Tag #135757 - Interview #78043 (elza rizova)

My father, Mosko Aladjem, wasn't strict. He was a very good man. He has
never hit me; neither my brothers nor sisters ever were punished. He wasn't
very religious. He kept the official holidays from time to time. He visited
the synagogue and used to wear a silk tallit, a very sheer one.

My father was a radical in his political affiliations. He traveled to Sofia
quite often and here, in Sofia, a minister named Kostourkov met him.
Recently I was at a neighbor's place. I saw the minister's portrait there
and I was introduced to his daughter. This happened after all these years.

My father was elected deputy mayor of the town, and for several years he
was in that position. I remember that when they wanted to oust him, they
broke all the windows of our house and my father left a notice: "Please, my
children would get ill. I want my windows repaired." And in two days a
workman came and fixed the windows without a single coin paid by my
parents. My mother covered the windows with rags and quilts because it was
winter and we were very young.