Page 118 - issue
P. 118
My Yiddisheh
Mameh
Yby I. Kinek
ears ago, the song “My Yid- Devorah. She was born in Poland, the named Benito Mussolini, y”s, who even-
disheh Mameh” was very pop- daughter of Reb Shmuel and Esther tually initiated harsh decrees against the
ular not only in the U.S.A. but Lichtenstein. Her siblings were Yehudis, Jews. One of the laws decreed that all
around the world and brought Yechiel, and Mordechai. Jews who were not born in Italy were to
tears to the eyes of many lis- leave the country. Regarding where they
teners. The lyrics were written My Yiddisheh Mameh had a keen were to go, that was their problem!
by Jack Yellen with music by mind throughout her life. She was inter-
Jack Pollack. There are many ested in learning about Yiddishkeit and At that time, we were saddened by the
versions and many singers, ranging from about world events. Her grandmother evil decree, but as terrible things unfolded,
Sophie Tucker to Cantor Yossele Rosen- Etel was a very pious person and had a the expulsion turned out to be a blessing
blatt. (Google the tune and you can sing great impact on my mother’s religious in disguise because had we remained in
it!) Here is the second verse: upbringing, which she steadfastly clung Italy our family would have been deport-
to throughout her life. ed to a concentration camp. We made a
My Yiddisheh Mameh, I need her hasty departure from Italy. I was a very
more than ever now, My zaidy, Reb Shmuel Lichtenstein, young “bambino” and have few recollec-
had a restaurant in Switzerland. He was tions of life in Milan, but I do remember
My Yiddisheh Mameh, I’d like to kiss assisted by the family (a trait that was to parts of the trip. After we left the country,
that wrinkled brow. continue in the family when we had a ho- we boarded a huge ocean liner headed to
tel). My mom was an excellent cook and the United States. The year was 1939, and
I long to hold her hands once more as helped prepare the meals in the restau- World War II erupted while we were on the
in days gone by, rant. high seas. The boat rocked ahin and ahair
(back and forth), and many passengers
And ask her to forgive me for things I My father, Reb Tzvi Epraim Kinek, were seasick. My mom fed me an orange,
did that made her cry. was applying for a cantorial position in which I greatly enjoyed. It is the only food
nearby Milan, Italy. A shadchan informed that I remember!
How few were her pleasures, she nev- him about the wonderful daughter of Reb
er cared for fashion’s styles. Shmuel, so he traveled to the restaurant We finally arrived in New York and I
and met his future vibel (wife), whom he marveled at the tall buildings and the
Her jewels and treasures she found later referred to as “Dvoreleh.” hustle-bustle of the port in New York.
them in her babies’ smiles. What fascinated me the most were the
After obtaining the position of chazan dark-skinned persons carrying crates
Oh, I know that I owe what I am today in Milan’s Tempio Israelitico, my father from the ship. My curiosity peaked, I in-
To that dear little lady so old and established his residence in Milan. The quired whether the porters were spatso
gray, congregation appreciated his fine tenor di camino (chimney sweepers), because
To that wonderful Yiddisheh Mameh voice and his rendition of prayers using chimney sweepers were the only dark
of mine the Sefardi nusach. Soon he was awarded persons I had ever observed in Milan.
a lifetime contract.
My Yiddisheh Mameh After completing the formalities and
Every Yiddle’s Yiddisheh Mameh is spe- Life in Italy was good until “vayakum
cial, right? So how can I describe my melech chadash - a new king arose”
own Yiddisheh Mameh? Her name was
110 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
Mameh
Yby I. Kinek
ears ago, the song “My Yid- Devorah. She was born in Poland, the named Benito Mussolini, y”s, who even-
disheh Mameh” was very pop- daughter of Reb Shmuel and Esther tually initiated harsh decrees against the
ular not only in the U.S.A. but Lichtenstein. Her siblings were Yehudis, Jews. One of the laws decreed that all
around the world and brought Yechiel, and Mordechai. Jews who were not born in Italy were to
tears to the eyes of many lis- leave the country. Regarding where they
teners. The lyrics were written My Yiddisheh Mameh had a keen were to go, that was their problem!
by Jack Yellen with music by mind throughout her life. She was inter-
Jack Pollack. There are many ested in learning about Yiddishkeit and At that time, we were saddened by the
versions and many singers, ranging from about world events. Her grandmother evil decree, but as terrible things unfolded,
Sophie Tucker to Cantor Yossele Rosen- Etel was a very pious person and had a the expulsion turned out to be a blessing
blatt. (Google the tune and you can sing great impact on my mother’s religious in disguise because had we remained in
it!) Here is the second verse: upbringing, which she steadfastly clung Italy our family would have been deport-
to throughout her life. ed to a concentration camp. We made a
My Yiddisheh Mameh, I need her hasty departure from Italy. I was a very
more than ever now, My zaidy, Reb Shmuel Lichtenstein, young “bambino” and have few recollec-
had a restaurant in Switzerland. He was tions of life in Milan, but I do remember
My Yiddisheh Mameh, I’d like to kiss assisted by the family (a trait that was to parts of the trip. After we left the country,
that wrinkled brow. continue in the family when we had a ho- we boarded a huge ocean liner headed to
tel). My mom was an excellent cook and the United States. The year was 1939, and
I long to hold her hands once more as helped prepare the meals in the restau- World War II erupted while we were on the
in days gone by, rant. high seas. The boat rocked ahin and ahair
(back and forth), and many passengers
And ask her to forgive me for things I My father, Reb Tzvi Epraim Kinek, were seasick. My mom fed me an orange,
did that made her cry. was applying for a cantorial position in which I greatly enjoyed. It is the only food
nearby Milan, Italy. A shadchan informed that I remember!
How few were her pleasures, she nev- him about the wonderful daughter of Reb
er cared for fashion’s styles. Shmuel, so he traveled to the restaurant We finally arrived in New York and I
and met his future vibel (wife), whom he marveled at the tall buildings and the
Her jewels and treasures she found later referred to as “Dvoreleh.” hustle-bustle of the port in New York.
them in her babies’ smiles. What fascinated me the most were the
After obtaining the position of chazan dark-skinned persons carrying crates
Oh, I know that I owe what I am today in Milan’s Tempio Israelitico, my father from the ship. My curiosity peaked, I in-
To that dear little lady so old and established his residence in Milan. The quired whether the porters were spatso
gray, congregation appreciated his fine tenor di camino (chimney sweepers), because
To that wonderful Yiddisheh Mameh voice and his rendition of prayers using chimney sweepers were the only dark
of mine the Sefardi nusach. Soon he was awarded persons I had ever observed in Milan.
a lifetime contract.
My Yiddisheh Mameh After completing the formalities and
Every Yiddle’s Yiddisheh Mameh is spe- Life in Italy was good until “vayakum
cial, right? So how can I describe my melech chadash - a new king arose”
own Yiddisheh Mameh? Her name was
110 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
