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Home
and Family
NOSTALGIA
Never a Dull Moment --
Life in Jerusalem Fifty Years Ago
by Yisca Shimony
Towards the end of World War II, financial conditions at the
Shimony family were getting strained, and this meant cutting
down on bare necessities. The meager income was now even
lower, and everywhere prices scaled upwards. The main expense
was food, and now this was shaved to the limit. On Shabbos,
we tasted something that reminded us of fish and meat, but
actually, the dishes were a mixture of bread with a small
amount of either/or. For the cholent, Ima used chicken wings
or gizzards, and added kishke, also made of reconstituted
bread.
On weekdays, mornings or evenings, the menu consisted mostly
of bread, again, varied with homemade spreads such as oil
with homemade tomato paste spiced with salt and pepper, or a
dip of olive oil, garlic, onions and lemon juice. From time
to time, we feasted on homemade cheese, whenever family, from
the moshav up on the Carmel, came to visit and brought
us this delicacy. It was a tasty and very special treat, the
handiwork of our Bobbe Feiga. For the main meal of the day,
Ima served cooked vegetables, spiced squash or eggplant, to
supplement our daily bread. [Eggplants, we were reassured,
was a protein equivalent to fish or meat, since it contained
iron.]
At times, especially for Yom Tov, Ima used to make her
own noodles along with a soup, including the same gizzards
and wings; it made a nice change for our culinary taste buds.
As winter arrived, and the cold weather settled into
Yerushaolayim, we craved for hot soups. Our weekday one was a
watery potato pottage, thickened with flour and spices and
garnished with some odd leafy greens. All expenses were
carefully calculated. However, it was done with great care
and love. To us, the Shimony family, everything tasted like
gourmet dishes, and we looked forward to the main meal of the
day, served at noontime.
Ima did her best, but she was concerned. Her daughters were
growing and they needed better sustenance as well as better
clothing. She tried her best to feed us nutritionally, but
she felt her efforts lacking substance. And conditions grew
still worse. Finally, one day, Bunya, the old Yemenite
laundress, was dismissed. As little as she took, the family
did not have enough to pay. Now Ima had to take over this
backbreaking task of washing the family clothes, all by hand,
including the lugging of heavy basins of water, an arduous
ordeal.
In our front room, the "parlor", we had a tall and narrow
breakfront with glass doors and shelves displaying delicate
china dishes, painted in gold, black and maroon. They looked
exquisite, showpieces for the rich. I often stood in front of
it, looking at these dishes, and wondering where and when we
had acquired them.
"Who gave us this lovely china?" I once asked my sister
Chava. I could visualize them in museums, or used by kings
and princes. "They were a gift from Tante Leah, who used to
live in Botei Warsaw, but moved to the faraway land of gold,
America." They were a noticeable contrast to the poor fare on
our table.
*
Ima kept trying to find ways to supplement the income. A
relative of ours, Esther, ran a private kindergarten and was
doing well, financially. Many young girls begged to be
allowed to help, and she truly needed an extra pair of hands,
as the enrollment was at its capacity. She approached Ima and
asked if any of the girls would be willing to help.
Ima was overjoyed. "I am sure that Chava will do it willingly
and capably." She raised her eyes to Heaven. "Boruch Hashem,
her classes are in the afternoon."
"How is that?" asked Esther.
"There isn't enough room in the school building so they
switched the times, and the older girls learn in the
afternoon shift. She will be more than happy to help out in
the morning."
Chava started working in the kindergarten. She gave all of
her earnings to Ima and that year, we ate real fish for
Shabbos and sometimes, even chicken and kugel. And Bunya, the
washerwoman, was again employed to do the family wash.
At the end of the year, Abba and Ima decided to open up our
own kindergarten for boys. By now, Chava was experienced and
Esther was willing to direct her. This was not competitive,
since her own kindergarten was for girls. Equipment and toys
were gathered, a room was rented and small toddlers came to
play and learn. So it was that at the age of fourteen, Chava
became a fully fledged kindergarten teacher. Soon, the next
sister in line, Tzivia, joined forces, since her turn came to
attend classes in the afternoon. Later on, I, too, was
employed in the family enterprise. This way, all of the
Shimony girls became teachers at the age of fourteen.
Our big dreams did not last long. Many of the parents
couldn't pay and the expenses continued to run high, until
our parents decided to close down the kindergarten.
Ima still looked for an additional source of income to cover
the expenses of food and clothing for her growing girls, soon
to be kalla-candidates. Eventually, she took in some
out-of-town girls who had come to study in Yerusholayim, as
boarders. This venture was, Boruch Hashem, more successful.
At one time we had four girls all by the name of Esther and
our large "inside" room looked like a regular dormitory with
beds from wall to wall.
For us, the Shimony girls, it was fun. We liked the
togetherness and appreciated the added income and what it
represented. Relatives -- ours and theirs -- came to visit us
constantly, and, as in many a Yerushalmi home, there was
never a dull moment.
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