"Oyf dray zakhn shteyt di velt; oyf gelt, oyf gelt un oyf gelt." (The world stands on three things: money, money and money.)

I recently had the pleasure of seeing the off-Broadway musical, "Mamaleh!" The playbill contained a glossary of "Mamaleh-isms," which included "genug," "grivennis," "Bubbe," "hocking," "mishegoss," and "Mohel." The word "k'nippel"--money tied in the corner of a handkerchief--was NOT included in the list.

During intermission I recalled my wedding in 1958. Hours before my family left our home in Arverne for the Belle Harbor Jewish Center (NY), my mother gave me a "k'nippel"; it contained $100. That was a great deal of money. At that time I was earning $4400 a YEAR as a first-year business teacher at Island Trees High School. Mom firmly believed that every young woman should have her own stash...just in case.

In "Jews in America - A Cartoon History" by David Gantz, we meet a family who is leaving Russia for the Goldeneh Medieh. "We left in a hurry, taking only what we were able to carry. On our way from Minsk to Bremen, whenever we came to a border crossing, Mama would unpin the knipple from her bosom, take out some money and give it to the guard."

Letty Cottin Pogrebin ("Deborah, Golda, & Me") wrote that her mother had a "knippel"--a secret purse. Ms. Porgrebin said that "Her knippel taught me early on that money is freedom and a woman should always have something of her own, just in case."

What do others think about a "K'nippel" and a personal stash? Let's see:

Rabbi Stewart Weiss wrote, "While there seems to be no actual 'source' for the k'nippel, I suspect that it dates back to a time when Jews--never knowing what tomorrow would bring--kept some emergency funds hidden 'just in case.' Many people I know still follow that tradition, and stay prepared for any eventuality (the safety-deposit boxes may be a bit safer than handkerchiefs.)"

Glinda Bridgforth ("Girl, get Your Money Straight") says, "If you're part of a couple, maintain separate accounts--yours, mine and ours."

David Bach, the best-selling guru, says, "Each partner needs his or her own money. Regardless of whether or not you both work, each of you should maintain your own checking and credit card accounts."

In Laura Krauss Melmed's book, "Moishe's Miracle," we read,

In the poor village of Wishniak, Moishe the milkman is generous to everyone, but his sharp-tongued wife, Baila. She rails at him for giving away too much. She unties her knippel, the knot in her handkerchief in which she keeps their money, and shows him that because of his generosity she lacks the means to buy eggs and flour to make their Hanukkah latkes, "much less the oil to fry them in."

Judith Katz-Schwartz ("Protecting Your Collectible Treasures - Secrets of a Collecting Diva") wrote,

Hi, Marjorie,
I'm here to tell all Jewish women that the k'nippel is not dead! I have a stash of my own - I'm not sure whether or not my husband is aware of it. Probably not, or else he just doesn't care.

A k'nippel is money that comes in handy in an emergency. My sister has used hers to purchase airline tickets for the family for their annual Caribbean vacation. I've used mine to buy some extravagance I would never want to take out of the "house money" or to get a little surprise for my husband. One thing though: today's k'nippel is likely to contain more than $100 - sometimes much more and is not likely to be residing in the corner of a handkerchief. I keep mine in an Altoids box, and my sister keeps hers in the bank.

Rabbi Baruch Goldstein e-mailed me the following comments:
I know that women in the shtetl always had a 'knippel.' If there was enough to buy khala for shabes, wine for kidush and candles to light, the wife would save a few pennies from the fish and the fleish, and still make a tasty cholent mit kugel and kishke and tzimes. These dishes were a must for shabes for the Jew to feel that he is a prince in the eyes of G-d and in the eyes of fellow Jews. The woman would put a few pennies in her "tikhel" or tichel and keep it for a time of need, or for something special or a special occasion.


Rabbi Marc Howard Wilson says ,
The idea of a woman keeping rights to her own 'wealth' is a custom that inheres in the ketubbah, dating back to 2,000+ years ago, although the wealth, matched equally by that of her husband's, was escrowed and paid out to her in the case of his death or their divorce. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing that precludes a woman keeping her own separate 'fortune' and I guess that the ketubbah is precedent for that. Some of my best birthday gifts have come from Linda's private fund, so God don't tell me there's anything wrong with it!

And humor columnist, Melvin Duyrai, wrote, "Yes, I do think daughters should receive a k'nippel nowadays. As to the amount, it should be equal to 10 percent of the value of their parents' home or a two-week vacation in Hawaii, whichever is greater."
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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe predicts that her "eynikl," Amanda, will have a k'nippel containing a pre-paid telephone calling card from Costco (3.5 cents a minute)...and a VISA credit card.
 

It appears there are several ways to spell "k'nippel."  Marjorie's choice comes from The Dictionary of Yiddish Slangs & Idioms.