A big jug in our OG kitchen. Blogfinger photo. 9/21. What’s the story?
Paul Goldfinger, aka Leben, Blogfinger.net. 2023. Re-post 1/24.
My grandparents were immigrants. My father’s side, the Goldfingers, came from Austria. Grandpa Samuel’s parents divorced, and he took his mother’s maiden name Goldfinger. His original surname was Leben. (If Grandpa Goldfinger had kept his original name, I would have been spared a lot of kidding after the Bond movie came out.)
He went to Germany and studied to be a cantor, but then he came alone to America around 1910. He met Grandma Rose (Goldberger) in Paterson. She was born here.
Sam and Rose had 3 kids, one of which was my Dad Max. They moved to Newark on Bank Street (don’t know the number) where he had a fruit and vegetable store and a horse and buggy. Newark was an immigrant town then, but now 2023 it is becoming trendy, especially “Down Neck” like Hoboken.
I recall that Grandpa Goldfinger made wine in the cellar of our building. I never saw it served, so maybe he sold it. That was after Prohibition. I don’t recall seeing any jugs (stoneware or otherwise.) No wine was ever served in our house except for Manischewitz sweet wine at Passover and Shabbos (Sabbath).
Sam had a brother (my uncle) who was sent to Siberia by the Russians. He died there. No details available.
Anyhow, about 30 years ago a nurse at Dover General Hospital (NJ). told me that she had a jug with our name on it. She sold it to me (see photo above.) The jug, made of stoneware, probably held wine or vinegar.
The signature on the jug is my Dad’s name, and I am sure it is his signature, and it has a Bank Street address, but amazingly my Dad, years ago, denied knowing anything about it when I showed it to him. Maybe they stored home-made wine in the jug, but why did Dad deny it?
I smell a cover up, but who knows?
We contacted one of the remaining Goldfingers–Cousin Bob. He was the one who verified the Bank Street address in Newark and the name “Leben.”
Meanwhile here is the latest Goldfinger (Noah). He just started pre-school and wears a uniform. Maybe he will become a blogger or a bootlegger. He calls me Pop Pops but with a slight British accent–go figure.
First day of pre-school. Age 3. Another future blogger. 9/21 I have to teach him some Doo Wop music.2023 update.
Noah Goldfinger age 5, digging into a hot fudge sundae at Days. 8/23. Paul Goldfinger photo.He’s learning how to drive my car, but only make-believe. I asked him the word of the day, and he said, “Tuchas.” I taught him that word. Look it up—it’s part of his cultural heritage. Today the word of the day is “BMW.”
He calls his other grandfather “Vavo”. From the Azores Portuguese.
In a few days Noah will have a sister. He can teach her the word of the day. He’ll probably say, “No boys!”
Update January 5, 2024:
Evie-Rose Goldfinger born 8/30/23 is letting Noah know who’s boss. Dad’s photo. 1/1/24.
BOB DYLAN: “The Man in Me” from the soundtrack of The Big Lebowski.