This is my personal business

“Aha!” he reprimanded his Mary, “I suppose you came here to complain to Ma that I am not a good Jew. How can mother help you? This is my personal business, and besides are you missing anything since you married me?”

“I am missing a lot,” Mary answered. “I am

missing the spirit of God in our home. I am lonesome and I came to your mother

for help. Everybody tells me that she is a good religious Jewish woman. I am

also told that a few years ago she donated an ark to a synagogue.”

Pride and satisfaction appeared on the face

of Gussie Shapiro. “Well, I am glad people still remember my donation to the

synagogue.”

Turning to her Jack, she said, “We are now

going to the cemetery to visit your father, and this time Mary is going with

us.”

“Mother Shapiro, I am very happy to go with

you. Jack’s father is my father.”

The cemetery once again resounded with

Gussie Shapiro’s lamentations.

“Hyman, Hyman, look what you have done to

me. I always told you that I did not care for your insurance. I only wanted

you—you—my dear Hyman. And now you’ve left me all alone except for our banker

and our lawyer who torment me with their investments. Hyman, Hyman, look what

you have done to me!”

Mary was moved by this scene, but Jack

stood by in-differently.

All of a sudden, the mother turned to her

son and thundered, “Jack, I want you to take a vow right here at the grave of

your father that from now on you will go to the synagogue and you will help

Mary make a Jewish home! She is filling your stomach with gefilte fish,

kreplach, and with everything. Now fill her heart with religion. You hear me?

Answer!”

Jack walked closer to the grave of his father. This time he was moved and he broke into tears… He did not say a word.

The two women understood him.

As they entered the automobile, Mary said,

“Don’t worry, Mother, any more. I don’t have to tell you that Jack is always a

man of his word.”

Bitter candy for a number of years Aaron Bass sold bags of candy in the offices of one of the large buildings downtown.

Many people from non-communist countries

are interested what it was like then, in the regime. Let me tell you – it

wasn’t that great fun but it had its positive sides, of course. Come to

Bulgaria for a communist

Bulgaria tour and check yourselves.

To most of his customers mostly stenographers, bookkeepers, and filing clerks he was known as “Aaron the candy man.”