1/25-1/31/53

Jan 25 Sunday Mom & pop, Molly and Sam over and we had a nice chat over coffee and cake. Also read the nursery rhymes. Sylvia played "In Sunny Italy" by Heller and Eugene played "La Zingara" by Boshin [?]. They they played a duet "Tales of the Vienna Woods" All selections were played beautifully.

La Zingara was written by Gaetano Donizetti; while I can't be sure of the name Dad wrote, it definitely wasn't that. 

Jan 26 Things began to clear up as Eugene went out for the first time to the library and drew "Organized Labor and Production" M.L. Cooke (for his report) "Rose Bowl All-American" C.P. Jackson, "Son of Tomorrow" E.R. Silvers, "Best Sport Stories - 1950" Marsh & Ehre and "Mr Basketball" G Mikan's story as told to Bill Carlson. Lillian also felt better and went to a meeting. Prof. Walter B. Pitkin is dead at 74. Mike Jacobs is dead.

Jan 27 Lillian had a bad day. ... Dr Holzman, over the phone, advised heating pad and some empirin compound. She spent most of the day in bed. The three [sic] had supper at Madeline's. The Vietnam government won a decisive electoral victory. The Vietminh rebels battling the Nationalists and militarily and banned from the ballot, failed to disrupt the voting. Remington was found guilty of perjury again in his second trial.

Presumably, Dad left out "of us". 

Jan 28 Lillian collected for the "March of Dimes" in the building. Teamsters Union official Joe Papa was accused of taking thousands in graft. Susan Woodruff [?] is dead at 83.

I could not find an obituary for "Susan Woodruff", or a name like that, near that time.  

Jan 29 Mama came over with a dress for Sylvia. Buses in the city, idle since New Year's Day began to roll as strike issues were given over to arbitration. Bishop Wurm is dead at 85 and Gen'l Wingate at 91. Lillian read Waltari's "The Egyptian". We both read John D. Carr's "Life of A Conan Doyle". The Siamese twin died.

Jan 30 We had our Bar Mitzvah in the Beth Israel Temple. Lillian and Eugene were better and the affair came off beautifully. Everyone raved about Eugene's appearance and speech; also about the entire affair. We had rye, scotch, wine, soda, cakes of all kinds, coffee, trays of hot hors d'oeuvres. Rabbi Stern officiated with Mr. Marks assistance. Jerry Gallins and Lillian and I were called up. Eugene got much cash, four wallets, five books, identification bracelet, camera, football, shirts. Guests were mom and pop, Lil and Harry, Sam and Molly, Mike and Evelyn Isabel, Abe and Blume, Anne and Barbara, Harry and Molly, Sam and Helen and Richard, Milton and Shirley, Lil Altschuler, Frieda K., Rochel and Mayer, Sandra & Edeen, Morty and Ray, Jerry Madeline and Joyce and Norma, Sarah and Irving and Bobby & Danny, Hy and Milly, Molly's sisters Rosie and Annie, Miracha [?] Dora, Milly, Mrs. Rubinstein and Larry, Morris Rose and Charles, Al and Dotty, Allen and Lilly. 

At the end of this entry, the following was taped into the diary. It's hard to read; it says "BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION OF KINGSBRIDGE 2632 University Ave. A talk on "Jewish Survival" will be given tonight by Rabbi Leonard Stern at Sabbath services. This program also includes [a?] Bar Mitzvah celebration of Eugene Edelstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isidore Edelstein, and an Oneg Shabbat. 

The people mentioned included "Mr. Marks", who was the president of the temple, and our neighbor.
The guests listed were:
"mom and pop" - Dad's parents, Barney and Becky Edelstein
"Lil and Harry" - Dad's sister Lillian and her husband Harry Thaw
"Sam and Molly" - Mom's brother Sam Modelson and his wife Molly
"Mike and Evelyn Isabel" - Mom's other brother Mike Modelson, his wife Evelyn and daughter Isabel
"Abe and Blume" - Barney Edelstein's brother Abe and his wife Blume
"Anne and Barbara" - Abe and Blume's daughter Anne, and Anne's daughter Barbara
"Harry and Molly" - Harry Goode and his wife Molly (Harry was a cousin of Barney; we believe, but can't be sure, that they were first cousins
"Sam and Helen and Richard" - Harry Goode's son Sam, who was our piano tuner, his wife Helen, and son Richard (who became a famous pianist, and about whom my mother was always very proud that he played the piano at my Bar Mitzvah)
"Milton and Shirley" - Sam and Molly Modelson's son Milton and his wife Shirley
"Lil Altschuler" - we are sure she was a cousin of Mom's, but do not know the exact relationship
"Frieda K" - Frieda Kamen, who was a friend of Mom's
"Rochel and Mayer" - Rochel Leah Patchenik, a first cousin of Barney's, and her husband Meyer Bardes
"Sandra and Edeen" - Sandra Guzman, daughter of Rochel's sister Ida, and her husband Edeen [Eddin] Spiwack
"Morty and Ray" - we know the names, believe they were friends of Mom and Dad
"Jerry Madeline and Joyce and Norma" - Jerry Gallins, his wife Madeline and daughters Joyce and Norma; they were our downstairs neighbors
"Sarah and Irving and Bobby & Danny" - Irving Rosenberg, his wife Sarah and their children Bobby and Danny; they were neighbors in the building, and Bobby was my closest friend earlier in my childhood
"Hy and Milly" - we know the names, believe they were friends of Mom and Dad
"Molly's sisters Rosie and Annie, Mascha [?], Dora, Milly" - we believe these were sisters of Molly Modelson
"Mrs. Rubinstein and Larry" - Larry Rubinstein was my closest friend at the time
"Morris Rose and Charles" - do not know
"Al and Dotty" - do not know
"Allen and Lilly" - do not know
I also know I had other friends there; I remember Karl Levitt specifically. 

The diary entry of that day continued:

"Mr Big" of the piers, W J McCormack testified before the state Crime Commission that he knew nothing of crime and corruption on the waterfront! Bill Spivey's trial for shaving points ended in a hung jury. Dr Sam Hardy is dead..

Jan 31 Mom and pop took us to Lil and Harry's where we spent an afternoon pleasantly chatting and relaxing. Frieda who had stayed here overnight, left at 2 o'clock. Joe Ryan testified before the state crime commission that there was no more crime on the docks than in any other section!