Tobiash Starozum’s uncle Jacob Ekhlis with his son Froim

Jacob Ekhlis (my aunt’s, Esther's husband) and their son Froim. Photo made in Moscow in 1940. It was sent to me in Lodz. This was the first time I saw Jacob that helped us a lot when we were refugees from Poland.

My mother's older sister Esther (born in 1887) married a very nice and talented Jewish man - Jacob Ekhlis, in 1911. Poland was a part of Russia at that time and he was recruited to the Russian army. After WWI he stayed in Moscow and Esther joined him in 1922. Her husband Jacob, a very intelligent man, got a higher education and became chief engineer at a knitwear factory. In 1941 he volunteered at the Territorial Army. He perished during defense of Moscow. Esther evacuated to Ufa during the war. She lived in Moscow after the war. Esther died in 1972. They had a son - Efroim. He was at the front during the war. After the war he graduated from University and lectured on philosophy at the Medical University. He also deceased. Esther and her husband supported and helped our family and I remember them with love and gratitude.