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I couldn’t live alone, though. My Jewish neighbor said that she had an acquaintance whose husband had been killed during the war. She said she was a nice and honest woman. I told her to introduce this woman to me. Raya came from a small town (I can’t remember what town it was) and I liked her from first sight. I offered her to stay with me and she agreed. We got married in 1975. But soon Raya got diabetes, and she died in 1989. I was alone again. I moved in with Lyonia, the son of my sister Polia, and now we live together: Lyonechka, his wife, his son Romochka (he studies at the Solomon University to become a lawyer) and I.
I retired when I was 60. I couldn’t stay there any longer. There were young people in my crew. Once I came to my machine and saw the word “zhyd” written in huge letters. I covered it with a tin sheet and said nothing about it. After work I called my supervisor. I expected some action from him, but there was none. I felt disgusted.
We have forgotten all Jewish holidays; I never celebrated any of them with any of my wives. But if somebody offered us matzo, we ate it. Now I feel very sorry that my life is nearing its end. Izia from Canada calls every now and then and I’m glad to hear him. My niece from Israel calls and asks me to visit them, but I can’t go. I’m so old, I’m almost one hundred years old. People from the Jewish organization bring me lunch or some food. This wheel chair is also from them. I listen to the news on the radio. I’m very concerned about the situation in Israel. I wish the war there was over. If I were young I would go there…
I retired when I was 60. I couldn’t stay there any longer. There were young people in my crew. Once I came to my machine and saw the word “zhyd” written in huge letters. I covered it with a tin sheet and said nothing about it. After work I called my supervisor. I expected some action from him, but there was none. I felt disgusted.
We have forgotten all Jewish holidays; I never celebrated any of them with any of my wives. But if somebody offered us matzo, we ate it. Now I feel very sorry that my life is nearing its end. Izia from Canada calls every now and then and I’m glad to hear him. My niece from Israel calls and asks me to visit them, but I can’t go. I’m so old, I’m almost one hundred years old. People from the Jewish organization bring me lunch or some food. This wheel chair is also from them. I listen to the news on the radio. I’m very concerned about the situation in Israel. I wish the war there was over. If I were young I would go there…
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Yevsey Kotkov