Page 57 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Autumn 21

HACHSHARA IN HOLLAND previous centuries when the Jewish presence
was strong, there is a language called
HOWARD GOLDSMITH Bargoens, allegedly used by the underworld,
which contains Hebrew. An
AN EXCERPT FROM HIS JUST PUBLISHED

BOOK, “THE YEAR OF A DREAM 1952-1953” important word is “Mokum”,
A familiarly called to this day.
round the end of 1951 at which is how Amsterdam is
Hurst Grange there were Prison is “Bayis” - much of the
four of us who were eligible
for the army. During an Asepha it was money has Hebraic
decided that we could kill two birds nomenclature: 25 cents a “Hay-
with one stone. We four were sent to tye”, 10 guilders a “Yud-tye”
Holland to avoid being called up for one hundred is a “Maier”. The
two years and to make contact with Hebrew “Shomer” (watchman)
the Dutch group, with whom we gave the police the nickname
might amalgamate when we got to Israel. “Smeris” etc.

The ship that brought me to Holland docked
at the Hoek van Holland. Not hook but corner
of Holland and from there travel was by train
to Amsterdam, and another to Hilversum. I
was the first of the four to arrive and I was
helped on my way by Lionel, who had
recently arrived at Hurst from South America
on a Dutch ship, and he told me the most
important word he could think of - it was
“Stoomboot” (Steamboat). So, I arrived in
Holland with my new knowledge of Dutch. I
was thus well prepared when the first person 310 Leeuwenlaan, Hilversum Holland
who met me said “Shalom Iap”. I realised From left Back row: Mike Finestone, Howard Goldsmith,
that Shalom meant Hello and that Iap was a Gerry Pitch
probable modernisation. From then on
whenever I greeted somebody I said “Shalom Middle row: Howard Harris, Carla, Hans, Rivka, Zeev
(Shaliach), Shulamit, Lapvan Prag
Iap”. In 1950s U.K. no one dreamed of
Front row: Hans Kappr, Yoav, Rutti, Mordechei
introducing themselves by shaking hands and Ehrlichman, ?
stating one’s name. It turned out that Iap was
Jap, which was Ja’ap, which was Yaakov. Later, the other three guys arrived from
England: Gerry Pitch, a North Londoner,
I quickly learnt the language by playing table Howard Harris, and Mike Finestone from
tennis and could count to 21 within two or St Annes, Lancashire, and we four lived at
three weeks. I was then totally unaware that 310, Leeuwenlaan, ‘S Graveland Hilversum.
embedded into modern Dutch, inherited from
Hilversum was known then as a radio station.
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