Page 231 - The Legacy of Abraham Rothstein - text

Letters

coming June you will emerge with a double number for your age.
Well, I wish I could give you a double number present also, but
having more birthdays on my list, I could not break the rule, and
scatter too many birthday jingles. But, knowing that you are going to
have a bar mitzvah in the next three years, I suggest that you take an
interest in learning a little Hebrew, adding more fame and pride to
you and your dear mother and father, for which I will pay you one
hundred dollars in cash or Israel bonds for the great joy and pride
that it would give me. Now if and when you start to learn Hebrew,
do not do it for the sake of presents or pride, do it because you are
born a Jew and you have a duty to know everything cultural that the
Jews have created through their long history, and you will be proud
of your Jewish descent, and not be sorry for yourself being a Jew.
Your guinea pigs are increasing very fast. I wish they were
chickens, I certainly would have enjoyed a roast chicken, but no pigs
for me. I had to make a large coop for them. Judy nagged me and I
did it for her. She is attending the swine faithfully.

Your loving grandfather,
Abraham

Sep. 17 54
My dear Johnny,

Your letter surprised me, as I have not heard from you for a long
time. The last time I wrote you a letter was on your birthday, in
which envelope I deposited a five-dollar bill, and never had an
answer from you. I am not sure if it was not lost in the mail.
Did you learn the blessing out of the book or just memorize it?
When you learn from the book, at least you learn to read the words.
But just to repeat: a polly can repeat the blessing of a cracker. Now,
you are a boy who has stamina and determination, why don’t you buy
a Hebrew reader in Denver, and study Hebrew by yourself? Do not
forget that you will be a Bar Mitzvah in a couple of years, and would
not want to miss a hundred-dollar bond, which I pay to every
grandson and daughter. Reading all funny books and other worthless
stuff will not make you a bit smarter or more intelligent. The funnies

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