Papa at the Gymnasium

During his younger years, dad trained a lot in the gymnasium in the Marnixstraat Biden. Parents who were members had shelter, which was of Jewish origin. Sports were great for Jews; Papa was not the type to watch only sports; he wanted to practice himself, Maurits Jessurun Cardozo. He was born in Amsterdam on Oct 5, 1906, and passed away in 1984. His nickname, (appe) derived from his father’s habit of referring to his infant son as his combat man. He later recalled his childhood in Mokum as the happiest period of his life. He played Dutch Football and was active in a mechanics society but earned only passing grades.

A popular student, he decided to get a job as an automobile driver for his cousin Louis Stodel. As male members of the gym also practiced boxing, boxing was an excellent way to get out of the everyday routine, and it was cheaper than going to the movies. It was great for these athletic Jewish boys and men to get together and practice boxing a few nights a week instead of reading the Torah. They tried not to hit each other too hard; life was tough enough already.

Papa worked a lot. He had three different jobs. He worked as a salesman for a man called Spier, selling fabric door-to-door. As mentioned above, he also worked as a diamond cutter and even took work as a driver for his cousin, Louis Stodel. He told us that one day, years ago, his gymnastics team had marched with their club’s banners in the opening ceremonies for the Olympic games held in Amsterdam. Later, he and his friends had gone to see the newsreel at the Tip Top Theatre, hoping to catch a glimpse of themselves on the silver screen. To Papa’s great disappointment, the waving banners covered his face and only showed his legs.

Throughout his younger years, Papa belonged to a gymnastics team. Both my parents belonged to a gym in the Marnixstraat. An unfriendly gymnastics team member, they met at a dinner party in 1935. The two were married in a simple ceremony in 1935 to Anna Gomper. A son was born Mozes Abraham Jessurun Cardozoin in 1937.