Figure 1.--This is ny dad with is grand parents. Grandfather was Italian. Grandmother was Jewish. Dad is wearing a shirt and tie with knickers, very common for boys in the 1930s. |
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Our family was thoretically a blended Italian-Jewish family. But moms have a way dominating in such matters. Philadelphia like many northeastern cities had large immigrant populations and ethnic communities. During the time frame I am discussing here, dad was a salesman and mom was a homemaker. Dad's father was born in Italy and immigrated to America before World War I. Dad's mom was Jewish. Mom's father was born in Russia. Her mom was born in the United States. So we weee essebtially a Jewish family. Mom's family was Jewish. My dad's dad had converted to Judaism.
We were secular Jews. I was Bar Mitzvahed in 1964. Dad didn't have much contact with his family. We were close with Mom's family. We had family picnics, seder dinners, etc. We always dressed up for the seder similar to the photo of my sister and I on the previous page. We also went to all of our cousins Bar Mitvahs. Mom was fanatical about my sister and I always looking our best at any family function. We would start dressing at least an hour ahead of time, least there be any wardrobe malfunctions. I was never at any family function where anyone wore shortpants. Not even the younger kids. Two of the Bar Mitvahs were formal affairs and I remember wearing rental tuxedoes. Mom and dad loved Broadway shows and took my sister and I to some of them. We always dressed up for that, too. Most people did in those days Dad passed away in 1993 at the age of 66. Mom is going to be 85 in March 2015. And believe it or not she works full time and leads a very active life.
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