Roberta Berkowitz is a third-generation Chicagoan:
After graduating from the University of Illinois, she
taught school in Chicago for a few years before marry-
ing Barry. While their two daughters were in college,
Roberta went back to school for a master's degree in
library and information science. This led to a job in
the library of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
"As libraries change, so must librarians," Roberta
says. "Right now, most of my time is spent being an
information architect for the Chicago Fed's Web prod-
ucts. With Barry being a CPA, it is easier when
Passover comes after April 15, as it does this year."
The couple's daughter Laura and son-in-laW, Jack,
have two children, Elliana, 4, and Micah, 1 1/2.
Daughter Jill is married to Edi.
"Both families live near us in Skokie," says Roberta,
who belongs to a Reconstructionist congregation. "We
see them frequently. Being grandparents is the best."
She adds: "Even though we never lived in Detroit,
I've been reading the Jewish News for at least 20 years."
Ione Pinsker was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1914 to
Morris Solomon and Celia Blum Solomon. There also
were two boys in the family: Abe, born in St. Louis in
1913, and Cecil, born in Detroit in 1920.
For the past year, Ione has lived in a retirement facili-
ty in La Mirada, Calif., outside Los Angeles. She has
been a widow since 1977, and she keeps in close touch
with her sons, David and Mike. She also has three
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her hob-
bies include reading, crossword puzzles and "a degree
of creative writing. She has traveled fairly extensively
and enjoys good health.
Ione has fond memories of Detroit, where she lived
with her parents from 1917 to 1924, when her father
worked with the Dodge Bros. Ione and her brother
Abe attended the Burns School and then the Stephens
School in Detroit. Her parents included their children
in many family activities, from swimming to ice skat-
ing at Belle Isle, river excursions, baseball games and
"lots of picnics at Lake St. Clair."
From the left:
Collens finnily: Howard, Nancy Max, Admit and
Nancy's mom, Betty Hoffinan
Josh Mandebattill
The Schaefer children: Yitzy, Sara and Yehudah
#1) In metro Detroit, Pesach weather can mean anything
from 90 degrees to a winter ice storm. As the holiday
approaches, what is it usually like where you live?
John: London is farther north than most people real-
ize. As a result, spring is very late.
When Pesach comes, it is usually still quite cold here,
and it is always very rainy. If Pesach comes especially
late in the secular year and we're very lucky, we may see
some flowers blooming around the time of the first
seder.
Diane: In Jerusalem, the general pattern is a great deal
of rain during the month prior to Pesach, which usual-
ly hampers Pesach cleaning.
Israeli apartments are small, and many items have to
be taken outdoors to be cleaned properly, or to make
room for other types of cleaning. Plus the amount of
laundry produced before Pesach is astronomical. So we
really notice the rain because we have to work around
it.
But in the few days prior to Pesach, there usually is a
heat wave, which may last through part of the holiday.
The past several years, there was a drought and.
Pesach was extremely hot — until last year, when we in
Jerusalem witnessed terrible and amazing events during
Passover. In keeping with the tone of last year's holiday,
it rained and hailed, while the sun was shining brightly
for several days.
The Berch
Staci, Brinkley Sheldon, Louis
Berkowitz flintily: Barry, Roberta, Jill, Elliana, Laura,
Micah, Jack
Ione Pinsker
Staci: The weather in Atlanta is very similar to that in
Detroit during Pesach. It can be winter or spring. One
never knows.
Roberta.: Chicago's weather is similar to Detroit's,
though a day earlier. Pesach in March finds us still in
warm clothes, temperatures in the 50s, and sometimes
a feeling of spring in the air.
By the time the holiday comes in mid-April, we usu-
ally are switching back and forth from heat to air con-
ditioning with average highs in the 60s.
Ione: Spring weather in southern California is usually
mild, but often quite windy. Blossoms on fruit trees
start bursting out and home garden tools are taken out
for serious work: spring planting.
#2) What kinds of special holidays foods (if any) do you
first notice appearing on the shelves in stores?
John: We are very fortunate here in London because
there is a great variety of kosher-for-Pesach foods.
These include foods imported from Israel, the United
AIN
4/11
2003
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