In the world today we often go speeding ahead into life, seldom looking at the recent past for the family wisdom that might have guided our steps. Sharing that wisdom can help others to make their life’s journey worthwhile.
In the television series, “Banachek” George Peppard used Polish proverbs to punctuate his character’s ethnicity. In many tales of the “Old West” family wisdom and aphorisms begin with, “My pappy always told me …“ These folk stories that became messages to the next generation, were created as responses to the world that people found themselves in and explained their lives.
Our rich Jewish heritage is loaded with advice and words of wisdom from our sages and published leaders. But what about everyday Jews whose families immigrated to these shores and created a distinct culture for themselves? What were the words of wisdom passed down to us from the immediate generation that preceded us? What did we learn from our parents, aunts, uncles and cousins? What was the advice given to us by survivors of the Holocaust who came to a new land with almost nothing? How were we told to behave around strangers, family and neighbors?
As I have begun my research, I have already encountered children of immigrants and people whose parents who were native born. There are many stories and some wonderful pieces of advice mixed-in with cultural axioms, proverbs and aphorisms.
One person told me that his mother said, “Always look the truth in the face”.
“Wherever there’s a will… there are relatives”.
“Whenever you’re in a new city, go to the library. The police will never look for you there”.
“Even though you mother’s wrong… she’s right “.
“In order to get ahead in America, you have to be a little bit of a ganef”.
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