Tag #116245 - Interview #100288 (Eta Gurvichuyte )

After mother’s death father did his best to maintain things at home the way they were. He was yearning, though he never showed it. Then father became more reserved. He hardly had any free time. Usually I saw him only at breakfast or late in the evening with the paper in his hands as if trying to shelter from us and from life. I remember a funny story taken place shortly after mother’s death. In accordance with the Jewish law, a widower father was supposed to marry Polya, a widowed wife of his deceased brother. Father was not going to marry, especially Polya, whom he did not like at all. In order to declare that he was against it, in accordance with the Jewish tradition he had to go to the rabbi in synagogue, take off his boot and through it over the threshold. That way he was supposed to say no in marrying his sister-in-law. I remember father before doing that. He took off his boot and studied his socks closely making sure that there were no holes in them. It would be bad for him, an outstanding printer, to appear in front of rabbi in ragged socks.