Bubbe’s Zalts

Bubbe’s Zalts

Bubbe’s Zalts (Yiddish for the word salt)

On a scale of one to ten, my mother was a ten. Mama was my heart. My bubbe, however, was a ten and a half! My bubbe never spoke English, only Russian and Yiddish. I learned Yiddish and some Russian at a young age.

When I was a child I had childhood rheumatism, and the only comfort from the pain was soaking in a hot tub of water with Epson salts. Usually my mother would help me, but when she couldn’t, bubbe would. Bubbe always sensed that I was hurting, and she would ask me in Yiddish, “Maish, zaltz?” In other words, “You need to be in a tub of hot water and Epson Salts.” When she put me in the tub, the combination of the Epson salts and her love for me made it all better.

My black brothers and sisters have a neat little three word phrase that applies to bubbe. She was definitely “my main man (bubbe).”

Related Articles

More From Prose

My Rabbi

I really appreciate my Rabbi. I asked this man so many questions the mere fact he could…
My Rabbi

Satan Popped the Watermelon

It was Friday and I was busy cleaning and getting ready for Sabbath as usual. I tossed out an…
Satan Popped the Watermelon

Rabbi Joe Kagan

Rabbi Joe Kagan had a beautiful tenor voice. At age 13 he sang at Carnegie Hall. He was very…
Rabbi Joe Kagan

A Fishy Tale

I received a fish tank in my teens. I’m not sure if it was for my birthday or some other…
A Fishy Tale
Tom Kapusta

Tom Kapusta

Tom Kapusta loved his father. Tom was proud of his career in the military. After learning about…
Tom Kapusta

Hidden Blessings

When my family moved we picked a house surrounded by some trees. The trees along one side of…
Hidden Blessings

New Beginnings

“Why don’t you like me?” questioned Lois’s house guest.
New Beginnings
Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman was a fun-loving, happy, energetic child. The more active she was, the happier she…
Rachel Hyman

The Kinsmen Cowboys

As I was growing up I’d always heard about the Lower East Side of New York City. I grew up in…
The Kinsmen Cowboys

Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

I was in a training class for a new job. One day the teacher mentioned that we had been exposed…
Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

The Time I Hated God

That period of time may have lasted about a year or so, but the amount of time isn’t that…
The Time I Hated God

Is God's Law My Creed?

In the 1980’s Gerry was selling religious literature door to door.
Is God's Law My Creed?

Silly and Sick

When I was a little girl I loved all sorts of pets. I had pet potato-bugs, pet spiders, pet…
Silly and Sick

Gloria

During my mission’s trip I began a journalism project at the children’s orphanage in Mexicali…
Gloria

Living the Mitzvah

When my wife and I moved to North Carolina from Florida, we gave up a good support system.
Living the Mitzvah

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation