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Before the war [World War II] my family lived harmoniously. We changed houses all the time searching for something better. Our last home was at Sofronii [today Vrachanski] and Pirotska Streets and was comparatively nicer. Anyway, the authorities decided to build a high school at that place and the house we used to live in was destroyed. Thus we moved to a new place in the Jewish neighborhood again. Although we were poor, we survived because we grew up healthy. No one has ever had diabetes because we ate neither butter nor delicacies, but only simple food.
As a family we were united. Our living conditions were very miserable: in one of the houses we used to live in, there was a room which was divided into two and another one with a corridor opposite it. We lived in one of the rooms and the other one was occupied by another family. The only restroom was outside. The conditions we lived in were similar in all our lodgings. We used to heat water for our domestic needs and visited the public baths because there were no bathrooms in the houses we inhabited at that time.
During our childhood we were brought up in the spirit of creation of our Jewish country. The leftist Hashomer Hatzair [5] organization existed. There were the rightist Zionists Betar [6] and the center – Poalei Zion [7]. We became members of Hashomer Hatzair when we were small children. We were brought up well over there. We discussed scientific matters, and went together to the cinema and theater. Mountain camps were organized during summer. We spent our time there nicely and usefully. We were occupied with serious things and played a lot. There were also sporting activities.
As a family we were united. Our living conditions were very miserable: in one of the houses we used to live in, there was a room which was divided into two and another one with a corridor opposite it. We lived in one of the rooms and the other one was occupied by another family. The only restroom was outside. The conditions we lived in were similar in all our lodgings. We used to heat water for our domestic needs and visited the public baths because there were no bathrooms in the houses we inhabited at that time.
During our childhood we were brought up in the spirit of creation of our Jewish country. The leftist Hashomer Hatzair [5] organization existed. There were the rightist Zionists Betar [6] and the center – Poalei Zion [7]. We became members of Hashomer Hatzair when we were small children. We were brought up well over there. We discussed scientific matters, and went together to the cinema and theater. Mountain camps were organized during summer. We spent our time there nicely and usefully. We were occupied with serious things and played a lot. There were also sporting activities.
Location
Bulgaria
Interview
Yosif Avram Levi