Mr. Monday and other tales of Jewish Amsterdam

160 Air. Monday and Other Tales of Jewish Amsterdam

must be saved. Therefore, the aim of all their toil is the well-being of their children. They must leave behind a world for their off-spring which will be better than the one in which they themselves were born. Deep in their hearts they regard worldly goods of less value than the bond which joins all Jews together, so they can quarrel with each other fiercely, knowing all the time that in the end they will make up again.

And then, of course, they share a certain type of sad humour.

When two Jews meet, in nine out of ten cases they tell each other funny stories about two men who meet each other and start a conversation.

"Do you know this joke? Two Jews meet each other..."

Says the other "Oah.. .Again a joke of two Jews who meet each other. Don't you know anything else?"

Says the first one "Sure. You listen. Two China-men meet each other. Says the one China-man to the other China-man 'Do you already have matzoth in the house for Pesach?'"

The sky above the old district in Amsterdam is saturated with such stories. A man suddenly realises that the elusive joke that has floated above the heads of everybody, has condensed in his brain. Then, in no time at all, it speeds from mouth to mouth.

Many of the stories are about immigrants from Eastern Europe. The Jews of Amsterdam know deep in their hearts that these wanderers are what they themselves always fear