The story of Servis
Herzl Street in Haifa is a central street in today's glory.
But in its former glory, it was the center of the world, the center of life, the center of events, the center of shopping, the center of splendor.
Grandma Sally, lived in a wonderful place. Domino cinema in front of it, and all the interesting shops above, on Herzl Street.
Right in the centrum, but in a small street that swallows the harbor view.
Grandma rarely tells about the life she once had, the life she left in Tschernowitz, the life in which the lives of some of her family members ended in tragedy, the life of her husband whom she loved so much. Grandma didn't tell about all these.
Every now and then, a detail would pop up, usually before the holidays, and I... collected piece and piece of information and each time I completed a part of the picture I drew for myself, in the dreams I dreamed.
Grandma worked from five o'clock in the morning at the most magical candy store in Haifa, in Talpiot market. A treasure shop, therefore was not able to enjoy the bustling life of Herzl Street so much.
On holiday days, she arrived at the great synagogue, which was near her house, and from prayer to the holiday meal at her home.
On the way to the synagogue, we always passed by a magical housewares store, "Naa" was its name. We both looked in the shop window, enjoying the beautiful display that spoke to us from the shelves, from the showcases, "winking" at us.
Grandma pointed to a plate decorated with gold, with delicate flowers in the center, pointed to it and explained to me: "It's from Hutschenreuther, made in Germany. Thin plates, but not as thin as Rosenthal. When I have money, I'll buy your mother a Rosenthal."
And so, time after time we passed, we stopped, grandma told me about the beautiful dining sets that were in her parents' house and later in her house. The dishes for Passover, the beautiful dishes for everyday meals as well. "The food tastes better when it comes from good pots and is served in beautiful dishes," she reminded every time.
We returned from the synagogue, the smell of the soup reached the Holy Ark. We entered Grandma's house, a table set with the best plates was waiting for us.
I remember not being able to take my eyes off the table, I see something striking among all the plates arranged according to the established order: a beautiful plate for the main course, a plate for the soup, and a plate for the first course.
Something different!
I get closer... and see another set of plates.
Counting them: to father, mother, grandmother, Muti and me.
Yes, there are plates for everyone.
Someone has other plates.
"Grandma, what is it? There are plates here that don't fit our table, they are different, they are different." I asked.
Grandma looks at me with her blue eyes and asks: "Do you like them? their paintings?'
I approached the table again, to the large plate of the main course, the plate with a tiny girl hanging laundry on a high rope, a bird looking at her above, a chicken below, the teddy bear sad. She is not available to him. What a world there, on this plate.
And from there to the small plate, the plate in which the girl feeds chickens. What colorful skirt is she wearing, what matching handkerchief.
and moves to the deep soup plate, from which the washing girl peers into a tub like Grandma's. Here too, a sad doll is waiting for her, waiting for a hug. What worlds are hidden inside plates, I pondered.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, a soft and loving hand and grandma's voice in the background: "Do you like them?"
"Who are you, grandma?" I asked.
"The plates, the service," she answered me in a smiling voice.
"Sure, Grandma," I replied.
"That's the story of this service. It's a story about a girl, I'll tell it to you."
"But grandma, where did these plates come from? I haven't seen them even in the Naa store," I replied.
"Yes, Hanala, it's from the store we like. I arrived one day early from work, I finally entered the store during the hours it is open. I saw this service, and I immediately knew it would be a gift for you for Rosh Hashanah.'
now I get it. Everyone has Shabbat plates and for me, plates with a story.
I was so happy. Grandma knows exactly what I like.
"There are two more parts for tea and cake, which I also ordered. They will arrive by Yom Kippur," she added.
"Renew yourself, Hanala. At this service you will eat during the holidays.'
This service accompanies me every holiday, it peeks at me from the shelves.
In recent years, it has been on our holiday table again, and this time, my granddaughters enjoy it and the stories it brings with it, the soup with the kneidlech in their grandmother's golden plate, which she received from her grandmother.
Happy New Year!
Hannah Morag
I especially remember
Engraved in my mind, the care for the beautiful dishes in your home, the beautiful plates in the showcase.
Then my soul also wanted a set
Nice plates
And the three of us went: your mother, you and me to buy me a fancy set of plates, a splendid name.
I will never forget the day you revealed to me a whole wonderful world of beautiful tools.
And thanks to you, at your suggestion, under your guidance, I purchased a magnificent set:
Hutschenreuther Germany
Since then he has graced our table.
do you remember?
Thank you Sarah,
Indeed, the toolbox brings with it the history of a family, the history of a community, the history of a people.
And this, I pass on to my grandson. Happy New Year???
I was very excited to read the story.
I felt like I was slipping easily into the world of memories.
Here I am walking by the "Naa" store, going in with my mother and talking to the owner, whom we also called Naa. A complete history of the tool cabinet in our homes is from the store. To this day, it's hard for me to say goodbye to the Rosenthal set that I bought there in installments. Wow
There were beautiful days when the splendor was splendid. And Hana's description brings back those days. At the other end of Herzl St., in Beit HaKaron, there was a shop for beautiful tools. I think her name was -shi-. There were services and crystals from the best Czech and German products. Families flaunted handsome tableware. Brother, there were beautiful days….. Happy New Year to all
Lovely story. Happy New Year!~
Thank you Ofra
The "Naa" store was adjacent to the stairs that led to the top of the Great Synagogue on Herzl Street.
Happy New Year?
I remember the Rosenthal housewares store on Herzl Street. I don't remember where the store was.
Made me long for the Great Synagogue, for Herzl Street, which for us was the most beautiful promenade in the world at the time. Happy new year to everyone!
And I have some Rosenthal dishes left that are used for decoration. My holocaust survivor aunt brought a complete Rosenthal service that immigrated to Israel at the end of the war and this is what was left.
Happy New Year
Thank you Lily
Grandma is with me, accompanying me and my grandchildren also know one through me??? I really won. trying
To walk in her path, with my grandson.
How many heartstrings the story causes...
Longing for a world that was and is no more, for people who were and are no more, for a culture that has passed from the world, for a world that had a soul in it... Blessed are you for having a grandmother. We will remember her.
Thank you very much Rachel.
Happy New Year????
Stunning. Exciting at super levels!!!!
Happy and happy holiday
An exciting story seasoned with a lot of love and longing for her.
And the set... beautiful.
An appetite for everyone who eats it
Lovely story Hannah. Your grandmother was wise, because a gift like this is both a beautiful souvenir and a memory of her that somehow passes on to future generations, with a beautiful story beside it!
Thank you dear licorice? Happy New Year?
Yossi, there is a name for the story. in the title.
happy holiday and happy new year?
The story is interesting. Why is there no name of the story?
My grandmother brought a service from Germany that is passed down from generation to generation with great love. My children already look at it as another plate. Today they bring plates from China for shekels. To me the food is tastier than the German service food plus nostalgia.
Dear Hannah,
good year and happy holiday.
The story is wonderful and the movies you got are indeed worthy and happy.
Happy holiday
licorice
Is that right Jacob?
Ginzburg. A store that has been on the corner for many years.
until the eighties.
There was a nice hardware store in front of the Ora cinema. Another store on Nordau Street near the stairs that led from Herzl to Nordau