Meeting My George
Before he was even born, a role was assigned to my George. His mother determined in Russia that if she got to America and had a boy, he’d be named George Washington. He was the first male child in his family, a blessing in the Jewish tradition, and so a pedestal was given to him. His sisters and brother were in awe of him. I’d better include myself.
We met on the high school steps the year of his graduation. Phil Goldberg introduced us. He later changed his name to Phil Dormant. In that first moment, I was his. He looked like Abraham Lincoln to me. Lucky for me, something in me caught his fancy too. It must have been love at first sight.
I was in love with this guy and Mama was very dead against it. I remember Papa’s disappointment with me for seeing such a person, but he never stated it. I was about fourteen. George was not German, first and foremost, so my parents were absolutely against the relationship. He was a Russian Jew, and I remember hearing stories from my father about the Russian Jews that made your hair stand on end. This was largely because of Papa’s childhood experience.
When he lived in Germany, during the difficult Russian years, Papa found that on Friday night, when they had the big family dinner, the children were not allowed to eat until the visiting Russian people were fed. And frequently after these Russian people were fed, there was little left for the children in their German household. So Papa had a very strong feeling against Russian Jews.
ruthweissremembered 
There’s so much to comment on in this short piece.
1. My grandmother thought Abraham Lincoln was attractive? Weird.
2. I always knew of the tension between the German Jews and the Russian Jews in my family history. In my memory it was always fairly one sided but I’ve recently learned the animosity went both ways. When I asked him what he knew about the family politics, cousin Allen told me my grandmother was “referred to by your grandfather George’s family as “the Deutsche” (the German) and there was almost a huge rift till they finally accepted her. I believe the same was true re her family accepting George.”
3. I’m fascinated that my grandmother dared to fall for my grandfather given her father’s disapproval. Given her deep affection and respect for her dad, I’m amazed tat she had become independent enough to defy him. This is a story I can never show my daughters.