This is my mama Hana Sherishevskaya (nee Finkelstein). This photo was taken in the Fonbaum photo studio in Mosir in 1912. This photo was taken on the occasion of mama finishing school and was probably attached to her school certificate. Signed on the backside: 'This is to confirm that the girl in this photographic card is true Hana Finkelstein, who was issued certificate # 1386. Chairman of the teachers' council - signature, secretary of the council - signature.
My maternal grandfather and grandmother had three children: Son Isaac Finkelstein, born in 1892, daughter Anna Sherishevskaya (nee Finkelstein) - my mother, born in 1895, and younger daughter Maria Kaz (nee Finkelstein), born in 1901. The children were not religious. They were loyal to their parents' religiosity, but they did not participate in any observances.
My mother finished a gymnasium for girls in Kiev. Golda Meir studied there as well 5 years later. There was a 3 or 4 % admission quota for Jews in those gymnasia, but there were also private gymnasia, and my mother must have finished a private one. My grandfather could afford to pay for her studies. My grandfather also bought her a Schreder piano. Mama played the piano and I also studied music for some time. It was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. After finishing the gymnasium my mother entered the higher course for girls at the Legal Faculty in Kiev University. He finished the course in 1917. She studied the czarist laws that were cancelled after the revolution. So mama went to work as a librarian. My parents got married in 1924. I don't know how they met - they never mentioned it. I, their only child, was born in 1926. My parents spoke Russian at home and switched to Yiddish, when they didn't want me to know the subject of their discussion. Mama and papa had finished Russian gymnasia and were both atheists. Mama read a lot working in the library. Mama also knew literature and music and could play the piano. She had a collection of scores. Mama was a kind person. I learned to play the piano for about two years, when my father could pay for it.
