Bintel Brief

Many years ago I recorded a radio program in Milwaukee, in honor of the Jewish New Year. It gathered together a wonderful collection of glimpses into Jewish life. (I'm reminded of the saying, a rabbi explaining how Jews are different from everyone else? He said, ``Oh, they're the same as everyone else - only more so.'')

This excerpt is from a Yiddish newspaper column, a long-running ``Dear Abby'' sort of thing.

Worthy Editor, 1965

I was not quite 19 and my husband a few months under 21 when we got aquainted. We were members of an idealist group who dreamed of building a heaven on earth for everyone. We believed in free love. I can tell you that many young couple would hope to lead as beautiful a family life as we have had. The fact that we were never married legally, however, has been on our minds for the past 50 years. More than ever of late. I tell my husband lately that we should do something about it. If only for the children's sake.

---

The story makes me think:

1. It's never too late
2. How silly of them. How endearing of them.
3. God loves them - and you and me