Reply To: how did early jews keep warm in terribly cold climates during the winter?

My Maternal grand and great grandparents lived in the forests of Ukraine a days travel from the closest town. They had a way station for teamsters and the uncles were woodcutters. My G and GG grandfathers were sojourners and traveled to America to work as wood carvers on some of the great country houses of the wealthy. The residence was built on stilts, cattle,horses and oxen were housed below. There was a stone fireplace and hearth on the second story with ‘sleeping closets’ on either side. Travelers bunked on the floor. A wraparound ‘deck’ was used for summer sleeping. I’ve seen old photos of the place but none of the interiors. In America they were the proud owners of a huge monarch wood burning stove with a hot water boiler. (Lots of picture of this acquisition.) Family stories tell me that kids piled up and slept together outside their parents sleeping closets in the winter in Ukraine. Non of the peasant Jews entered a synagogue until they came to America.