“… and you brought the Wailing Wall, too?!”

Zoog mir in Yiddish

By Sol Awend, GenShoah SWFL

In German it’s known as an aus shtellung. In Yiddish it’s called a zeeyast And on Mother’s Day 1975, it was an event called the Israeli Exposition (Israeli Expo).

It happened in St. Louis and became a life altering event that I shall never forget. I was living in Minneapolis at the time and decided to venture home to be with Mom for Mittes Toog (Mother’s Day). I spent my youth growing up in the “Gateway City” and enjoyed visiting the old neighborhoods and seeing friends who were like family growing up.

After a wonderful Sunday morning frishtik (breakfast) that only Mom can make, she gave the order, “Kim! Meh geit of’n zeeyast!” (Come on! Let’s go to the get-together!) “Siz geh vayzen ah sheinem toog, ah filt dee zin ot geh shaant.” (It was a beautiful day; even the sun was shining.)

The event was held at the Jewish Community Center with some 50,000 Yiddlec’h There was even a laybehdiken (life size) replica of the Wailing Wall. Designers from New York, Chicago and Israel set up venues to display their wares. They even had Hebrew printed Coca Cola flesh ah lec’h (bottles); one of which I proudly display in my home.

It was just like being at a shuk in the Old City. All those people we knew growing up, and their parents who were now in their mid-50s. It was so heartwarming to see everyone and zec’h deh maant fin beesereh t’zaanten (reliving good times past).

The day was winding down to a pleasant conclusion when I decided to take one more walk through. Rounding the corner of an exhibit hall, I was struck by a bolt of lightning.

Standing there was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. “That’s my wife!,” I exclaimed to myself. Un siz ah zoy geh vayzen . (And so, it was.) Imagine my happiness when I told my parents that I needed the car because I’d met someone.

Imagine how gliklec’h (overjoyed) they were to give me car keys. Gei! Gei! Met zec’h treefen shpayteh! (Go! Go! We’ll meet up later!)

There were six other couples that met that day 50 years ago, and I believe we are the only ones left together.

Sometimes I wonder, had those 50,000 people not been there, how would Sue and I have ever met?

It’s May, and my best wishes to those whose mothers are still with us. To us, who are parents and grandparents? May we live to see our offspring find true love and celebrate in happiness. Alevei! (It should only be!)