Families had been decimated. So whom do you socialize with? Neighbors and fellow mispallelim filled the slot
Did I mention that they also arrived with a precocious nine-month-old? It behooved them to adapt very quickly.
Life focused almost exclusively on earning a living, paying rent and utilities. Oh, and taking care of the little one, soon to be more than one.
Some stability was finally achieved at a cost of being drained mentally, emotionally, and physically. If they had a day off, they needed to do laundry, shop, and rest. Rest those tired, aching bodies, rest their fingers from constantly clawing and clinging to that slippery precipice of survival in this goldeneh medineh, the United States.
But after a while, a person reaches his limit of playing hermit and self-isolating. Humans, especially Jews, are social animals. We need minyan, friends, family at simchahs, and yes, to share a l’chayim, a teller cholent ihn a shtickel hayring.
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