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There were demonstrations of routinely anti-Semitism after the war. Jews were abused in stores and in the streets. They called Jews ‘unfinished’ – rude. There was no abuse at work, though. We tried not to speak Yiddish at work, particularly in the presence of Russian employees. I had Russian friends. My Russian colleague was not anti-Semitic.
When we heard that Israel was founded in 1948 18 we were very happy to have our own country. I read in a newspaper that Mrs. Golda Meir 19 had visited the USSR and Stalin gave her a friendly reception.
I remember well the period of the Doctors’ Plot 20 in 1953. A female doctor from Moscow blamed Jewish doctors of their intention to poison Stalin. [Editor’s note: Some historians insist that it was Stalin’s own forgery in order to spread anti-Semitism.] I remember people saying that all Jews were going to be deported to Siberia like the Crimean Tatars 21 and we were very concerned about it. In 1953 Stalin died and every Soviet citizen was grieving after him. We believed in him and idolized him. I went into attacks for him during the Great Patriotic War shouting, ‘For Stalin! For the Motherland!’
Life went on. I went to work and my stepson studied at school very successfully. He got all excellent marks. He didn’t identify himself as a Jew at school. My wife’s stepson Мisha finished his military school and was sent to a fire brigade in Ufa. Later he returned to Odessa and worked at a spare part factory where he was galvanic manager. He married Shyfra’s daughter Lusia. When their baby was born they lived with us for some time.
From 1955 to 1958 Alfred studied in the Railroad College. After finishing it in 1958 he was recruited to the army. He returned home in 1961. He went to work as a locomotive operator and began his studies in the evening department of the Technological College. In 1964 he married a Jewish girl named Ania. Their baby was born in 1965.
Zina and I decided to exchange our apartment on Kuznechhnaya Street to Pushkinskaya Street since my wife wanted to live near her sister. We moved to an apartment on Pushkinskaya Street, near the railway station, in the center of the town in 1965.
When we heard that Israel was founded in 1948 18 we were very happy to have our own country. I read in a newspaper that Mrs. Golda Meir 19 had visited the USSR and Stalin gave her a friendly reception.
I remember well the period of the Doctors’ Plot 20 in 1953. A female doctor from Moscow blamed Jewish doctors of their intention to poison Stalin. [Editor’s note: Some historians insist that it was Stalin’s own forgery in order to spread anti-Semitism.] I remember people saying that all Jews were going to be deported to Siberia like the Crimean Tatars 21 and we were very concerned about it. In 1953 Stalin died and every Soviet citizen was grieving after him. We believed in him and idolized him. I went into attacks for him during the Great Patriotic War shouting, ‘For Stalin! For the Motherland!’
Life went on. I went to work and my stepson studied at school very successfully. He got all excellent marks. He didn’t identify himself as a Jew at school. My wife’s stepson Мisha finished his military school and was sent to a fire brigade in Ufa. Later he returned to Odessa and worked at a spare part factory where he was galvanic manager. He married Shyfra’s daughter Lusia. When their baby was born they lived with us for some time.
From 1955 to 1958 Alfred studied in the Railroad College. After finishing it in 1958 he was recruited to the army. He returned home in 1961. He went to work as a locomotive operator and began his studies in the evening department of the Technological College. In 1964 he married a Jewish girl named Ania. Their baby was born in 1965.
Zina and I decided to exchange our apartment on Kuznechhnaya Street to Pushkinskaya Street since my wife wanted to live near her sister. We moved to an apartment on Pushkinskaya Street, near the railway station, in the center of the town in 1965.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Isaac Klinger
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