Dorothy Kraus Memoir - Elke's Visitors

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Dorothy Kraus Memoir

Elke's Visitors
Elke must have had a way about her for she attracted many of the people passing through. Whether she knew all of them I never found out, but suddenly we'd be told this or that person was a cousin. I once asked mother why we didn't have cousins who could visit us.

No doubt there was gossip. Elke became known as one who had chutspe (gall) who knew how to manage. This remark was accompanied with a nod of the head and a wink. However, whenever these visitors came around there was more to eat. They brought bread, a little meat, a herring, and at times even a bit of sweets. Tea would be made in a samovar and the atmosphere became gay. The children were hushed to bed, but I remained behind the curtain which separated our room off and listened. At times I would be permitted to stay up for the evening.

The majority of the visitors were men but on occasion a woman would appear. Some would bring little newspapers or clippings. These little papers would be placed in a book by Sholom Aleichem and were read in a hushed voice. At the slightest sound from the outside, mother --who was the reader-- would switch to a page in the book. The evening usually ended with mother reading a full story by Sholom Aleichem and everyone would have a good cry and a laugh. Ach, such a writer --such a wit-- and he died a sick man, a pauper in the rich America!

The discussion would last until late. I often heard the word Po'alei Zion, which I was later told referred to a working-class organization which was concerned with political, economic goals such as the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine with its own language, which was to be Yiddish. They were against Hebrew which, was considered a dead language and only to be used in the synagogue. They told of scholars who were, even then, preparing a Yiddish grammar and syntax and setting up schools where they would be taught. The word revolution was often mentioned in a hushed voice during the evenings. The Russian authorities were too busy with the war to pay much attention to what happened in the ghetto. As long as the Jews supplied what was demanded, that was all that was required of them.

Editor's Notes: See the Subject Index for a summary of Zionism and efforts to teach Hebrew in Wysokie .Po'alei Zion: branches of this group in Russia supported the Bolshevik Revolution.

This material is from Original Page 25, Original Page 26, and Original Page 27

Page Last Updated: 23-Oct-2012