bubbie

In 1938, in the small village of Bera, Romania, the Jews were told they were going to be killed if they did not leave. The King granted a reprieve. Several of the townspeople threatened my father-in-law, then twenty-seven years old, that “they were not done with them yet.” So Avrum left and later sent for his wife, Clara, and their three-year-old daughter, Sophie (who passed away in 2002). They ended up in British Honduras, where they lived until 1946. It was then that Avrum and Clara made application to the come to the US. They moved to Detroit, where Avrum’s two brothers had already established themselves.

Clara went on to have two more kids. Avrum set up shop as a furniture dealer, joining his brother Max in the business. They thrived as new Americans, but held tradition, Judaism, the past, and family very dear.

One of the children Clara had was Eddie, the man I married thirty-two years ago.

Last night Clara, affectionately known as “Bubbie” passed away. She was ninety-three years old, having lived on her own in her house in Florida since Avrum died ten years ago. She only had a fifth grade education (all that was available in Bera, and she had to fight for that, since she was a girl) but she was smart about all the things that really mattered in life. She never got her driver’s license, but she was as independent and spirited as they come. Bubbie’s sense of humor was infectious, but she would have been the last to admit that she was funny. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren fiercely, in spite of the fact that in recent years she may not have been able to recall their names from time to time.

So now we begin a year of traditional Jewish mourning. Eddie will observe his mother’s death in various ways, which I shall share as we go. The traditional method of mourning makes an incredible amount of sense, even in this day and age.

For now we recall the wonderful times we spent with Bubbie over all these years together. Here are a few pictures I made of her a couple of years ago during a visit to Florida.

Rummy Cube

A Kiss From Max

Bubbie Waving Goodbye