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| Brainin family (as "Brennan"), 1575 Madison Avenue, 1920 census |
Bubbie (Yiddish for grandmother) told me she spoke Yiddish as her first language and that she didn't learn English until she began school. I have her Hebrew primer. I don't think she had a bat mitzvah, and she didn't really remember or use Hebrew later in life.
She did continue to speak Yiddish. The only time I heard her speak Yiddish, however, other than some random words, was when she turned 80. She had flown out to California for her birthday and was staying at my uncle's home. Her best friend (my godmother) had come up from Southern California to help celebrate. I was listening to them talking, and then their voices got louder, and it sounded like an argument — and suddenly I couldn't understand anything they were saying. I was mesmerized — they were arguing in Yiddish! It's still the only time in my life I've heard the language used in a conversation, albeit a loud one. I wish I had been able to record it.
What a fun story. I still wish my grandmother had taught me Slovak, but she said that wasn't done - it was English only! Remembering Lillyan on her centennial anniversary is a nice tribute. Glad I had a chance to say hi at RootsTech, even if it was only for a minute in the bathroom line. :)
ReplyDeleteThose 100th anniversaries are kind of hard to pass up, aren't they? And it was great to meet you also! Always nice to be able to put a real face to an online presence.
DeleteLovely post, Janice! It is fascinating to read about women like your grandmother. She must have lived a very interesting life, starting out only speaking Yiddish and then going to school and learning English. My great-grandmother would have turned 100 this year also, but she was born on the other side of the world in a small country town in Australia! Just like you, I've chosen to celebrate Women's History Month by posting on my blog about her. These women were certainly something special and deserve to be remembered.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! It felt good to write about my grandmother and celebrate her life. As a small coincidence, she and my grandfather visited my family while we lived in Australia. We were in the Sydney area. Where was your grandmother from?
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