Mr. Griffin.

So it--the conversation in the home was Yiddish among the children?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Always, always with them.

Mr. Griffin.

What sort of religious practices were maintained in the home?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Not orthodox, not strict, nothing strict, except for the holidays. We would have for Easter, we would follow the Easter services. For Yom Kippur my father would go to synagogue and try to take me along when I was a little boy; and I went to Hebrew school for a while, and that is all I can remember. I don't know whether any of the other boys went to Hebrew school or not.

Mr. Griffin.

But at least you as the oldest child--

Mr. Rubenstein.

I was an oldest child and they tried to set me as an example for the others, but I couldn't see it. I couldn't understand it. It is like speaking, what is that language that the Catholics use in their church?

Mr. Griffin.

Roman.

Mr. Rubenstein.

Roman.

Mr. Griffin.

Latin.

Mr. Rubenstein.

It is like the Catholics speak Latin in their churches and it is like Hebrew speaking to us kids in America, if you don't know Hebrew you don't understand it.

We tried to get some meaning out of it just enough so that we could stay in school and then there was no use. It just didn't absorb. There was no practice. That is the word, practice.

Mr. Griffin.

Did your family, did your mother, observe any of the dietary laws?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Yes, yes; we had two sets of dishes, and very clean. My mother was very clean with the children and with her own life and her own family and her own home. She was very strict about those things.

Mr. Griffin.

Can you explain how it is that your mother would observe the dietary laws and so forth and yet the more religious, the formal religious aspect of the life was not incorporated in your home?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Very simple. You try to bring up eight kids in Chicago and keep them in shoes and keep them in school, out of jail, out of trouble, that was enough, that is the big problem. That is more important.

Mr. Griffin.

There were troubles in your home weren't there?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Always.

Mr. Griffin.

What kind of troubles?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Family troubles.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you be specific?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Between my father and mother.

Mr. Griffin.

What seemed to be the trouble?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Arguments constantly, quarrels, unfortunately.

Mr. Griffin.

What would they fight over?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Who knows?

Mr. Griffin.

Did your father drink?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Yes.

Mr. Griffin.

Tell us about his drinking?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Always. He learned that in the army.

Mr. Griffin.

Where would he drink, at home or go to a corner saloon or what?

Mr. Rubenstein.

I would say both.

Mr. Griffin.

Did he drink to excess?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Yes,

Mr. Griffin.

Was he abusive in any way?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Yes.

Mr. Griffin.

Would you tell us about that?

Mr. Rubenstein.

My mother objected to it and they would start to fight and started an argument and sometimes they hit each other.

Mr. Griffin.

They did separate at one time did they not?

Mr. Rubenstein.

Yes.