This photograph was taken at the wedding of my colleague Eta and her fiance Feivus. I've forgotten their last name. The bride is in the center and I am standing beside her. It's easy to identify me. I was the tallest and was always shy about it. I don't know the other guests. They were relatives and acquaintances of the newly-weds. This photo was taken in Riga in 1956.
In 1947 I became an apprentice at the sewing factory in Riga. I rented a bed from a family. I didn't stay long with those families. When their situation changed, I had to look for another bed. I was pressed for money. Apprentices received 30 rubles of allowance. I paid 15 rubles per month for the bed, and it was difficult to make a living on 15 rubles, particularly after the war, when there was lack of food. When I started working, I didn't earn much either. I was just a beginner, and was paid based on a piece-rate basis. Life was hard, but I knew I could only rely on myself. I joined the Komsomol at the factory. I was an active Komsomol member and participated in all events. After finishing the 8th grade I couldn't afford to continue my studies. I had to earn my living. There were many Jewish, Latvian and Russian employees at the factory, but there was no anti-Semitism.
I became a good dressmaker and was offered a job in a shop. They offered a bigger salary and I accepted the offer. There were Jewish employees in the shop. They spoke Yiddish to one another. I had forgotten the language when in children's home, but when I came to this environment, it took me no time to restore my language skills.