They Called Me Mayer July: Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust

Mayer Kirshenblatt's memoir captures life in the Polish town of Apt (Opatów) during the 1920s and 1930s through his detailed paintings and stories. Created in collaboration with his daughter Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, the book pairs Mayer's folk art paintings with his recollections of the Jewish community, daily activities, and characters of his childhood home. The paintings began when Mayer, at age 73, started documenting his memories of pre-war Poland through art despite having never painted before. Each work depicts specific scenes and moments: market days, religious celebrations, family dynamics, and the intersection of Jewish and Polish life in a small town. Through text and images, the book reconstructs the vibrant culture of Polish Jews before World War II, focusing on work, education, family relationships, and community traditions. The narrative emphasizes the routines and rhythms of daily life rather than the tragedy that would later unfold. This memoir-art book hybrid serves as both historical documentation and an exploration of memory, examining how individuals preserve and transmit cultural heritage across generations. The combination of visual art and storytelling creates a unique record of a vanished world.

Readers praise the vivid paintings and detailed memories that transport them to Jewish life in 1920s-30s Poland. Multiple reviews note how the father-daughter collaboration between Kirshenblatt and Kirshenblatt-Gimblett creates an intimate historical document through both art and text. Readers highlight: - The paintings' naïve folk art style matches the childhood perspective - Specific details about daily routines, traditions, and community dynamics - Historical value as documentation of destroyed Jewish communities Main criticisms: - Some find the text portions too academic in tone - A few note the art style takes adjustment to appreciate - Layout makes it challenging to read text alongside relevant paintings Ratings: Goodreads: 4.47/5 (38 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (22 ratings) Jewish Book Council: Highly recommended "Like finding a treasure chest of memories" writes one Amazon reviewer. Another notes it's "both heartwarming and heartbreaking knowing what was to come."

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🎨 Mayer Kirshenblatt started painting his memories at age 73, having never painted before, and went on to create hundreds of detailed works depicting pre-war Jewish life in Poland. 📝 The book combines Mayer's vivid paintings with his daughter Barbara's ethnographic expertise, creating a unique father-daughter collaboration that preserves both visual and oral history. 🏘️ The work documents daily life in Apt (Opatów), Poland during the 1920s and 1930s, including forgotten trades, religious customs, and street scenes that were almost entirely erased by the Holocaust. 🗣️ The title "Mayer July" comes from Kirshenblatt's childhood nickname, given to him because he was born in July and was known for being as hot as the summer month. 🏆 The book won the 2008 National Jewish Book Award and has been translated into multiple languages, serving as a valuable resource for scholars of Eastern European Jewish history.