September 1, 2020
The talented Klezmer musician, (trombonist) Shloyml Boyml (Solomoon Oil) from Buhuși, embarks on a long journey to buy the best Israeli olive oil – the one thing needed for the Buhuși community to once again stand victorious in the yearly Latke contest. Will he manage to bring the oil back home in time, or will he be stopped by the devious Nebish brothers? In the end, it all comes down to a thrilling game of dreydl! This story comes from the author’s extensive ethnographic research he has done over the last thirty years in Eastern Europe among the remnant Jewish communities. The story comes from a conversation Strom had with the sexton of the synagogue in Piatra Nemt, Romania about how Jews who could afford it would go to the city of Contansa and purchase olive oil made in Israel (then in the Ottoman Empire) to use for cooking and lighting their Khanukias for the festival of Khanuka.