Dear Schwitzbad-fans,
Thank you all for your funny and interesting stories!
In childhood, in 1956-57, I saw a play at the Jewish Theater in Bucharest.
There was a whole scene with men sitting in a Schwitzbad. The set-up looked
exactly as you described: benches at different heights and a lot of steam.
(No nakedness, no naturalism was allowed in a Jewish theater, never). The
men looked tired and were talking Politik and business, I guess.
I was quite shocked, especially because of the "beating" with the leafed
branches. Later, my father explained: "yes, it's true, that's what Jewish
men in a Shtetl were doing on Fridays. It was fun and very healthy."
I do not remember the women in the family talking about going to a public
bath.
What I understood from your stories: although women went there, too, the
Friday -bath was an important social event for fathers and sons, according
to tradition. Am I wrong?
I liked the Russian -soldiers anecdote , good for a movie...
Dictionary.
A frequently used verb in Hebrew slang is "le'haschwitz" =being a Schwitzer
= show-off, etc.
When she was given a present, my mother would often say :"you are a
Hochstapler" , meaning , you spent the money you don't have.
Shabbat shalom,
Irene
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Received on 2008-11-13 22:15:11
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