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My husband returned from the army in 1955. How I waited for him! All those who had been recruited at the same time as him, returned, but Aron was not coming home. He returned in November. He had changed and matured. He was quite a boy, when he went to the army, but he returned a man. My son didn’t recognize him at once. When he returned, Aron went to work at the plant named after Kirov in Mogilyov-Podolskiy manufacturing equipment for food industry where he worked 46 years, starting as a laborer, then he became a tinsmith and then a mechanic. In 1958 he joined the party. After the army he passed exams for the 6th form and went to the 7th form of an evening school. When he came home from school, he had to do his homework, and then early in the morning he left for work. My son and I hardly ever saw him, but I knew he had to get education. He only had excellent marks at school and enjoyed his studies. In 1960 he finished the 10th form and the plat sent him to study at the plant instrument technical school in Moscow, the extramural department. Again he spent all of his time studying and working. He received tasks from Moscow, which he sent back after completing them. Once a year he went to take exams in Moscow. In 1961 our second son Mikhail named after my deceased brother was born. My husband had no time to help me and I actually raised our sons alone till he finished his studies. I was patient and never reproached him for spending so little time with us. After he finished his studies Aron went to work at the design office. He was valued for his good performance. Aron even has few inventions. Aron could finally spend more time with me and the children. He made a very good husband and father.
We didn’t observe Jewish traditions, but we celebrated Soviet holidays at home: 1 May, 7 November, Soviet army Day, Victory Day 33, 8 March [Women’s Day], New Year. We also celebrated birthdays: we had guests and made presents. My mother-in-law visited us on Soviet holidays and we went to celebrate Jewish holidays with her. My mother-in-law understood that Aron was a party member and we were not supposed to lead the Jewish life, even if we wanted to - this was the way this was at the time. I got along well with Nehama. She shared with me what she could not tell her sons. I looked after her, when she was ill. My mother-in-law died in 1969. We buried her in the Jewish cemetery in Mogilyov-Podolskiy. She wanted to have a traditional Jewish funeral and we followed her will. Nehama was buried following the Jewish rules near her mother and sister’s graves. Aron’s younger brother David recited the Kaddish over her grave. He learned it by heart since he didn’t know Hebrew. [Editor’s note: The Kaddish is mostly in Aramaic.] David’s son was born that same year. He named him Naptan preserving the first letter of Nehama’s name in his name.
In the 1970s the Jewish massive departure to Israel began. Our friends and acquaintances were leaving. We did not judge those who decided to leave – if people decided to leave, one should not interfere with their decision, but we did not consider departure from the USSR. My husband and I did not want to look for a fortune in a foreign country. We were used to living here. We had friends, acquaintances here, people respected us and we didn’t have any conflicts – so why got elsewhere? The plant where my husband was working built a plant for is employees and we received a nice 2-bedroom apartment in this house – these apartments were called ‘khrushchevka’ 34. We were content with the life we had.
We didn’t observe Jewish traditions, but we celebrated Soviet holidays at home: 1 May, 7 November, Soviet army Day, Victory Day 33, 8 March [Women’s Day], New Year. We also celebrated birthdays: we had guests and made presents. My mother-in-law visited us on Soviet holidays and we went to celebrate Jewish holidays with her. My mother-in-law understood that Aron was a party member and we were not supposed to lead the Jewish life, even if we wanted to - this was the way this was at the time. I got along well with Nehama. She shared with me what she could not tell her sons. I looked after her, when she was ill. My mother-in-law died in 1969. We buried her in the Jewish cemetery in Mogilyov-Podolskiy. She wanted to have a traditional Jewish funeral and we followed her will. Nehama was buried following the Jewish rules near her mother and sister’s graves. Aron’s younger brother David recited the Kaddish over her grave. He learned it by heart since he didn’t know Hebrew. [Editor’s note: The Kaddish is mostly in Aramaic.] David’s son was born that same year. He named him Naptan preserving the first letter of Nehama’s name in his name.
In the 1970s the Jewish massive departure to Israel began. Our friends and acquaintances were leaving. We did not judge those who decided to leave – if people decided to leave, one should not interfere with their decision, but we did not consider departure from the USSR. My husband and I did not want to look for a fortune in a foreign country. We were used to living here. We had friends, acquaintances here, people respected us and we didn’t have any conflicts – so why got elsewhere? The plant where my husband was working built a plant for is employees and we received a nice 2-bedroom apartment in this house – these apartments were called ‘khrushchevka’ 34. We were content with the life we had.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Riva Pizman Biography