Moving to Longmeadow- elementary and junior high

When we lived on Woodlawn Street in Springfield, MA, I was very young and not even aware of different religions. However, when we moved to Longmeadow, MA, my Jewishness became apparent. At that time, in the early 50's, there were hardly any Jews living in Longmeadow. Actually, some streets, country clubs, and other organizations were off-bounds for Jews. It was during this time that I began to realize that I was different. During the Christmas season, I looked with longing at the decorations hung in my friends' homes and in the public schools. Back then, the schools were heavily decorated for the season and Christmas carols filled the air! I was part of the group, yet apart from it.

Elementary schools were different from the elementary schools today. No one got bussed; we all trudged along unless the weather was very inclement and then our parents would drive us. Everyone went home for lunch. I remember hurrying home so I could watch "Love of "I Remember Mama" was one of my favorite shows that I would watch religiously. Most mothers did not work so there was no need to have children eat lunch in school. During our recesses, the girls would play hopscotch, jump rope or perhaps marbles with the boys. Girls did not wear long pants to school. Dresses and skirts were expected and donned. In each classroom, there were different level reading groups, but otherwise everyone learned together. No one had a calculator to use. Mathematical facts were taught by rote. The teacher would stand in front of the class with flash cards and we would quickly shout out the answer. Math games were played and we all became quite proficient with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. In addition to the major subjects, we had gym, art and penmanship. A woman would come into our classroom one day a week to teach us how to write correctly! I still remember it was called the Reinhart Method and the woman would stand at the chalk board and show us exactly how to cursively construct each letter. Besides these classes, we also had banking. When I was in 5th grade, I was asked to be a teller; the students would come with their money and bankbooks and I would make sure the appropriate amounts were recorded in their books. When I was in 5th and 6th grade, I participated on a basketball team. In those days, the girls could only run half court and when I would take out the ball, I would have to put one foot up against the wall.

I would invite some friend over to play after school or I would go to their homes. At times we would havesleepovers. I remember once my mother made sleeping hats for all the girls and we all slept downstairs in the finsished basement! Many times I would sleep at my friend, Bab's home. Babs and I were good friends. She was Jewish, too, so we shared traditions. Each morning she would meet me at the top of my street and we would ride our bikes to school together. We are still in touch with each other.

After spending 3rd through 6th grades at Converse Street School, I went to Longmeadow Junior High School. During those years, I remember with dismay Mr. Ryder's Dancing School. I mean you just had to be a member of it or you were nothing...and truth be told, I couldn't be a member. I was Jewish and Jewish children were not invited! Well, for whatever reason, a few of us Jews were finally allowed into the hallowed ranks. I remember feeling so included. After all, I was only 12 and at 12 one needed to belong. Actually, I still rember those dancing classes. The girls would be all dressed up and wear gloves. The boys would wear suits. The girls would stand on one side of the room and the boys on the other. Then, the boys would come over and ask one of the girls to dance. It was actually unnerving to stand there and wonder if anyone were going to pick you! Junior High consisted of 7th and 8th grades. Unlike elementary school, we had a homeroom and then we would go to different teachers for our various subjects. When I was in 8th grade, they had a special division called Divsion 8-4 to which I was invited. Students in that division were handpicked and the work was accelerated. School was probably about 2 miles from my house; there were no busses so I walked. I played the accordian (not well) in the band and I remember carrying it to school and home even in inclement weather! During those years, the Jewish people "ghettoized" themselves so many of my friends still lived in Springfield and most of us would congregate at the Jewish Community Center. A group of gals formed a club called the QTPies. We had little beanies that were yellow and gold and met at the Center. Since I attended religious school at Sinai Temple, I made many friendships there. It was at religious school and at the Center that I felt I was in a safe haven. There I was just me; there I had friends whose homes were like mine. One of the gals with whom I became very friendly was Regina. I marvelled at her big family and would delight in sleeping over her home. Of course, when I would get ready to go to sleep, I would tell her that my tongue was too big for my mouth. I have no clue why I said that, but even today, she reminds me of it! She lives in new Mexico, but we still maintain our friendship which I cherish.At home, we were very observant of the major Jewish holidays and festivals. How I remember getting new clothes so I could proudly wear them for the High Holy days. I loved sitting next to my parents and snuggling next to my dad when the sermons became just a little long. We would go to my maternal grandmother's to celebrate the New year and eat her imber, taglach, apples dipped in honey, sour cream coffee cake and other delicasies that heralded the New Year. Unfortuantely, I have never been able to duplicate those delectable delights. When my grandmother got much older, my mother took on the task of preparing for the holidays. Visions of her beautifully set tables and delicious foods still dance before my eyes. For Shabbat, my mother would stand and hold her hands to her eyes as she kindled the Shabbat candles and recited the requisite prayers. When grandchildren were born, she added a third candle. The candle sticks were from her mother and my father's mother; I still use them today. Passover was and still is a favorite holiday. My dad would sit at the head of the table and conduct the Service. Woe be to the person who was not following along in his or her Haggadah since each of us would be called on at random. Yet, our Seder was not a solemn one; it was filled with songs lustily sung and poems rapidly read. Today, those Haggadahs are dog-eared; the pages have been lovingly caressed with fingers that have been stained with wine or spotted with horse radish or charoses, imparting indelible memories to every page. Yes, we still use the same Haggadas...we would not think of changing...and we still sing the same songs. But I must admit the decorum is not the same. We laugh a little more, read a little more quickly and skip a few more pages. In addition, we are not dreesed up - we are in casual clothes. Back when I was young, my dad wore a tie and jacket, as did my boys; the women wore suits or dresses. Even with all the celebrations of the Jewish holidays and even though we celebrated Chanukah, lit the menorah and received presents for each night, I still felt left out when Christmas rolled around. I remember once making Christmas stockings, hanging them by the fireplace and filling them with some things. I don't think my parents were too happy!!!

My brother, Jeff, and I were pretty close as kids. We would really bond when we would take family trips each April vacation and then one summer, my whole family traveled across the country during an 8 week period. What fun that was! What great memories! Jeff, though, was much more cerebral than I. Many times, he would be upstairs in his room reading different novels, the National Geographic, or the Scientific American, magazines that I would merely glance at. I would have my frieds over to the house; he would have his friends. Since he was 3 years ahead of me at school, I really did not interact with his friends, nor he with mine. I played, or attempted to play the piano and the accordian. He played the clarinet. Our household was more rigid than the households today. We had to ask to be excused from the table. When friends of our parents would come, Jeff and I would go upstairs to our rooms. We did not mingle with the adults. In our eyes, our parents were really on a pedestal. We obeyed them; we would not think to do otherwise! I really don't remember ojur home being filled with that much laughter from our friends and us. We kept a much lower profile than my kids did. Our parents were older and perhaps they just didn't want that much noise and confusion so they quelled it rather than encouraged it. Actuallly, I found our street to be a lonely street. No kids my age were on our street and I lived at the bottom of our street in a cul-de-sac. There were no games played in the middle of the street. Since our badckyard was big, we would play croquet and coits there. In addition, my dad had a huge garden that he truly enjoyed. His plants were all in a straight line. It was truly amazing! I still remember the delicious tomatoes, rhubarb, carrots and other bvegetables that would find their way from the garden to our plates.