Iosef Leibovici as a young man

This is my husband, Iosef Leibovici, in the old downtown area of Botosani. He was 25-26 in this photograph, so it was around 1949-1950.

My husband was born in Botosani in 1924. We met at a youth party. People organized balls, reunions. We met through a third party and we liked each other. The balls were very nice, with Wienese waltzes - the waltzes of Johann Strauss -, tangos, with 'damen waltz' - meaning a waltz like all others, but it was the women who invited the men to dance. There was a cinema, which was called Lux [Luxury], where balls were organized, and also at the Casa Armatei [House of the Army] - there were several ballrooms there. I don't remember separate parties to be organized for the Jewish youth - these balls were for all who wanted to attend. On Purim it was a different matter. A ball was organized on Purim. There was a hall, Sala Meseriasi [the Handicraftsmen's Hall], which belonged to the community and where weddings and parties were organized. I think many handicraftsmen used to meet at this club, in the Handicraftsmen's Hall.

Our wedding took place in 1954 and, since it was during communism, and the system was very strict about religions, we had the religious ceremony performed - we had the civil ceremony performed in advance - among family members, at uncle Buium and my aunt's place. That's where the religious ceremony was performed. That's how it happened to be, because there had to be not too many people present. There were a few relatives of my husband's, there probably weren't more than 12 persons at the ceremony. I didn't wear a bridal gown, I had a light-colored dress instead, cream-colored, rather. I didn't have a veil, but you must wear something to cover your head when you are under the chuppah. And my husband was wearing a suit.