This is me. This photo was taken for the board of honor of the plant. I have my Order of the Patriotic War Grade II on my jacket. This photo was taken in Kiev in 1969.
In 1950 I went to work at the 'Kist' company ['hand' in Russian] as a founder. There were good earnings and bonuses in the shop. Latter our shop was converted into a small plant. A short while later I went to work at the photo goods factory where I worked 42 years. I started working with plastic and in due time I became a caster. I worked decently. My colleagues treated me with respect.
My acquaintances introduced me to my future wife. My wife Enna, nee Beilis, a Jew, was born in Kiev in 1921. Enna and I got married in 1951. Our only daughter Svetlana was born in December 1952. At this time one could not go to the synagogue or celebrate Jewish holidays openly, but my wife and I celebrated holidays to the extent we could afford. It was difficult to get matzah for Pesach and we just had sufficient to keep it as a symbol of the holiday. We also had traditional Jewish food: sweet and sour stew, chicken broth, gefilte fish. It was a tradition.
We celebrated Soviet holidays at home: 1 May , 7 November [October revolution Day], Soviet army Day, New Year. Of course, my favorite holidays is Victory Day. If our army had not chased away the enemy from the USSR and other European countries the fascist black death would have spread all over the world. I had ambiguous feelings on this day. I was happy to have survived, of course, and have a family, have my daughter growing and then grandchildren, but there was always sadness and sorrow about those who became victims of this horrible war: my dear ones, friends and comrades. I always remember them. One cannot forget this.