Read the Book!
I just finished reading your book,
and I must say it is fascinating reading for anyone even remotely
connected to M'bro. As you know I was born and bred in the Boro and
was told that there were 120 known Jewish families living there at
the time
I was particularly touched by
Jonathan Isserlin's comments about my late father, Morris Saville
o'h and I do remember how both my parents made a special effort to
make the newly arrived Isserlin family welcome. I recall Dr Isserlin
o'h being described as the bone specialist!
My Dad was one of the first to hear
about anyone in hospital and made sure to personally take them
chicken or smoked salmon sandwiches lovingly prepared by my Mum o'h.
He made a point of staying with the patient only a few minutes, a
limud that his offspring learned to follow.
I found an old class mate of mine
from Kirby, Joan Reed through the "Remember When" articles in the
Mbro local press and we exchanged letters and recalled how we used
to sit together 'swotting' for exams in the local library. She had
the greatest respect for the Jewish religion and never pressed me to
eat in her home. She attended the Closing Ceremony of the Shul,
but sadly passed away soon after from a heart condition.
I enjoy listening to Rev Kersh's
chazanut recordings. I made a point of visiting him when he came
to Jerusalem in the 80's. I shook his hand and I thanked him for
being my first teacher of modern Hebrew, a rare feat in those days!
I myself taught at the cheder
for a while on Sundays when I was home for the weekend from the
Gateshead Sem.
I always thought that it was Pamela
Cohen who lost her shoe in the boggy field when we got lost at that
fateful matza ramble, seems it was Rachelle Schmulevitch! I
can still recall the taste of the freshly produced milk, still warm
from the cow!
I can clearly remember your
grandparents [Ed note: Abraham and Bella Wiseman], and recall
what tzadikim they were.
Thanks to the encouragement of my
father and Sam Hyman o'h, many M'bro people have made aliya,
and thanks to M'bro community that made such a good impression of
Yiddishkeit and respect for each and every one.
Ruth Posner, nee Saville
Bet Shemesh, Israel
[Ed note:
Full details of the book are available on the lulu website:
http://www.lulu.com/content/1148334 ]
