Capturing Memories The Art of Reminiscing

by Lipman, Maureen; Rosefield, Jeanie; Gordon, Sue; Stanton, Pat; Woolf, Vivienne

• ISBN13: 9780853034407
• ISBN10: 0853034400
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Vallentine Mitchell

Summary

In today's fast-paced world, older people find little opportunity to tell stories and pass on the wisdom of their experience and years. They remember the past clearly, but the art of storytelling has been lost. Reminiscence classes revive this art. People's lives are recalled and valued through listening, talking and discussing; and, at the same time, a wealth of social history is preserved for posterity. This book shows how this has been achieved in a local Jewish community and how easily the reader could do the same in their own community, Jewish or otherwise. Capturing Memories has 12 chapters, each depicting a different facet of East End Jewish life between the Wars. There are a further two chapters on the process of reminiscing and the value of remembering the past: appendices provide additional suggestions and guidelines concerning this process. The illustrations are rare and each one informs or entertains the reader.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vii
Acknowledgements	xi
Preface	xiii
Foreword	xv
Maureen Lipman
Introduction	1	(2)
The Good Old Days	3	(2)
Nat Lee
On Being Jewish	5	(10)
Schooldays	15	(8)
The `Front Room'	23	(6)
Going Steady	29	(10)
Keeping Clean	39	(6)
Home Remedies	45	(6)
And So To Bed	51	(8)
Life Behind Closed Doors	59	(8)
Life on the Streets	67	(8)
Markets	75	(8)
Away from it All	83	(14)
Living to Eat	97	(8)
The Value of Remembering the Past	105	(4)
How to Reminisce: A Practical Guide	109	(7)
On Growing Old	116	(3)
Solomon Leff
Appendix A: A Yiddishe Winkel - A Reminiscence Room	119	(2)
Appendix B: Topic Boxes	121	(2)
Appendix C: Reminiscence Action Plan	123	(4)
Appendix D: Some Topics for Reminiscence	127	(4)
Glossary of useful Yiddish and Hebrew Words	131