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My mother, rest in peace, born 1906 in Volchin. She was a very special woman.
She had three sisters: Nechama, Frieda, and Minnie. One emigrated to Israel, lived in Haifa, and passed away. Berl, the young brother, stayed in Volchin and was exterminated there.
My mother adored and worshipped her father, Rachmil Stavsky, and she tried to impart these feelings to us. Through her I also learned to admire him.
My
mother was a talented imitator and used to imitate her father's voice
, repeating his expressions such as: ver lacht azoy Drekish -- who laughs so shittish.
She sang for her
acquaintances who wanted to remember the Shtetl and Heim -- The Home-- songs such as Al Tashlichenu -- Do Not Forsake Us.
My
mother nicknamed me from time to time Yontale Mit di Oyern. (Yiddish: Yontale and his ears). I never asked her who that mysterious Yontale was
because it did not interest me then, as a child. When I grew up I
understood that Yontale refers to a Volchiner whose quality or
shortcoming – depending on how you view it – is his curiosity, which is never satisfied.
My
mother used to use this expression frequently: Gey zich Shprintze in
Varshe: Go look for Shprintze in Warsaw,
which is like saying: “look for a needle in a haystack”.
