Memories of a Grandmother - Bubba Malka of blessed memory.

Loss is difficult, yet inevitable. The gains are all blessings.

Bubba (grandmother) Malka (Lederman) OB’’M was a woman of extraordinary beauty, character and personality. She passed away on the 8th of April 2010 - 25 Nissan 5770. It is without doubt that this woman of valour is at peace and smiling from above.

Bubba was a young girl when she withstood the Nazi atrocities in Europe, surviving four labour camps, she eventually met my Zaida (grandfather), Moshe Lederman OB”M and together they started a new life in Sydney, Australia. They had 2 children, my father Velvel and my Aunt Lily.

From small townships in Poland to the beach filled suburb of Bondi, the love, dedication and affection for Yiddishkeit (Judaism) stood strong. Bubba and Zaida built a ‘castle’ in Stewart Street, and we, as the fruit of their toil, will continue their tradition.

I recently had the special and fortunate opportunity to visit my Bubba and share with her some precious moments, as she recounted and imparted stories, happenings and life lessons. Bubba told me about her childhood, the Holocaust, her new beginning, her family, her friends, her work, the joyous occasions, the milestones and more.

To Bubba, family came first - there were no concessions. Together with my Zaida, they made sure to provide for my father and his sister, a life filled with Torah, education and value. Bubba was a grandmother of twelve, and the birthday, wedding and Bar Mitzvah wishes were always touching, loving and heartfelt. In her mother tongue, Bubba penned her personalised Yiddish messages with perfection, articulation and warmth.

I was her first grandson, born in the Southern Hemisphere summer of 1982. I cannot remember those early years, but my parents have told me how my Bubba used to care and watch for my elder sister and I during our early childhood.

Bubba visited Israel, where her only remaining sister, Pessa and her family lived. They may have lived on different hemispheres, but the family relationship was always strong.
I have fond memories of the Yiddish classes that I attended after school at her house. The Shabas afternoon visits, the Pesach Sedorim, the blessings that Bubba would give us on the eve of Yom Kippur. There is much to be said.

Even though we were not all by her side in her later years, Bubba was surrounded by a plethora of family photographs that adorned her walls and room. Bubba was always excited and proud of the family that she built and nurtured. She smiled with delight when she spoke about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bubba was a reader, and seldom did it occur, that one would find her without a piece of literature by her side. Eli Wiesel recounts in his memoirs of his childhood that his teacher told him that the Hebrew Alphabet was ‘the beginning and the end of all things. Take care of the Aleph-Beit and they will take care of you. They will go with you everywhere. They will make you laugh and cry …..’. Whether Bubba was reading a Chumash, or a novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Sholom Acsh, Itzik Manger or Sholom Aleichem, Bubba read, taught and imbued her life with the 22 letters of the Aleph-Beit.

Bubba was lucky to have brought up children who displayed tremendous honour for their parents. These are important lessons for us all. Whether it was house chores, grocery shopping and other countless errands, my father and Aunt Lily performed these with respect, zeal and love.

Each day of her life, Bubba prayed for the health, prosperity and livelihood of her family. She lived to share many happy and joyous occasions including weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s and more. Bubba recently celebrated the birth of her 16th great-grandchild, Tirtza Smukler.

These are just a few short memories.

I always thought Bubba was invincible, I was right. Her Neshama (soul) remains as a shining example for us all.

sled