Halavah And My Family

Being that my Mom was a stay-at-home Mom, we would hear stories about her and her family.

Her life growing up in Brooklyn, New York was totally different from mine on Long Island.

Whereas we would go digging for potatoes in our back yard. Long Island potato, anyone? :-)

My Mom and her Mother would go to the movies, during the Depression. Her Mom loved movies, because they took her way outside her normal (should I add boring) life. My Mom's brother and sister were in school, so after the chores, the two of them went to the matinee. A bonus was that each of them got a dish. So for a dime, you got a movie and two dishes. The dishes that my Mom brought with her to her marriage, were those dishes. A personal aside here: Many years ago I took the coffee urn from that set, just to remind me of it.

Mom also got to hear about her mother's life before she got married. At least I think these things were before she was married. She only got to go to school through the 8th grade and so she was working by around 14 or so.

One of the places she worked was a bomb making plant. I am thinking this must have been for WWI. This doesn't sound wonderful, to me at all.

Moving on, another job she had was at the Joyva Halavah factory, in Brooklyn, NY.

I like Halavah and part of the reason I do, is that my Mom's family had Halavah brought home by their Mom. Even though Halavah is basically a Jewish treat, she had probably gotten a taste for it, during those long ago days.

Many years later, my Mom would occasionally buy some and so I was used to it.

I don't buy it often, but once in a while, I see some in the market and I can't resist.

Such was the case, last week and when I read the label, I saw that it is still made in Brooklyn, NY.

I was surprised and amazed.

A link to an almost 100 year old past.