JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

12/23/08 03:16 AM

One more news item. Back in 1981, I created “Bubbie and Zadie”, two magical Jewish grandparents who exist in the imagination and memories of kids and adults. The New York Times wrote a story about my Bubbie and Zadie in 1983, and in 1865 a book was published by some writer calling himself Daniel Halevi Bloom. Donald I.  Fine, may he rest in peace, was the editor and publisher and the book sold 15,ooo copies. Titled “BUBBIE AND ZADIE COME TO MY HOUSE”, the book was later reprinted in a new hardback edition and rescued from oblivion by a very good man, Rudy Shur, who runs Square One Publishers in Long Island.

http://bubbieandzadiefiles.blogspot.com

Over the years, since 1981, Bubbie and Zadie have recieved over 10,000 letters from kids and many from adults too. This year, here, I want to share one of the letters from the adults who have written in. These letters are often the most touching and heartwarming, as kids, being kids, are more interested in presents than moving remembrances of Hannukahs past. Here is Joan Siegel of New Jersey writing to Bubbie and Zadie last year:

Dear ‘’Bubbie and Zadie’’

I am a grown woman, a grandma myself already, but I hope I can write
to you, too. My own Bubbie
and Zadie died many years ago, and I still miss them. They were warm,
wonderful people who always accepted me without judgment. They didn’t
have much money, but for every birthday and on Hannukah I got an
envelope with a crisp dollar bill. Even then, a single dollar wasn’t
much, but it was all the money in the world because it was money I
knew they couldn’t really spare.

When I was in junior high school and had learned the system of how to
write a check, my Zadie invited me to his home to write checks for
him. He would tell me the name of the company and the amount of the
check and I would write each one out carefully, making sure not to
make any mistakes. Then I’d shyly hand it over to him to look at,
approve and sign before slipping it into the envelope. I was so proud
when he’d nod approvingly and sign with a flourish. Little did I know
that he couldn’t read or write, and he was just trusting that I did it
correctly. Today, that memory makes me smile.

I miss my Bubbie’s fried kreplach and latkes. But most of all I miss
the store-bought pineapple pie she always kept in the house for me,
because she knew it was my favorite. It was nothing unique, just some
A&P;pineapple pie made with commercial-grade pie filling. But no one
else was allowed to touch it because she kept it especially for me.
She always made me feel special.

I miss my Bubbie and Zadie both a lot, and my eyes are misting up just
writing to you
about them. Reading about your program woke my own memories and,
for that, I thank you.

Happy Hannukah, Bubbie and Zadie!”

It’s still Hannukah time and there is still time to write a letter to Bubbie and Zadie, the entire program is free and paid for by my meager book royalties, and every letter writer gets a personal reply from Bubbie and Zadie. Address is

Bubbie and Zadie’s Mailbox
115 Herrick Road
Garden City Park, NY 11040

and Bubbie, with Zadie’s help on the keyboard, hunt and peck typist that he is, will get your emails too at:

Do write a letter to Bubbie and Zadie today, if you are so moved, and tell them about your own memories of your own Bubbie and Zadie. Who knows, it might even find its way into a new book I am planning for publication next year consisting of LETTERS TO BUBBIE AND ZADIE, all from adults......

Happy Chanukah spelled 10,000 ways.....