dolls for my pen pal in England and other items she loved to receive in the mail.
I also noticed that no one ever mentions Phil and Leroy, two challenged young adults that always frequented our “space” and always seemed to be happy watching us. I can see them right now. Phil, small and round and Leroy, taller and slim, with their warm smiles. What a wonderful place to grow and learn and love. Thanks to all who gave their summers to make ours so spectacular. Natalie
Don Rosen (6/53)
To David Cohen (6/56), strange coincidence. My father also put up a basketball hoop on our garage, but unlike Danny Rosen it was about 4 years earlier and my name is Donny Rosen. To my knowledge, we were not related. Don
Phyllis Mandel Lynd (6/58)
To Fran Garfinkel Engler (6/58), if memory serves me correctly, I believe our jackets were navy and pink. Phyllis
Zelda Lees Pollick (6/63)
To Mel Rubin (56), the Dairy Queen was definitely located on the corner of Clinton Place and Chancellor Avenue. I lived on Clinton Place next to the Dairy Queen and I remember when it was built. My bedroom window faced the parking lot allowing me to watch everyone (I was only 15) entering the location. When I graduated high school, I worked there for the summer. Great job and I still love the ice cream. Zelda
