Shmorg 6: When Zaidy Was Young 2

[Music] [Applause] [Music] what are you looking at Sadie oh hello Elly I'm looking at my old photo album of my family when I was a boy under Lower East Side and it surely brings back memories here would you like to have a look thank you these pictures really look old Sadie what's this small building with a broken front step oh that's the place where the Himelstein stuff and ugly it was a little place on Broome Street called Hansika toefl I see what that's on check our tofu Louie Papa will take us there every Shabbos and a lot of the weekdays too we thought of it as our second home [Music] did this all have stained-glass windows a be sure it had stains underclass in the windows and on the tables and chairs too [Music] not very wide but I fit every it in the neighborhood who comes to Davin inside Saddam our staff where the walls are cracked and the pipes trip into a pail the tables creaked and the benches squeak are you sitting God all my signs tipped a my steps are chip that's walk up to the door and and I saw you gave the NER Tamid 1974 when it's cold outside on the oldest I come from far in the snow [Music] [Applause] every shot as there's a kiddush in sugar with Kate mythical exhibition apps tequila herring for the old while the kids get lollipops I've been here so long but I'm going strong inside my little room it's a familiar spot on the ghost made up near Hester Street and Broome when it's cold outside I'm the oldest I may come from far and near in the snowstorm all prayers are warm in my friendly atmosphere [Music] zadie was anti kartoffel as famous as those other shoes well after what happened when my cousin level had his Bar Mitzvah there it became so famous it was written up in all the newspapers it was but Sadie what could have possibly happened at your cousin levels Bar Mitzvah Oh cousin Lionel's Bar Mitzvah was truly an amazing event yes I can still remember mama inviting all their neighbors in the tenement apartments next door to us did she mill them invitations ad meltem invitations which times costing two cents apiece she invited them to good old East Side way through the kitchen window through the kitchen window that's how all the news travelled from one kitchen window I know you're home you know it's only four weeks from this shop and now he's really gotta work at it every night [Music] lemmas parents asked me to invite all my neighbors to the bar mitzvah so I hope you'll come to stick in its at the little show Wareheim and Athens and shake a tubful on Broome Street have a radiator it does not give any steam and by the way my brother-in-law glamazons Elizabeth from the Bronx is gonna be the hospital Asif he's also here practicing [Music] but Sadie why didn't your cousin Lemmo and uncle Isadora practice at home oh where they lived in their houses it was too crowded and noisy so they came to our place where it was nice and quiet [Music] my firm watches limo but are they small it's me at the super form of the building a mr. Guerra much demands a mustiness you know I work very hard to take care of this building every day [Music] you started telling me about oh yes I was just getting to that part as a matter of fact it was on that Shabbos morning exactly four weeks before lemons Bar Mitzvah that all the trouble began trouble what troubles ad well governing was almost over and all we could think about was that a nice hot cholent waiting for us at home suddenly the door burst open and invoked an official-looking man holding a fancy paper behind the man is two very big construction workers shaped by cosmetic abortions baby brother they walked right over to Papa and mr. Glueck sign the gabbai on Shabbos of the shoe I am how are you my name is mr. Osborn I'm in official for the housing department of the city of New York and I'm proud how are you my name is mr. Osborn I'm an official for the housing department of the city of New York excuse me sir I'm the Hyman Himelstein one of the members are the synagogue can you explain to me what this is all about what's going on could you tell me about it baby hey how are you my name is mr. Osborn I'm an official for the housing department was born you can't come in you come in here please please and I didn't miss the connection let him finish he may have something very important to tell us could you could you maybe continue what you are saying sir [Music] how are you my name is mr. Osborn I am an official for the housing department of Noyo we know that I about you already could yeah maybe yeah I get to that point and tell us why you came hold it hold it I'll tell you what's up no one second the city is tearing down all the buildings on this block including this one to make room for a new housing complex the city sent your five notices of eviction with you did an answer in exactly four weeks from today we're gonna demolish this building and whatever's in it so you better remove all your valuables before then if you wanna keep up yeah mr. Gein look shine what happened to those five notices of eviction that the city sent oh you mean those fancy-schmancy letters to check notice of a vacation I took them in the garbage why do I need a vacation look miss I need a vacation not an occasion eviction in four weeks they're throwing down - ooh oh how could it happen how could they think of tearing down a soul you must have been miserable that Chavez I guess you could say we were all in a state of shock [Music] couldn't anyone think of something to save an Shikata fool couldn't you do anything Oh for a whole week the unchic are thoughtful every mission is and feel on society not every night but things just seem to get worse I say though as you're trying to separate aura Jumeirah torrid let's say it Doreen and finally different flashy Davin there's no way you could save one shaker 12 Oh you just can't fight city hall [Music] no no my friends I'm Shea kartoffel is where our grandparents Davin after going through Ellis Island the first planes they came to us right [Music] parents came to this land oh and they did not understand they made their new start with hope in their heart Oh hoping that now they'd be free ah this is your famous Statue of Liberty [Music] my son yes America is a big country our grandparents struggled and fought to keep the traditions they bro and determined to cling to every last thing that they have been carefully taught our grandparents came to this line so this zadie it sounds like things we're getting as bad as could be well it seemed like Italy especially the next evening as we came there the shul for my roof Manny and I saw an unbelievable sight that the residents of these here premises have less than three weeks to be out of here then these walls will be crushed the rubble knew but you can't do that you just can't miss the person of New York my cousin levels Bar Mitzvah is in three weeks we'll be so disappointed if there's no Archie kartoffel if you've got any complaints no mayor Fiorello LaGuardia he's in charge of the city not me you paid a nickel for me on the trolley so I could get to eat cheap on time I know want to help me Heshy why don't you invite the mayor the cousin demos Bar Mitzvah I'm sure will wanna come right Manny and as soon as I tell them what they're doing to RJ kartoffel boy will he stop them then what happens ad did things get any better oh the next day after Domini mystogan Lukshon came bursting in the door they're coming - coming to Africa personas de Madrid abroad Saudis are coming bull's er what's a balls owner mr. kanack shiny watch the boots harder that's a big thing to us to make marks Amir Agha the beauty touch the border [Music] let's call it is very justice match at the Sugar Creek everyone get out quick technology to go [Music] excuse me sir but why are you parking these vehicles in front of our place of worship these bulldozers are putting left here until the demolition of this area begins in about two weeks [Music] boy are you gonna be embarrassed shows up here Harry please don't make sin mayor what mayor mayor figure my daughter knows we invited him to my cousin levels Bar Mitzvah in just two weeks the kid says he imparted to Maria this cousin Lee miles by Miss Lee and he's gonna make us get rid of these bowls orders to put bulldozers hey Manny why did you have to tell him that nourish guide about the mayor he had only made them more upset it wasn't nice right papa I know the mayor's gonna want to help us he helped me once on the trolley with a nickel Hershey Manny mayor's don't go too far mitzvahs sending a bar mitzvah invitation to the mayor of New York does seem a little nourish maybe early but the rapini shalom has a way of turning nourish ideas into sensible solutions because no one knew at that moment what was doing at the office of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in City Hall well you just take a look at this headline in today's paper it says La Guardia may not get the Jewish vote this election for a second time I'm losing the whole Jewish vote and maybe the mayoral election and none of my brilliant advisers can think of what to know about it how about some ideas to get the Jewish vote back into my corner after all I am the mayor [Applause] I'm the one that makes the city run run do I run it well oh yes you said it all the city workers get their jobs done the Thunder but then I come along to take the credit yes I'm the one that makes the city run run run run I check the trolleys and the subway station run what is my vacation [Music] I am the mayor of the tallest tower standing on the tallest skyscraper I help each majorca that's within my power if it gets my picture in the paper yes i am the famous person of New York York York yet the one they all look up to and admire me the mayor of New York you you get that people just can't wait til he'll retire [Music] Oh [Music] but mr. mayor the Jews want to know what you've done for them we need a story of human interest did you ever help a Jewish kid get a job or forget to school yeah did your helper Jewish could get to school on time of course not Hey hold that hold that that's it that's it I got it I got it French lira got it whoa I hope it's not touching mr. mayor cuz I don't want to kill it French Li Finchley am I glad I thought of this just a few months ago I was making my unexpected inspections of the trolleys and the lorry side and as I was getting out I noticed that a Jewish achieve a boy had forgotten his nickel at home and was about to be thrown off the trolley what did you do mr. moon what did I do what do you think I did Finchley you let the boy be thrown off the trolley and save this vehicle of course not I took out a nickel and paid for the boy and he got to his avantime what a story what a headline I can just see it now mayor of New York healthy Jewish child go to yeshiva wait till the Jewish voters read about that Finchley essentially I want you to get hold of every one of my assistants immediately order that the search up and down the city and ask every is Shiva kid they meet if the mayor paid a nickel for his fare a trolley and as soon as he says yes grab him and schlep of the City Hall [Music] are you going to are you son you don't suppose that you're taking this trolley to a yeshiva do you well have any of you had any luck finding that kid with my nickel true [Music] we were done was done abandoned in every cranny and every hit every river and everyone he wasn't there empty every Garbage Pail we hope in every box and unlock the bar the city research plain packet from wall to wall for China donative city one who started out walking but we're done to afro [Music] [Applause] he was live excuse me mr. man I'm here to read you today's mail here's one strong gentleman in Washington Heights yeah mr. mayor the city came to fill a pothole in my street instead they dug a man Hall in front of my door would you kindly come and pull me out it's getting cold down here with deepest tides mr. interval and that's already Berkeley I have no time for this child's play oh speaking of child's play where'd you hear the next one I think you'll find this one quite amusing - mayor Freegal alley garden Berkeley really I have no patience for Bar Mitzvahs wait this is the best part the sharpest of Khasan levels bar mitzva by the city's house that's terrible a shoal is a holy place J kind of all has got more holes than all the others they even Park bulldozers in front of the building if they tear it down cousin level of no place their heavies bar mitzva I know you'll want to help save our shoe just like you helped me was a nickel to get our metrology Shiva a few months ago when you come to the bar mitzvah please don't feel shy cuz everyone just know Berkley just take them and throw them out whatever you say mr. mayor now as I was saying how can it be that no one has turned up that Jewish kid that I gave the nickel to on a trolley it's incomprehensible it's inconceivable it's it's hey hey hey one minute hold it pegleg Berkley what was that you just read to me the one with the kids the kid with the bomb was fine not the kid with the bar busca where is that letter from the kid with it by bushka oh you mean the one from the boy with the furniture that's the kid the whole city's looking for get that letter out of the trash this second well what are you all standing there for help them find it yes mr. mayor they second right now I'm helping you this Oh what's next I'm just holding my breath well we not very next Chavez holder members of on shake our TOEFL and their families and many other people from the lower Eastside came to shul to join my cousin Lebanese Bar Mitzvah unfortunately the workmen of the city's building Department were there to please clear the area in ten minutes the bulldozers are going in good yeah give us a little more time there's a bomb in Sabine celebrated here today I'm sorry gentlemen I suggest you take your religious articles out of the synagogue because in exactly 7 and 1/2 minutes I have orders to destroy correct crush devastate smash crunch approved obliterate annihilate eradicate eliminate and in general fight all the buildings on this block including at Jacob at all I'm afraid that only on this man I show my you can save Oh chica Tuffle no [Music] please Manny now is not the time for bottom Isis I told you my is done got a Bar Mitzvahs we've only got three more minutes - that must be the mayor that show me him Hyman do you think is it possible that please item challenge at times mayors dumb gods of our business hey what are you doing you can't park that car here it's a devolution area you're not gonna believe who I've got in the backseat of this car I don't care if you've got the mayor of the city the back seat get this tint cat all wheels out of here well as a matter of fact he does have the mayor of New York sitting in that back seat but mr. Pittman mr. mayor what what are you doing here [Music] Lemuel Hamel stain that's being celebrated right here and I'm sheikh adil synagogue any objections no sir of course not sir except except what except you see sir this area has been scheduled for demolition this morning sir that includes the synagogue the bulldozers are just about to tear it down with me inside because I plant the beet clam Ewell's Bar Mitzvah it on shake a poodle you've got exactly three minutes to get those bulldozers out of here or I'll have you prosecuted for trying to destroy a city landmark of course mr. is honor right away uh top table to those bulldozers around it drivable way the job is be canceled what the while yours me get them out of here the job is be canceled the boy right cut it a nickel for you to come with your family tomorrow to City Hall to take photographs with me and mrs. LaGuardia and you'll have your picture and the picture of this earrings and building on the front page of every newspaper in town and for as long as I'm mayor not a single brick on this building will ever be touched and that's a campaign promise no mr. mayor mr. mayor you meet with an invitation like that can I refuse hashey hymen what happened to the expression that I use sometimes hear people say minions never come to bar mitzvahs here all these foolish expressions from but some of them really don't make any sense I should not mayor come to Obama's after all he was invited come Zelda I think they already started happening let's hurry up did you actually get your picture into the papers we most certainly did the next day every paper in the city carried our picture of their Himelstein nanny made such a face that he almost scared off two photographers and the story of how the mayor say done she cut off all from being read take a look I've still got some old clippings in my album of the story these really look very old Sadie but it may look worn you win the election did he win it he won by a landslide he did to his opponent what the Wreckers wanted to do time shake our tofu he made marks and a lot of him Oh Sadie it sounds like growing up on the Lower East Side was such a great adventure nothing like that ever happens anymore by the way Sadie did they ever find out who the workmen was that gave you the idea to write to the mayor or whatever happened to him Allie we never saw height from him again the adults thought it was just our imagination was it maybe but you know Ellie when kids believe that there is a Nichelle alum is gonna help them their imagination those funny things that even an adult cannot understand do you know what I mean Ellie I imagine so Sadie I imagine so [Music]