Page 104 - issue
P. 104
always should), I felt out of place. drawn toYiddishkeit by Rabbi Amrom “What were you doing, meditat-
After being with the volunteers for a Taub, zt”l, of Baltimore. After minyan- ing?” asked the professor. There was a
semester, I resigned the position. im he would call out, “Yidden, roar of laughter and no more sleeping
Yidden,” a call for religion, I guess. He students.
◆◆◆ began wearing traditional clothing,
such as a black hat and a black suit. ◆◆◆
Life on the campus consisted of Soon he began growing a beard.
study, study, and more study! Life on campus proceeded apace.
Occasionally there were some lively Classes were usually quiet and On Succos, a succah with walls con-
discussions at the supper club. Topics without incident, except for one occa- sisting of trees was erected. Nu, credit
ranged from the state of affairs on sion. Nu, voss hawt pahseert (what is due for their effort.
campus to the government in Israel. happened)? you may ask. So have
Discussions were usually pleasant. geduld (patience) and I’ll tell you. In December, I walked to a nearby
Sometimes, exciting debates took shopping center and saw a person
place but without malice – I hope. A science professor was giving a dressed like Santa Claus ringing a
lecture, which was attended by many bell and shouting “Merry Xmas” to
As mentioned above, there was a students and given in a large hall. customers as they entered the store.
Hillel choir, and during Chanukah we Suddenly there was a loud noise. Was We crossed paths, and he suddenly
sang in the college chapel, which was it an animal or a collapsed chair, per- shouted “Good Yom Tov! Good Yom
turned into a temporary Jewish sanc- haps? Neither. Unbelievably, the Tov!” I tugged at his fake beard and
tuary. The leader of the choir was tumultuous sounds came from a recognized a former schoolmate!
cheerful, and we sounded fairly good shlofendik (sleeping) student, snoring
(I think), so it was a positive experi- for all he was worth! “Voss gayt awn miht deer (what’s
ence. going on with you)?” I asked. His
The professor stopped speaking, respone was “Ah Yid muhz machen
There were Jewish fraternity hous- and there was a deathly silence for a ah leben (A Jew has to make a living)!”
es, but I did not join a fraternity and few seconds. The student’s subcon- and he continued ringing his bell.
wondered how they had time for their scious must have detected the silence,
many activities. Interestingly, one of because he suddenly awoke and gave ◆◆◆
the fraternity leaders became a cha- a geshrey (yell): “I’m not sleeping! I’m
sidic Yid (who is now a well-known not sleeping!” he protested. In kuhrtsun (to sum it up), going to
religious personality in Israel!) He was the U of M in the ’50s was interesting,
and the life experiences I acquired
made going there worthwhile.◆
96 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
After being with the volunteers for a Taub, zt”l, of Baltimore. After minyan- ing?” asked the professor. There was a
semester, I resigned the position. im he would call out, “Yidden, roar of laughter and no more sleeping
Yidden,” a call for religion, I guess. He students.
◆◆◆ began wearing traditional clothing,
such as a black hat and a black suit. ◆◆◆
Life on the campus consisted of Soon he began growing a beard.
study, study, and more study! Life on campus proceeded apace.
Occasionally there were some lively Classes were usually quiet and On Succos, a succah with walls con-
discussions at the supper club. Topics without incident, except for one occa- sisting of trees was erected. Nu, credit
ranged from the state of affairs on sion. Nu, voss hawt pahseert (what is due for their effort.
campus to the government in Israel. happened)? you may ask. So have
Discussions were usually pleasant. geduld (patience) and I’ll tell you. In December, I walked to a nearby
Sometimes, exciting debates took shopping center and saw a person
place but without malice – I hope. A science professor was giving a dressed like Santa Claus ringing a
lecture, which was attended by many bell and shouting “Merry Xmas” to
As mentioned above, there was a students and given in a large hall. customers as they entered the store.
Hillel choir, and during Chanukah we Suddenly there was a loud noise. Was We crossed paths, and he suddenly
sang in the college chapel, which was it an animal or a collapsed chair, per- shouted “Good Yom Tov! Good Yom
turned into a temporary Jewish sanc- haps? Neither. Unbelievably, the Tov!” I tugged at his fake beard and
tuary. The leader of the choir was tumultuous sounds came from a recognized a former schoolmate!
cheerful, and we sounded fairly good shlofendik (sleeping) student, snoring
(I think), so it was a positive experi- for all he was worth! “Voss gayt awn miht deer (what’s
ence. going on with you)?” I asked. His
The professor stopped speaking, respone was “Ah Yid muhz machen
There were Jewish fraternity hous- and there was a deathly silence for a ah leben (A Jew has to make a living)!”
es, but I did not join a fraternity and few seconds. The student’s subcon- and he continued ringing his bell.
wondered how they had time for their scious must have detected the silence,
many activities. Interestingly, one of because he suddenly awoke and gave ◆◆◆
the fraternity leaders became a cha- a geshrey (yell): “I’m not sleeping! I’m
sidic Yid (who is now a well-known not sleeping!” he protested. In kuhrtsun (to sum it up), going to
religious personality in Israel!) He was the U of M in the ’50s was interesting,
and the life experiences I acquired
made going there worthwhile.◆
96 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
