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My parents weren’t very religious, but the family kept the most important Jewish traditions. We only bought kosher meat in specialty shops. In Tallinn, there were three shops that sold only kosher food. Our kitchen wasn’t strictly kosher because we didn’t have separate dishes for dairy and meat products. My father and mother always ate only kosher food, but it wasn’t obligatory for the children. On holidays my parents went to the synagogue, and my brothers and I also went when we were young. My father would translate the Hebrew prayers for us and explain their meaning.
We, boys, all had our bar mitzvah. A friend of my father’s who also came from Lyady prepared me for my bar mitzvah. His name was Avrum Levin. He was a very well-educated man, an expert in the Torah and Hebrew. He taught me for several months and at my bar mitzvah I was able to read a passage from the Torah well. It took place in the Tallinn synagogue [4], and a rabbi conducted the ceremony. Besides our family, a lot of our friends were there, too.
As we grew up my brothers and I didn’t attend the synagogue anymore. I suppose our parents didn’t mind.
Our family always celebrated Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Chanukkah, and Pesach. I remember that just before a holiday everything in the apartment was cleaned, washed, and scrubbed, especially before Pesach. We always had seder on Pesach, and, of course, matzah. My parents were outgoing hospitable people. So we always had many guests at our dining table. Many of our friends would always come. My parents were closely associated only with Jewish families – some of them also came from various places in Belarus. My father had quite a hot temper, but my mother was a gentle and kind person. They counterbalanced each other. We never had any rows or loud brawls at home; we treated each other with respect and understanding. My father was an active enterprising man and always worked a lot. He was also an honest and just person. Everyone who had to deal with him had profound respect for him. He wasn’t interested in politics or social life. He didn’t join any parties, societies, or corporations that sprang up in large numbers during the Jewish Cultural Autonomy in Estonia.
We, boys, all had our bar mitzvah. A friend of my father’s who also came from Lyady prepared me for my bar mitzvah. His name was Avrum Levin. He was a very well-educated man, an expert in the Torah and Hebrew. He taught me for several months and at my bar mitzvah I was able to read a passage from the Torah well. It took place in the Tallinn synagogue [4], and a rabbi conducted the ceremony. Besides our family, a lot of our friends were there, too.
As we grew up my brothers and I didn’t attend the synagogue anymore. I suppose our parents didn’t mind.
Our family always celebrated Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Chanukkah, and Pesach. I remember that just before a holiday everything in the apartment was cleaned, washed, and scrubbed, especially before Pesach. We always had seder on Pesach, and, of course, matzah. My parents were outgoing hospitable people. So we always had many guests at our dining table. Many of our friends would always come. My parents were closely associated only with Jewish families – some of them also came from various places in Belarus. My father had quite a hot temper, but my mother was a gentle and kind person. They counterbalanced each other. We never had any rows or loud brawls at home; we treated each other with respect and understanding. My father was an active enterprising man and always worked a lot. He was also an honest and just person. Everyone who had to deal with him had profound respect for him. He wasn’t interested in politics or social life. He didn’t join any parties, societies, or corporations that sprang up in large numbers during the Jewish Cultural Autonomy in Estonia.
Period
Location
Talinn
Estonia
Interview
Leo Ginovker